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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 1.3 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
217Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
218@ref{D,,D}.
219
220@cindex Modula-2
221Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
222@ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
223
224@cindex Pascal
225Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
226nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
227entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
228syntax.
229
230@cindex Fortran
231@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
232it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
233underscore.
234
235@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
236using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
237
238@menu
239* Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
240* Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
241@end menu
242
243@node Free Software
244@unnumberedsec Free Software
245
246@value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
247General Public License
248(GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
249program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
250freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
251the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
252Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
253Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
254
255Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
256you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
257from anyone else.
258
259@unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
260
261The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
262the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
263include with the free software. Many of our most important
264programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
265texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
266when an important free software package does not come with a free
267manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
268gaps today.
269
270Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
271normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
272authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
273copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
274them from the free software world.
275
276That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
277from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
278manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
279only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
280contract to make it non-free.
281
282Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
283price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
284charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
285Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
286problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
287are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
288modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
289
290The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
291free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
292commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
293accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
294
295Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
296When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
297are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
298provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
299manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
300a changed version of the program is not really available to our
301community.
302
303Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
304acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
305author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
306authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
307to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
308may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
309with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
310are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
311of the manual.
312
313However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
314content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
315media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
316obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
317manual to replace it.
318
319Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
320lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
321free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
322the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
323realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
324the free software community.
325
326If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
327the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
328license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
329don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
330will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
331option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
332what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
333try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
334is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
335
336You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
337manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
338copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
339improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
340at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
341and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
342Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
343have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
344
345The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
346published by other publishers, at
347@url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
348
349@node Contributors
350@unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
351
352Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
353other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
354development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
355of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
356to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
357file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
358blow-by-blow account.
359
360Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
361
362@quotation
363@emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
364or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
365omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
366@end quotation
367
368So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
369particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
370releases:
371Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
372Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
373Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
374Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
375Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
376Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
377John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
378Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
379and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
380
381Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
382Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
383
384Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
385in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
386Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
387demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
388much general update work leading to release 3.0).
389
390@value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
391object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
392Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
393
394David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
395the original support for encapsulated COFF.
396
397Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
398
399Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
400Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
401support.
402Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
403Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
404Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
405David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
406Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
407Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
408Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
409Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
410Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
411Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
412Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
413Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
414Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
415Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
416Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
417Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
418
419Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
420
421Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
422libraries.
423
424Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
425about several machine instruction sets.
426
427Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
428remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
429contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
430and RDI targets, respectively.
431
432Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
433command-line editing and command history.
434
435Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
436Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
437
438Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
439He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
440symbols.
441
442Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
443H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
444
445NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
446
447Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
448processors.
449
450Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
451
452Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
453
454Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
455
456Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
457watchpoints.
458
459Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
460
461Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
462
463Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
464nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
465
466The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
467support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
468(narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
469compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
470Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
471Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
472provided HP-specific information in this manual.
473
474DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
475Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
476
477Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
478development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
479fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
480Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
481Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
482Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
483Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
484addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
485JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
486Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
487Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
488Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
489Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
490Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
491Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
492
493Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
494Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
495
496Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
497Hat.
498
499Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
500people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
501Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
502Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
503Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
504with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
505
506Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
507unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
508frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
509Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
510libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
511trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
512complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
513Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
514Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
515Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
516Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
517Weigand.
518
519Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
520Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
521who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
522Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
523
524Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
525Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
526
527@node Sample Session
528@chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
529
530You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
531However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
532debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
533
534@iftex
535In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
536to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
537@end iftex
538
539@c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
540@c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
541
542One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
543processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
544quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
545definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
546session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
547then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
548same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
549@code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
550procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
551
552@smallexample
553$ @b{cd gnu/m4}
554$ @b{./m4}
555@b{define(foo,0000)}
556
557@b{foo}
5580000
559@b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
560
561@b{bar}
5620000
563@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
564
565@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
566@b{baz}
567@b{Ctrl-d}
568m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
569@end smallexample
570
571@noindent
572Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
573
574@smallexample
575$ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
576@c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
577@c FIXME... format to come out better.
578@value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
579 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
580 the conditions.
581There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
582 for details.
583
584@value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
585(@value{GDBP})
586@end smallexample
587
588@noindent
589@value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
590rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
591We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
592that examples fit in this manual.
593
594@smallexample
595(@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
596@end smallexample
597
598@noindent
599We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
600Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
601@code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
602@code{break} command.
603
604@smallexample
605(@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
606Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
607@end smallexample
608
609@noindent
610Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
611control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
612subroutine, the program runs as usual:
613
614@smallexample
615(@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
616Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
617@b{define(foo,0000)}
618
619@b{foo}
6200000
621@end smallexample
622
623@noindent
624To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
625suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
626context where it stops.
627
628@smallexample
629@b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
630
631Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
632 at builtin.c:879
633879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
634@end smallexample
635
636@noindent
637Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
638the next line of the current function.
639
640@smallexample
641(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
642882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
643 : nil,
644@end smallexample
645
646@noindent
647@code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
648by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
649@code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
650subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
651
652@smallexample
653(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
654set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
655 at input.c:530
656530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
657@end smallexample
658
659@noindent
660The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
661suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
662shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
663command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
664in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
665stack frame for each active subroutine.
666
667@smallexample
668(@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
669#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
670 at input.c:530
671#1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
672 at builtin.c:882
673#2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
674#3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
675 at macro.c:71
676#4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
677#5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
678@end smallexample
679
680@noindent
681We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
682times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
683falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
684
685@smallexample
686(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
6870x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
688(@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
6890x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
690def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
691(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
692536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
693 : xstrdup(rq);
694(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
695538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
696@end smallexample
697
698@noindent
699The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
700@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
701and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
702(@code{print}) to see their values.
703
704@smallexample
705(@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
706$1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
707(@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
708$2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
709@end smallexample
710
711@noindent
712@code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
713To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
714surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
715
716@smallexample
717(@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
718533 xfree(rquote);
719534
720535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
721 : xstrdup (lq);
722536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
723 : xstrdup (rq);
724537
725538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
726539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
727540 @}
728541
729542 void
730@end smallexample
731
732@noindent
733Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
734@code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
735
736@smallexample
737(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
738539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
739(@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
740540 @}
741(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
742$3 = 9
743(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
744$4 = 7
745@end smallexample
746
747@noindent
748That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
749@code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
750@code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
751the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
752any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
753assignments.
754
755@smallexample
756(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
757$5 = 7
758(@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
759$6 = 9
760@end smallexample
761
762@noindent
763Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
764@code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
765executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
766example that caused trouble initially:
767
768@smallexample
769(@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
770Continuing.
771
772@b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
773
774baz
7750000
776@end smallexample
777
778@noindent
779Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
780problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
781lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
782
783@smallexample
784@b{Ctrl-d}
785Program exited normally.
786@end smallexample
787
788@noindent
789The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
790indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
791session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
792
793@smallexample
794(@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
795@end smallexample
796
797@node Invocation
798@chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
799
800This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
801The essentials are:
802@itemize @bullet
803@item
804type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
805@item
806type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
807@end itemize
808
809@menu
810* Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
811* Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
812* Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
813* Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
814@end menu
815
816@node Invoking GDB
817@section Invoking @value{GDBN}
818
819Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
820@value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
821
822You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
823to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
824
825The command-line options described here are designed
826to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
827options may effectively be unavailable.
828
829The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
830specifying an executable program:
831
832@smallexample
833@value{GDBP} @var{program}
834@end smallexample
835
836@noindent
837You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
838specified:
839
840@smallexample
841@value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
842@end smallexample
843
844You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
845to debug a running process:
846
847@smallexample
848@value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
849@end smallexample
850
851@noindent
852would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
853named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
854
855Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
856complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
857debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
858``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
859will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
860
861You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
862executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
863option processing.
864@smallexample
865@value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
866@end smallexample
867This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
868@code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
869
870You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
871@value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
872
873@smallexample
874@value{GDBP} -silent
875@end smallexample
876
877@noindent
878You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
879options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
880
881@noindent
882Type
883
884@smallexample
885@value{GDBP} -help
886@end smallexample
887
888@noindent
889to display all available options and briefly describe their use
890(@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
891
892All options and command line arguments you give are processed
893in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
894@samp{-x} option is used.
895
896
897@menu
898* File Options:: Choosing files
899* Mode Options:: Choosing modes
900* Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
901@end menu
902
903@node File Options
904@subsection Choosing Files
905
906When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
907specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
908the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
909@samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
910first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
911equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
912second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
913equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
914If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
915first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
916to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
917a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
918prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
919
920If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
921such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
922argument and ignore it.
923
924Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
925following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
926them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
927(If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
928than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
929
930@c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
931@c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
932@c it.
933
934@table @code
935@item -symbols @var{file}
936@itemx -s @var{file}
937@cindex @code{--symbols}
938@cindex @code{-s}
939Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
940
941@item -exec @var{file}
942@itemx -e @var{file}
943@cindex @code{--exec}
944@cindex @code{-e}
945Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
946and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
947
948@item -se @var{file}
949@cindex @code{--se}
950Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
951file.
952
953@item -core @var{file}
954@itemx -c @var{file}
955@cindex @code{--core}
956@cindex @code{-c}
957Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
958
959@item -pid @var{number}
960@itemx -p @var{number}
961@cindex @code{--pid}
962@cindex @code{-p}
963Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
964
965@item -command @var{file}
966@itemx -x @var{file}
967@cindex @code{--command}
968@cindex @code{-x}
969Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
970evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
971@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
972
973@item -eval-command @var{command}
974@itemx -ex @var{command}
975@cindex @code{--eval-command}
976@cindex @code{-ex}
977Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
978
979This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
980also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
981
982@smallexample
983@value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
984 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
985@end smallexample
986
987@item -directory @var{directory}
988@itemx -d @var{directory}
989@cindex @code{--directory}
990@cindex @code{-d}
991Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
992
993@item -r
994@itemx -readnow
995@cindex @code{--readnow}
996@cindex @code{-r}
997Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
998the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
999This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1000
1001@end table
1002
1003@node Mode Options
1004@subsection Choosing Modes
1005
1006You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1007batch mode or quiet mode.
1008
1009@table @code
1010@item -nx
1011@itemx -n
1012@cindex @code{--nx}
1013@cindex @code{-n}
1014Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1015@value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1016options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1017Files}.
1018
1019@item -quiet
1020@itemx -silent
1021@itemx -q
1022@cindex @code{--quiet}
1023@cindex @code{--silent}
1024@cindex @code{-q}
1025``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1026messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1027
1028@item -batch
1029@cindex @code{--batch}
1030Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1031command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1032initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1033nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1034in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1035terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1036off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1037
1038Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1039example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1040make this more useful, the message
1041
1042@smallexample
1043Program exited normally.
1044@end smallexample
1045
1046@noindent
1047(which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1048@value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1049mode.
1050
1051@item -batch-silent
1052@cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1053Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1054@value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1055unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1056for an interactive session.
1057
1058This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1059messages, for example.
1060
1061Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1062writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1063
1064@item -return-child-result
1065@cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1066The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1067process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1068
1069@itemize @bullet
1070@item
1071@value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1072internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1073without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1074@item
1075The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1076@item
1077The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1078the exit code will be -1.
1079@end itemize
1080
1081This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1082when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1083interface.
1084
1085@item -nowindows
1086@itemx -nw
1087@cindex @code{--nowindows}
1088@cindex @code{-nw}
1089``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1090(GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1091interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1092
1093@item -windows
1094@itemx -w
1095@cindex @code{--windows}
1096@cindex @code{-w}
1097If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1098used if possible.
1099
1100@item -cd @var{directory}
1101@cindex @code{--cd}
1102Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1103instead of the current directory.
1104
1105@item -fullname
1106@itemx -f
1107@cindex @code{--fullname}
1108@cindex @code{-f}
1109@sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1110subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1111number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1112displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1113recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1114the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1115and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1116@samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1117frame.
1118
1119@item -epoch
1120@cindex @code{--epoch}
1121The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1122@value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1123routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1124separate window.
1125
1126@item -annotate @var{level}
1127@cindex @code{--annotate}
1128This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1129effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1130(@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1131information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1132expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1133normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1134@sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1135that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1136
1137The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1138(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1139
1140@item --args
1141@cindex @code{--args}
1142Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1143executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1144This option stops option processing.
1145
1146@item -baud @var{bps}
1147@itemx -b @var{bps}
1148@cindex @code{--baud}
1149@cindex @code{-b}
1150Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1151interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1152
1153@item -l @var{timeout}
1154@cindex @code{-l}
1155Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1156for remote debugging.
1157
1158@item -tty @var{device}
1159@itemx -t @var{device}
1160@cindex @code{--tty}
1161@cindex @code{-t}
1162Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1163@c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1164
1165@c resolve the situation of these eventually
1166@item -tui
1167@cindex @code{--tui}
1168Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1169Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1170source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1171(@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1172Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1173@samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1174Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1175
1176@c @item -xdb
1177@c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1178@c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1179@c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1180@c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1181@c systems.
1182
1183@item -interpreter @var{interp}
1184@cindex @code{--interpreter}
1185Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1186program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1187communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1188@xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1189
1190@samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1191@value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1192The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1193previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1194selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1195@sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1196
1197@item -write
1198@cindex @code{--write}
1199Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1200is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1201(@pxref{Patching}).
1202
1203@item -statistics
1204@cindex @code{--statistics}
1205This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1206memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1207
1208@item -version
1209@cindex @code{--version}
1210This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1211no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1212
1213@end table
1214
1215@node Startup
1216@subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1217@cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1218
1219Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1220
1221@enumerate
1222@item
1223Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1224(@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1225
1226@item
1227@cindex init file
1228Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1229used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1230 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1231that file.
1232
1233@item
1234Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1235DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1236@code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1237that file.
1238
1239@item
1240Processes command line options and operands.
1241
1242@item
1243Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1244working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1245different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1246init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1247to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1248@value{GDBN}.
1249
1250@item
1251Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1252Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1253
1254@item
1255Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1256@xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1257files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1258@end enumerate
1259
1260Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1261Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1262file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1263complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1264and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1265option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1266
1267To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1268can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1269
1270@cindex init file name
1271@cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1272@cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1273The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1274The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1275the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1276ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1277@file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1278the file to the standard name.
1279
1280
1281@node Quitting GDB
1282@section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1283@cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1284@cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1285
1286@table @code
1287@kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1288@kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1289@item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1290@itemx q
1291To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1292@code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1293do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1294otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1295error code.
1296@end table
1297
1298@cindex interrupt
1299An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1300terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1301returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1302character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1303until a time when it is safe.
1304
1305If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1306device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1307(@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1308
1309@node Shell Commands
1310@section Shell Commands
1311
1312If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1313debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1314just use the @code{shell} command.
1315
1316@table @code
1317@kindex shell
1318@cindex shell escape
1319@item shell @var{command string}
1320Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1321If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1322shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1323(@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1324@end table
1325
1326The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1327You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1328@value{GDBN}:
1329
1330@table @code
1331@kindex make
1332@cindex calling make
1333@item make @var{make-args}
1334Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1335arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1336@end table
1337
1338@node Logging Output
1339@section Logging Output
1340@cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1341@cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1342
1343You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1344There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1345
1346@table @code
1347@kindex set logging
1348@item set logging on
1349Enable logging.
1350@item set logging off
1351Disable logging.
1352@cindex logging file name
1353@item set logging file @var{file}
1354Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1355@item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1356By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1357you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1358@item set logging redirect [on|off]
1359By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1360Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1361@kindex show logging
1362@item show logging
1363Show the current values of the logging settings.
1364@end table
1365
1366@node Commands
1367@chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1368
1369You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1370name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1371@value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1372key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1373show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1374
1375@menu
1376* Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1377* Completion:: Command completion
1378* Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1379@end menu
1380
1381@node Command Syntax
1382@section Command Syntax
1383
1384A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1385how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1386arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1387command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1388step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1389with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1390
1391@cindex abbreviation
1392@value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1393unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1394documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1395abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1396equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1397names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1398arguments to the @code{help} command.
1399
1400@cindex repeating commands
1401@kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1402A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1403repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1404will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1405repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1406repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1407@ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1408
1409The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1410@key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1411exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1412
1413@value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1414output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1415(@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1416@key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1417repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1418
1419@kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1420@cindex comment
1421Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1422nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1423Files,,Command Files}).
1424
1425@cindex repeating command sequences
1426@kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1427The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1428commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1429then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1430for editing.
1431
1432@node Completion
1433@section Command Completion
1434
1435@cindex completion
1436@cindex word completion
1437@value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1438only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1439are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1440commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1441
1442Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1443of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1444word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1445enter it). For example, if you type
1446
1447@c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1448@c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1449@c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1450@c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1451@smallexample
1452(@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1453@end smallexample
1454
1455@noindent
1456@value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1457the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1458
1459@smallexample
1460(@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1461@end smallexample
1462
1463@noindent
1464You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1465breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1466@samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1467were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1468might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1469to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1470
1471If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1472@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1473characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1474@value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1475example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1476begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1477just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1478function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1479example:
1480
1481@smallexample
1482(@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1483@exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1484make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1485make_abs_section make_function_type
1486make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1487make_cleanup make_reference_type
1488make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1489(@value{GDBP}) b make_
1490@end smallexample
1491
1492@noindent
1493After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1494partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1495command.
1496
1497If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1498can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1499means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1500key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1501one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1502
1503@cindex quotes in commands
1504@cindex completion of quoted strings
1505Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1506parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1507its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1508situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1509@value{GDBN} commands.
1510
1511The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1512name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1513overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1514by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1515may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1516that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1517that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1518word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1519@code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1520@value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1521when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1522
1523@smallexample
1524(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1525bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1526(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1527@end smallexample
1528
1529In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1530quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1531completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1532place:
1533
1534@smallexample
1535(@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1536@exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1537(@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1538@end smallexample
1539
1540@noindent
1541In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1542you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1543completion on an overloaded symbol.
1544
1545For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1546Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1547overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1548see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1549
1550@cindex completion of structure field names
1551@cindex structure field name completion
1552@cindex completion of union field names
1553@cindex union field name completion
1554When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1555structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1556confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1557examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1558limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1559left-hand-side:
1560
1561@smallexample
1562(@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1563magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1564to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1565@end smallexample
1566
1567@noindent
1568This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1569@code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1570follows:
1571
1572@smallexample
1573struct ui_file
1574@{
1575 int *magic;
1576 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1577 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1578 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1579 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1580 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1581 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1582 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1583 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1584 void *to_data;
1585@}
1586@end smallexample
1587
1588
1589@node Help
1590@section Getting Help
1591@cindex online documentation
1592@kindex help
1593
1594You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1595using the command @code{help}.
1596
1597@table @code
1598@kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1599@item help
1600@itemx h
1601You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1602display a short list of named classes of commands:
1603
1604@smallexample
1605(@value{GDBP}) help
1606List of classes of commands:
1607
1608aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1609breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1610data -- Examining data
1611files -- Specifying and examining files
1612internals -- Maintenance commands
1613obscure -- Obscure features
1614running -- Running the program
1615stack -- Examining the stack
1616status -- Status inquiries
1617support -- Support facilities
1618tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1619 stopping the program
1620user-defined -- User-defined commands
1621
1622Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1623commands in that class.
1624Type "help" followed by command name for full
1625documentation.
1626Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1627(@value{GDBP})
1628@end smallexample
1629@c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1630
1631@item help @var{class}
1632Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1633list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1634help display for the class @code{status}:
1635
1636@smallexample
1637(@value{GDBP}) help status
1638Status inquiries.
1639
1640List of commands:
1641
1642@c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1643@c to fit in smallbook page size.
1644info -- Generic command for showing things
1645 about the program being debugged
1646show -- Generic command for showing things
1647 about the debugger
1648
1649Type "help" followed by command name for full
1650documentation.
1651Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1652(@value{GDBP})
1653@end smallexample
1654
1655@item help @var{command}
1656With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1657short paragraph on how to use that command.
1658
1659@kindex apropos
1660@item apropos @var{args}
1661The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1662commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1663@var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1664
1665@smallexample
1666apropos reload
1667@end smallexample
1668
1669@noindent
1670results in:
1671
1672@smallexample
1673@c @group
1674set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1675 multiple times in one run
1676show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1677 multiple times in one run
1678@c @end group
1679@end smallexample
1680
1681@kindex complete
1682@item complete @var{args}
1683The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1684for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1685command you want completed. For example:
1686
1687@smallexample
1688complete i
1689@end smallexample
1690
1691@noindent results in:
1692
1693@smallexample
1694@group
1695if
1696ignore
1697info
1698inspect
1699@end group
1700@end smallexample
1701
1702@noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1703@end table
1704
1705In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1706and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1707of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1708manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1709under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1710all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1711
1712@c @group
1713@table @code
1714@kindex info
1715@kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1716@item info
1717This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1718program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1719with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1720registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1721You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1722@w{@code{help info}}.
1723
1724@kindex set
1725@item set
1726You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1727@code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1728@code{set prompt $}.
1729
1730@kindex show
1731@item show
1732In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1733@value{GDBN} itself.
1734You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1735related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1736system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1737which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1738
1739@kindex info set
1740To display all the settable parameters and their current
1741values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1742@code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1743@c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1744@c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1745@c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1746@end table
1747@c @end group
1748
1749Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1750exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1751
1752@table @code
1753@kindex show version
1754@cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1755@item show version
1756Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1757information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1758@value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1759version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1760commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1761system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1762variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1763The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1764@value{GDBN}.
1765
1766@kindex show copying
1767@kindex info copying
1768@cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1769@item show copying
1770@itemx info copying
1771Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1772
1773@kindex show warranty
1774@kindex info warranty
1775@item show warranty
1776@itemx info warranty
1777Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1778if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1779
1780@end table
1781
1782@node Running
1783@chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1784
1785When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1786debugging information when you compile it.
1787
1788You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1789of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1790your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1791kill a child process.
1792
1793@menu
1794* Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1795* Starting:: Starting your program
1796* Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1797* Environment:: Your program's environment
1798
1799* Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1800* Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1801* Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1802* Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1803
1804* Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1805* Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1806* Forks:: Debugging forks
1807* Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1808@end menu
1809
1810@node Compilation
1811@section Compiling for Debugging
1812
1813In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1814debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1815is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1816variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1817and addresses in the executable code.
1818
1819To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1820the compiler.
1821
1822Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1823optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1824compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1825together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1826executables containing debugging information.
1827
1828@value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1829without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1830recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1831program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1832in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1833
1834Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1835@w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1836format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1837
1838@value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1839expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1840about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1841the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1842Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1843provides macro information if you specify the options
1844@option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1845debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1846``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1847ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1848@option{-g} alone.
1849
1850@need 2000
1851@node Starting
1852@section Starting your Program
1853@cindex starting
1854@cindex running
1855
1856@table @code
1857@kindex run
1858@kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1859@item run
1860@itemx r
1861Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1862You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1863argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1864@value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1865(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1866
1867@end table
1868
1869If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1870supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1871that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1872@code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1873like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1874message like this one:
1875
1876@smallexample
1877The "remote" target does not support "run".
1878Try "help target" or "continue".
1879@end smallexample
1880
1881@noindent
1882then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1883first (@pxref{load}).
1884
1885The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1886receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1887information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1888can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1889your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1890divided into four categories:
1891
1892@table @asis
1893@item The @emph{arguments.}
1894Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1895@code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1896is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1897(such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1898the arguments.
1899In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1900@code{SHELL} environment variable.
1901@xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1902
1903@item The @emph{environment.}
1904Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1905use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1906environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1907your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1908
1909@item The @emph{working directory.}
1910Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1911the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1912@xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1913
1914@item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1915Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1916standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1917in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1918set a different device for your program.
1919@xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1920
1921@cindex pipes
1922@emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1923pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1924program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1925wrong program.
1926@end table
1927
1928When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1929immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1930of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1931stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1932or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1933
1934If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1935time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1936table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1937your current breakpoints.
1938
1939@table @code
1940@kindex start
1941@item start
1942@cindex run to main procedure
1943The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1944With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1945other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1946main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1947execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1948procedure, depending on the language used.
1949
1950The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1951breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1952the @samp{run} command.
1953
1954@cindex elaboration phase
1955Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1956executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1957languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1958constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1959@code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1960before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1961will remain to halt execution.
1962
1963Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1964@samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1965underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1966reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1967@samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1968
1969It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1970these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1971your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1972elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1973elaboration code before running your program.
1974
1975@kindex set exec-wrapper
1976@item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1977@itemx show exec-wrapper
1978@itemx unset exec-wrapper
1979When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1980launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1981with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1982@var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1983arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1984appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1985your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1986
1987You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1988its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1989this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1990with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1991
1992For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1993the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1994environment:
1995
1996@smallexample
1997(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1998(@value{GDBP}) run
1999@end smallexample
2000
2001This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2002@sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2003
2004@kindex set disable-randomization
2005@item set disable-randomization
2006@itemx set disable-randomization on
2007This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2008randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2009is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2010reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2011
2012This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2013behavior using
2014
2015@smallexample
2016(@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2017@end smallexample
2018
2019@item set disable-randomization off
2020Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2021ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2022disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2023@value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2024as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2025disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2026
2027The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2028It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2029cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2030code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2031a code at its expected addresses.
2032
2033Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2034makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2035having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2036library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2037misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2038random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2039startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2040a randomly chosen address.
2041
2042Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2043similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2044a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2045already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2046executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2047
2048Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2049(as long as the randomization is enabled).
2050
2051@item show disable-randomization
2052Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2053the virtual address space of the started program.
2054
2055@end table
2056
2057@node Arguments
2058@section Your Program's Arguments
2059
2060@cindex arguments (to your program)
2061The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2062@code{run} command.
2063They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2064performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2065@code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2066@value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2067the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2068
2069On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2070@value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2071calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2072the program, not by the shell.
2073
2074@code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2075@code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2076
2077@table @code
2078@kindex set args
2079@item set args
2080Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2081@code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2082with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2083using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2084it again without arguments.
2085
2086@kindex show args
2087@item show args
2088Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2089@end table
2090
2091@node Environment
2092@section Your Program's Environment
2093
2094@cindex environment (of your program)
2095The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2096their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2097your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2098path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2099the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2100debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2101environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2102
2103@table @code
2104@kindex path
2105@item path @var{directory}
2106Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2107(the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2108The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2109You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2110system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2111MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2112is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2113
2114You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2115working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2116use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2117@code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2118@var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2119@var{directory} to the search path.
2120@c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2121@c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2122
2123@kindex show paths
2124@item show paths
2125Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2126environment variable).
2127
2128@kindex show environment
2129@item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2130Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2131your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2132print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2133your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2134
2135@kindex set environment
2136@item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2137Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2138changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2139be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2140any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2141parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2142null value.
2143@c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2144@c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2145
2146For example, this command:
2147
2148@smallexample
2149set env USER = foo
2150@end smallexample
2151
2152@noindent
2153tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2154@samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2155are not actually required.)
2156
2157@kindex unset environment
2158@item unset environment @var{varname}
2159Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2160program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2161@code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2162rather than assigning it an empty value.
2163@end table
2164
2165@emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2166the shell indicated
2167by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2168@code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2169that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2170@file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2171your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2172files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2173@file{.profile}.
2174
2175@node Working Directory
2176@section Your Program's Working Directory
2177
2178@cindex working directory (of your program)
2179Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2180working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2181The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2182from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2183working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2184
2185The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2186that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2187Specify Files}.
2188
2189@table @code
2190@kindex cd
2191@cindex change working directory
2192@item cd @var{directory}
2193Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2194
2195@kindex pwd
2196@item pwd
2197Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2198@end table
2199
2200It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2201the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2202during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2203configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2204proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2205current working directory of the debuggee.
2206
2207@node Input/Output
2208@section Your Program's Input and Output
2209
2210@cindex redirection
2211@cindex i/o
2212@cindex terminal
2213By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2214the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2215to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2216modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2217running your program.
2218
2219@table @code
2220@kindex info terminal
2221@item info terminal
2222Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2223program is using.
2224@end table
2225
2226You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2227redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2228
2229@smallexample
2230run > outfile
2231@end smallexample
2232
2233@noindent
2234starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2235
2236@kindex tty
2237@cindex controlling terminal
2238Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2239with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2240argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2241commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2242process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2243
2244@smallexample
2245tty /dev/ttyb
2246@end smallexample
2247
2248@noindent
2249directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2250default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2251that as their controlling terminal.
2252
2253An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2254effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2255terminal.
2256
2257When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2258command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2259for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2260for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2261
2262@cindex inferior tty
2263@cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2264You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2265display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2266program.
2267
2268@table @code
2269@item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2270@kindex set inferior-tty
2271Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2272
2273@item show inferior-tty
2274@kindex show inferior-tty
2275Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2276@end table
2277
2278@node Attach
2279@section Debugging an Already-running Process
2280@kindex attach
2281@cindex attach
2282
2283@table @code
2284@item attach @var{process-id}
2285This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2286outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2287targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2288find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2289or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2290
2291@code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2292executing the command.
2293@end table
2294
2295To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2296which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2297programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2298also have permission to send the process a signal.
2299
2300When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2301the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2302the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2303(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2304the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2305Specify Files}.
2306
2307The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2308process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2309with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2310you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2311can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2312process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2313attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2314
2315@table @code
2316@kindex detach
2317@item detach
2318When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2319@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2320the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2321that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2322are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2323@code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2324executing the command.
2325@end table
2326
2327If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2328that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2329By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2330things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2331@code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2332Messages}).
2333
2334@node Kill Process
2335@section Killing the Child Process
2336
2337@table @code
2338@kindex kill
2339@item kill
2340Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2341@end table
2342
2343This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2344running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2345is running.
2346
2347On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2348while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2349@code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2350outside the debugger.
2351
2352The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2353relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2354executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2355next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2356reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2357breakpoint settings).
2358
2359@node Inferiors and Programs
2360@section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2361
2362@value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2363session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2364several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2365before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2366multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2367from multiple executables.
2368
2369@cindex inferior
2370@value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2371object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2372a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2373have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2374may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2375identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2376inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2377embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2378of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2379threads running in it.
2380
2381To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2382inferiors}}:
2383
2384@table @code
2385@kindex info inferiors
2386@item info inferiors
2387Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2388
2389@value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2390
2391@enumerate
2392@item
2393the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2394
2395@item
2396the target system's inferior identifier
2397
2398@item
2399the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2400
2401@end enumerate
2402
2403@noindent
2404An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2405indicates the current inferior.
2406
2407For example,
2408@end table
2409@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2410
2411@smallexample
2412(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2413 Num Description Executable
2414 2 process 2307 hello
2415* 1 process 3401 goodbye
2416@end smallexample
2417
2418To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2419
2420@table @code
2421@kindex inferior @var{infno}
2422@item inferior @var{infno}
2423Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2424@var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2425in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2426@end table
2427
2428
2429You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2430@code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2431systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2432automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2433remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2434@w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2435
2436@table @code
2437@kindex add-inferior
2438@item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2439Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2440executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2441the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2442change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2443@code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2444
2445@kindex clone-inferior
2446@item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2447Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2448@var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2449number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2450want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2451
2452@smallexample
2453(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2454 Num Description Executable
2455* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2456(@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2457Added inferior 2.
24581 inferiors added.
2459(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2460 Num Description Executable
2461 2 <null> helloworld
2462* 1 process 29964 helloworld
2463@end smallexample
2464
2465You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2466
2467@kindex remove-inferior
2468@item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2469Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2470inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2471@code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2472
2473@end table
2474
2475To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2476inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2477inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2478using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2479
2480@table @code
2481@kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2482@item detach inferior @var{infno}
2483Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2484@var{infno}. Note that the inferior's entry still stays on the list
2485of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its Description will
2486show @samp{<null>}.
2487
2488@kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2489@item kill inferior @var{infno}
2490Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2491@var{infno}. Note that the inferior's entry still stays on the list
2492of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its Description will
2493show @samp{<null>}.
2494@end table
2495
2496After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2497@code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2498a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2499@code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2500
2501
2502To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2503control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2504
2505@table @code
2506@kindex set print inferior-events
2507@cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2508@item set print inferior-events
2509@itemx set print inferior-events on
2510@itemx set print inferior-events off
2511The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2512disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2513inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2514detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2515
2516@kindex show print inferior-events
2517@item show print inferior-events
2518Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2519inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2520@end table
2521
2522Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2523single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2524value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2525
2526
2527Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2528get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2529spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2530info program-spaces}} command.
2531
2532@table @code
2533@kindex maint info program-spaces
2534@item maint info program-spaces
2535Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2536@value{GDBN}.
2537
2538@value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2539
2540@enumerate
2541@item
2542the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2543
2544@item
2545the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2546the @code{file} command.
2547
2548@end enumerate
2549
2550@noindent
2551An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2552indicates the current program space.
2553
2554In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2555information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2556example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2557
2558@smallexample
2559(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2560 Id Executable
2561 2 goodbye
2562 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2563* 1 hello
2564@end smallexample
2565
2566Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2567while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2568some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2569same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2570the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2571
2572@smallexample
2573(@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2574 Id Executable
2575* 1 vfork-test
2576 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2577@end smallexample
2578
2579Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2580space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2581@end table
2582
2583@node Threads
2584@section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2585
2586@cindex threads of execution
2587@cindex multiple threads
2588@cindex switching threads
2589In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2590may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2591of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2592the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2593that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2594modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2595registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2596
2597@value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2598programs:
2599
2600@itemize @bullet
2601@item automatic notification of new threads
2602@item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2603@item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2604@item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2605a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2606@item thread-specific breakpoints
2607@item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2608messages on thread start and exit.
2609@item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2610the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2611isn't compatible with the program.
2612@end itemize
2613
2614@quotation
2615@emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2616@value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2617If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2618effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2619from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2620like this:
2621
2622@smallexample
2623(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2624(@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2625Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2626see the IDs of currently known threads.
2627@end smallexample
2628@c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2629@c doesn't support threads"?
2630@end quotation
2631
2632@cindex focus of debugging
2633@cindex current thread
2634The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2635threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2636control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2637This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2638program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2639
2640@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2641@cindex thread identifier (system)
2642@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2643@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2644@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2645Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2646the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2647form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2648whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2649@sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2650
2651@smallexample
2652[New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2653@end smallexample
2654
2655@noindent
2656when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2657the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2658further qualifier.
2659
2660@c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2661@c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2662@c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2663@c program?
2664@c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2665@c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2666@c threads ab initio?
2667
2668@cindex thread number
2669@cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2670For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2671number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2672
2673@table @code
2674@kindex info threads
2675@item info threads
2676Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2677program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2678
2679@enumerate
2680@item
2681the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2682
2683@item
2684the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2685
2686@item
2687the current stack frame summary for that thread
2688@end enumerate
2689
2690@noindent
2691An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2692indicates the current thread.
2693
2694For example,
2695@end table
2696@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2697
2698@smallexample
2699(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2700 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2701 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2702* 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2703 at threadtest.c:68
2704@end smallexample
2705
2706On HP-UX systems:
2707
2708@cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2709@cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2710For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2711number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2712thread in your program.
2713
2714@cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2715@cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2716@c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2717@c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2718@c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2719Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2720both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2721form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2722whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2723HP-UX, you see
2724
2725@smallexample
2726[New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2727@end smallexample
2728
2729@noindent
2730when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2731
2732@table @code
2733@kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2734@item info threads
2735Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2736program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2737
2738@enumerate
2739@item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2740
2741@item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2742
2743@item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2744@end enumerate
2745
2746@noindent
2747An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2748indicates the current thread.
2749
2750For example,
2751@end table
2752@c end table here to get a little more width for example
2753
2754@smallexample
2755(@value{GDBP}) info threads
2756 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2757 at quicksort.c:137
2758 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2759 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2760 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2761 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2762@end smallexample
2763
2764On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2765Solaris-specific command:
2766
2767@table @code
2768@item maint info sol-threads
2769@kindex maint info sol-threads
2770@cindex thread info (Solaris)
2771Display info on Solaris user threads.
2772@end table
2773
2774@table @code
2775@kindex thread @var{threadno}
2776@item thread @var{threadno}
2777Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2778argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2779shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2780@value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2781you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2782
2783@smallexample
2784@c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2785(@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2786[Switching to process 35 thread 23]
27870x34e5 in sigpause ()
2788@end smallexample
2789
2790@noindent
2791As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2792@samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2793threads.
2794
2795@vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2796The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2797of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2798conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2799@xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2800information on convenience variables.
2801
2802@kindex thread apply
2803@cindex apply command to several threads
2804@item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2805The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2806@var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2807threads that you want affected with the command argument
2808@var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2809shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2810could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2811command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2812
2813@kindex set print thread-events
2814@cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2815@item set print thread-events
2816@itemx set print thread-events on
2817@itemx set print thread-events off
2818The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2819disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2820started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2821be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2822Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2823
2824@kindex show print thread-events
2825@item show print thread-events
2826Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2827have started and exited.
2828@end table
2829
2830@xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2831more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2832programs with multiple threads.
2833
2834@xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2835watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2836
2837@table @code
2838@kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2839@cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2840@item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2841If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2842directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2843If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2844an empty list.
2845
2846On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2847@code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2848inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2849to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2850with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2851from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2852
2853For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2854@value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2855If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2856mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2857will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2858If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2859@value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2860
2861Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2862only on some platforms.
2863
2864@kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2865@item show libthread-db-search-path
2866Display current libthread_db search path.
2867
2868@kindex set debug libthread-db
2869@kindex show debug libthread-db
2870@cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2871@item set debug libthread-db
2872@itemx show debug libthread-db
2873Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2874Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2875@end table
2876
2877@node Forks
2878@section Debugging Forks
2879
2880@cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2881@cindex multiple processes
2882@cindex processes, multiple
2883On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2884programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2885function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2886parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2887set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2888will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2889will cause it to terminate.
2890
2891However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2892which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2893the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2894only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2895so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2896on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2897get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2898@value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2899the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2900the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2901
2902On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2903create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2904Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2905only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2906
2907By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2908the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2909
2910If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2911use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2912
2913@table @code
2914@kindex set follow-fork-mode
2915@item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2916Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2917@code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2918process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2919
2920@table @code
2921@item parent
2922The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2923unimpeded. This is the default.
2924
2925@item child
2926The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2927unimpeded.
2928
2929@end table
2930
2931@kindex show follow-fork-mode
2932@item show follow-fork-mode
2933Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2934@end table
2935
2936@cindex debugging multiple processes
2937On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2938command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2939
2940@table @code
2941@kindex set detach-on-fork
2942@item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2943Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2944retain debugger control over them both.
2945
2946@table @code
2947@item on
2948The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2949@code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2950independently. This is the default.
2951
2952@item off
2953Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2954One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2955@code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2956is held suspended.
2957
2958@end table
2959
2960@kindex show detach-on-fork
2961@item show detach-on-fork
2962Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2963@end table
2964
2965If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2966will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2967You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2968using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2969to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2970Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2971
2972To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2973from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2974to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2975command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2976and Programs}.
2977
2978If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2979@code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2980breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2981@code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2982the child process's @code{main}.
2983
2984On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2985cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2986
2987If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2988call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2989process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2990as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2991@value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2992You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2993command.
2994
2995@table @code
2996@kindex set follow-exec-mode
2997@item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2998
2999Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3000@code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3001
3002@code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3003
3004@table @code
3005@item new
3006@value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3007new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3008@code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3009original inferior.
3010
3011For example:
3012
3013@smallexample
3014(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3015(gdb) info inferior
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* 2 <null> prog2
3024 1 <null> prog1
3025@end smallexample
3026
3027@item same
3028@value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3029executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3030inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3031e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3032running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3033
3034For example:
3035
3036@smallexample
3037(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3038 Id Description Executable
3039* 1 <null> prog1
3040(@value{GDBP}) run
3041process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3042Program exited normally.
3043(@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3044 Id Description Executable
3045* 1 <null> prog2
3046@end smallexample
3047
3048@end table
3049@end table
3050
3051You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3052a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3053Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3054
3055@node Checkpoint/Restart
3056@section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3057
3058@cindex checkpoint
3059@cindex restart
3060@cindex bookmark
3061@cindex snapshot of a process
3062@cindex rewind program state
3063
3064On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3065@sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3066program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3067later.
3068
3069Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3070happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3071includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3072system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3073moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3074
3075Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3076getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3077a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3078the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3079from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3080start again from there.
3081
3082This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3083steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3084
3085To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3086
3087@table @code
3088@kindex checkpoint
3089@item checkpoint
3090Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3091The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3092is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3093
3094@kindex info checkpoints
3095@item info checkpoints
3096List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3097session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3098listed:
3099
3100@table @code
3101@item Checkpoint ID
3102@item Process ID
3103@item Code Address
3104@item Source line, or label
3105@end table
3106
3107@kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3108@item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3109Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3110@var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3111etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3112was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3113in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3114
3115Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3116are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3117only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3118the debugger.
3119
3120@kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3121@item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3122Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3123
3124@end table
3125
3126Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3127of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3128(OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3129a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3130so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3131opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3132previously read data can be read again.
3133
3134Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3135external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3136from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3137but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3138be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3139been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3140
3141However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3142program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3143again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3144different execution path this time.
3145
3146@cindex checkpoints and process id
3147Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3148different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3149id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3150and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3151If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3152potentially pose a problem.
3153
3154@subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3155
3156On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3157is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3158difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3159absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3160absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3161next.
3162
3163A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3164Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3165and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3166process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3167your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3168
3169@node Stopping
3170@chapter Stopping and Continuing
3171
3172The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3173program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3174trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3175
3176Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3177such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3178@value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3179change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3180continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3181ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3182explicitly request this information at any time.
3183
3184@table @code
3185@kindex info program
3186@item info program
3187Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3188running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3189@end table
3190
3191@menu
3192* Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3193* Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3194* Signals:: Signals
3195* Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3196@end menu
3197
3198@node Breakpoints
3199@section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3200
3201@cindex breakpoints
3202A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3203the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3204control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3205breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3206Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3207should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3208program.
3209
3210On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3211the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3212you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3213in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3214(for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3215call).
3216
3217@cindex watchpoints
3218@cindex data breakpoints
3219@cindex memory tracing
3220@cindex breakpoint on memory address
3221@cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3222A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3223when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3224of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3225combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3226@dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3227watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3228from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3229enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3230same commands.
3231
3232You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3233whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3234Automatic Display}.
3235
3236@cindex catchpoints
3237@cindex breakpoint on events
3238A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3239when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3240exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3241different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3242Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3243other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3244@code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3245
3246@cindex breakpoint numbers
3247@cindex numbers for breakpoints
3248@value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3249catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3250starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3251features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3252breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3253@dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3254enable it again.
3255
3256@cindex breakpoint ranges
3257@cindex ranges of breakpoints
3258Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3259operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3260@samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3261hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3262all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3263
3264@menu
3265* Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3266* Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3267* Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3268* Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3269* Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3270* Conditions:: Break conditions
3271* Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3272* Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3273* Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3274* Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3275@end menu
3276
3277@node Set Breaks
3278@subsection Setting Breakpoints
3279
3280@c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3281@c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3282@c
3283@c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3284
3285@kindex break
3286@kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3287@vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3288@cindex latest breakpoint
3289Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3290@code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3291number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3292Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3293convenience variables.
3294
3295@table @code
3296@item break @var{location}
3297Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3298function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3299(@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3300specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3301before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3302
3303When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3304C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3305@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3306that situation.
3307
3308It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3309only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3310or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3311
3312@item break
3313When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3314the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3315(@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3316innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3317returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3318@code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3319that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3320@code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3321the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3322inside loops.
3323
3324@value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3325least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3326would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3327breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3328existed when your program stopped.
3329
3330@item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3331Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3332@var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3333value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3334@samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3335above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3336,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3337
3338@kindex tbreak
3339@item tbreak @var{args}
3340Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3341same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3342way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3343program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3344
3345@kindex hbreak
3346@cindex hardware breakpoints
3347@item hbreak @var{args}
3348Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3349@code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3350breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3351have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3352debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3353changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3354provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3355will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3356address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3357breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3358example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3359@value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3360or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3361(@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3362@xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3363For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3364breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3365hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3366
3367@kindex thbreak
3368@item thbreak @var{args}
3369Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3370are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3371the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3372the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3373first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3374command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3375may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3376See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3377
3378@kindex rbreak
3379@cindex regular expression
3380@cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3381@cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3382@item rbreak @var{regex}
3383Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3384@var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3385matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3386breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3387the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3388them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3389
3390The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3391like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3392shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3393an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3394@code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3395match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3396
3397@cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3398When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3399breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3400classes.
3401
3402@cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3403The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3404@strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3405
3406@smallexample
3407(@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3408@end smallexample
3409
3410@item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3411If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3412the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3413specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3414every function in a given file:
3415
3416@smallexample
3417(@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3418@end smallexample
3419
3420The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3421optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3422
3423@kindex info breakpoints
3424@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3425@item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3426@itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3427Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3428not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3429about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3430each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3431
3432@table @emph
3433@item Breakpoint Numbers
3434@item Type
3435Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3436@item Disposition
3437Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3438@item Enabled or Disabled
3439Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3440that are not enabled.
3441@item Address
3442Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3443pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3444contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3445library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3446See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3447have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3448@item What
3449Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3450line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3451the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3452the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3453@end table
3454
3455@noindent
3456If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3457the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3458are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3459specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3460library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3461valid location.
3462
3463@noindent
3464@code{info break} with a breakpoint
3465number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3466convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3467the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3468listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3469
3470@noindent
3471@code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3472has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3473@code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3474hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3475was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3476will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3477@end table
3478
3479@value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3480your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3481the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3482(@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3483
3484@cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3485@cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3486It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3487in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3488
3489@itemize @bullet
3490@item
3491For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3492instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3493
3494@item
3495For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3496correspond to any number of instantiations.
3497
3498@item
3499For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3500several places where that function is inlined.
3501@end itemize
3502
3503In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3504the relevant locations@footnote{
3505As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3506line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3507will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3508info with line numbers for them.}.
3509
3510A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3511table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3512each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3513address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3514addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3515locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3516@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3517
3518For example:
3519
3520@smallexample
3521Num Type Disp Enb Address What
35221 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3523 stop only if i==1
3524 breakpoint already hit 1 time
35251.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
35261.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3527@end smallexample
3528
3529Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3530@var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3531@code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3532delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3533entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3534the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3535the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3536the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3537that belong to that breakpoint.
3538
3539@cindex pending breakpoints
3540It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3541Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3542and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3543this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3544any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3545set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3546debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3547symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3548breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3549a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3550is not yet resolved.
3551
3552After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3553@value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3554shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3555pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3556ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3557that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3558
3559This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3560example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3561a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3562a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3563
3564Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3565differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3566enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3567
3568@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3569happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3570address specification to an address:
3571
3572@kindex set breakpoint pending
3573@kindex show breakpoint pending
3574@table @code
3575@item set breakpoint pending auto
3576This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3577location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3578
3579@item set breakpoint pending on
3580This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3581result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3582
3583@item set breakpoint pending off
3584This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3585unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3586not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3587
3588@item show breakpoint pending
3589Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3590@end table
3591
3592The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3593variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3594as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3595
3596@cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3597For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3598software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3599breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3600breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3601breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3602breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3603breakpoints.
3604
3605You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3606
3607@kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3608@kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3609@table @code
3610@item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3611This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3612will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3613breakpoint must be used.
3614
3615@item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3616This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3617type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3618trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3619@end table
3620
3621@value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3622at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3623executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3624code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3625the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3626behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3627target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3628targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3629This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3630
3631@kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3632@kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3633@table @code
3634@item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3635All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3636the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3637removed from the target when it stops.
3638
3639@item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3640Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3641the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3642breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3643removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3644
3645@cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3646@item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3647This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3648in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3649@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3650controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3651@code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3652@end table
3653
3654@cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3655@cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3656@value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3657special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3658programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3659starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3660You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3661@samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3662
3663
3664@node Set Watchpoints
3665@subsection Setting Watchpoints
3666
3667@cindex setting watchpoints
3668You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3669expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3670this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3671The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3672as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3673
3674@itemize @bullet
3675@item
3676A reference to the value of a single variable.
3677
3678@item
3679An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3680@samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3681address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3682
3683@item
3684An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3685expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3686language (@pxref{Languages}).
3687@end itemize
3688
3689You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3690not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3691@samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3692@value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3693the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3694valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3695pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3696@code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3697the expression changes.
3698
3699@cindex software watchpoints
3700@cindex hardware watchpoints
3701Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3702hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3703program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3704times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3705catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3706culprit.)
3707
3708On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3709x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3710watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3711
3712@table @code
3713@kindex watch
3714@item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3715Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3716expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3717changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3718to watch the value of a single variable:
3719
3720@smallexample
3721(@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3722@end smallexample
3723
3724If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3725clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3726@var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3727change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3728that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3729with Hardware Watchpoints.
3730
3731@kindex rwatch
3732@item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3733Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3734by the program.
3735
3736@kindex awatch
3737@item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3738Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3739or written into by the program.
3740
3741@kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3742@item info watchpoints
3743This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3744@code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3745@end table
3746
3747If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3748dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3749never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3750a never-changing value:
3751
3752@smallexample
3753(@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3754Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3755(@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3756Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3757@end smallexample
3758
3759@value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3760watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3761value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3762cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3763executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3764@emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3765
3766@cindex use only software watchpoints
3767You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3768@kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3769zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3770the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3771watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3772@code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3773mechanism of watching expression values.)
3774
3775@table @code
3776@item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3777@kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3778Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3779
3780@item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3781@kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3782Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3783@end table
3784
3785For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3786watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3787hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3788
3789When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3790
3791@smallexample
3792Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3793@end smallexample
3794
3795@noindent
3796if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3797
3798Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3799hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3800value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3801every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3802that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3803hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3804will print a message like this:
3805
3806@smallexample
3807Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3808@end smallexample
3809
3810Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3811data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3812watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3813can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3814cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3815double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3816wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3817into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3818
3819If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3820to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3821Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3822time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3823able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3824warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3825
3826@smallexample
3827Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3828@end smallexample
3829
3830@noindent
3831If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3832
3833Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3834exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3835That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3836expression with separately allocated resources.
3837
3838If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3839any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3840kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3841
3842@value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3843(automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3844they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3845which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3846being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3847and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3848rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3849way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3850@code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3851
3852@cindex watchpoints and threads
3853@cindex threads and watchpoints
3854In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3855watched expression from every thread.
3856
3857@quotation
3858@emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3859have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3860watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3861single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3862change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3863confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3864software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3865when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3866watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3867@end quotation
3868
3869@xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3870
3871@node Set Catchpoints
3872@subsection Setting Catchpoints
3873@cindex catchpoints, setting
3874@cindex exception handlers
3875@cindex event handling
3876
3877You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3878kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3879shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3880
3881@table @code
3882@kindex catch
3883@item catch @var{event}
3884Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3885@table @code
3886@item throw
3887@cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3888The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3889
3890@item catch
3891The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3892
3893@item exception
3894@cindex Ada exception catching
3895@cindex catch Ada exceptions
3896An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3897at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3898the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3899Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3900
3901When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3902name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3903fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3904@value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3905rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3906called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3907the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3908Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3909
3910@item exception unhandled
3911An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3912
3913@item assert
3914A failed Ada assertion.
3915
3916@item exec
3917@cindex break on fork/exec
3918A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3919and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3920
3921@item syscall
3922@itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3923@cindex break on a system call.
3924A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3925syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3926from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3927@value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3928debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3929argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3930will be caught.
3931
3932@var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3933underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3934GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3935names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3936
3937@c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3938@c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3939@c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3940@c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3941
3942Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3943each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3944facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3945available choices.
3946
3947You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3948number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3949identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3950name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3951into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3952may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3953list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3954behind the OS upgrades).
3955
3956The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3957arguments to it:
3958
3959@smallexample
3960(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3961Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3962(@value{GDBP}) r
3963Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3964
3965Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3966 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3967(@value{GDBP}) c
3968Continuing.
3969
3970Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3971 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3972(@value{GDBP})
3973@end smallexample
3974
3975Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3976
3977@smallexample
3978(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3979Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3980(@value{GDBP}) r
3981Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3982
3983Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3984 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3985(@value{GDBP}) c
3986Continuing.
3987
3988Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3989 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3990(@value{GDBP})
3991@end smallexample
3992
3993An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3994below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3995file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
3996
3997@smallexample
3998(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3999Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4000(@value{GDBP}) r
4001Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4002
4003Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4004 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4005(@value{GDBP}) c
4006Continuing.
4007
4008Program exited normally.
4009(@value{GDBP})
4010@end smallexample
4011
4012However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4013in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4014a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4015but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4016
4017@smallexample
4018(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4019warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4020Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4021(@value{GDBP})
4022@end smallexample
4023
4024If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4025it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4026architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4027you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4028notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4029name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4030
4031@smallexample
4032(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4033warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4034warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4035GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4036Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4037(@value{GDBP})
4038@end smallexample
4039
4040Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4041
4042Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4043number. In this case, you would see something like:
4044
4045@smallexample
4046(@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4047Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4048@end smallexample
4049
4050Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4051
4052@item fork
4053A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4054and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4055
4056@item vfork
4057A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4058and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4059
4060@end table
4061
4062@item tcatch @var{event}
4063Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4064automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4065
4066@end table
4067
4068Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4069
4070There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4071(@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4072
4073@itemize @bullet
4074@item
4075If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4076control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4077raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4078returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4079simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4080that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4081you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4082disabled within interactive calls.
4083
4084@item
4085You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4086
4087@item
4088You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4089@end itemize
4090
4091@cindex raise exceptions
4092Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4093if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4094stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4095can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4096breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4097out where the exception was raised.
4098
4099To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4100knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4101raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4102which has the following ANSI C interface:
4103
4104@smallexample
4105 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4106 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4107 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4108@end smallexample
4109
4110@noindent
4111To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4112unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4113(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4114
4115With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4116that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4117a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4118breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4119raised.
4120
4121
4122@node Delete Breaks
4123@subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4124
4125@cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4126@cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4127It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4128catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4129to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4130breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4131
4132With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4133where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4134delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4135their breakpoint numbers.
4136
4137It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4138automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4139when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4140
4141@table @code
4142@kindex clear
4143@item clear
4144Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4145selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4146the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4147breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4148
4149@item clear @var{location}
4150Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4151@xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4152most useful ones are listed below:
4153
4154@table @code
4155@item clear @var{function}
4156@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4157Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4158
4159@item clear @var{linenum}
4160@itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4161Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4162@var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4163@end table
4164
4165@cindex delete breakpoints
4166@kindex delete
4167@kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4168@item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4169Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4170ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4171breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4172confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4173@end table
4174
4175@node Disabling
4176@subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4177
4178@cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4179Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4180prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4181it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4182that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4183
4184You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4185the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4186one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4187print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4188do not know which numbers to use.
4189
4190Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4191affects all of its locations.
4192
4193A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4194states of enablement:
4195
4196@itemize @bullet
4197@item
4198Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4199with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4200@item
4201Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4202@item
4203Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4204disabled.
4205@item
4206Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4207immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4208set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4209@end itemize
4210
4211You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4212watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4213
4214@table @code
4215@kindex disable
4216@kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4217@item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4218Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4219listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4220options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4221case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4222@code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4223
4224@kindex enable
4225@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4226Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4227become effective once again in stopping your program.
4228
4229@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4230Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4231of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4232
4233@item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4234Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4235deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4236Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4237@end table
4238
4239@c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4240@c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4241Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4242,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4243subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4244the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4245breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4246breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4247Stepping}.)
4248
4249@node Conditions
4250@subsection Break Conditions
4251@cindex conditional breakpoints
4252@cindex breakpoint conditions
4253
4254@c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4255@c in particular for a watchpoint?
4256The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4257specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4258breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4259programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4260a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4261and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4262
4263This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4264situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4265when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4266by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4267@samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4268
4269Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4270since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4271it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4272and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4273one.
4274
4275Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4276your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4277that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4278format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4279unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4280that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4281program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4282breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4283conditions for the
4284purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4285(@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4286
4287Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4288@samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4289Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4290with the @code{condition} command.
4291
4292You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4293The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4294@code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4295catchpoint.
4296
4297@table @code
4298@kindex condition
4299@item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4300Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4301watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4302breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4303@var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4304@code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4305syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4306referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4307symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4308prints an error message:
4309
4310@smallexample
4311No symbol "foo" in current context.
4312@end smallexample
4313
4314@noindent
4315@value{GDBN} does
4316not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4317command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4318@code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4319
4320@item condition @var{bnum}
4321Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4322an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4323@end table
4324
4325@cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4326A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4327breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4328useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4329count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4330is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4331therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4332ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4333the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4334value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4335your program reaches it.
4336
4337@table @code
4338@kindex ignore
4339@item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4340Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4341The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4342execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4343takes no action.
4344
4345To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4346a count of zero.
4347
4348When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4349breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4350@code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4351Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4352
4353If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4354condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4355@value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4356
4357You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4358as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4359is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4360Variables}.
4361@end table
4362
4363Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4364
4365
4366@node Break Commands
4367@subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4368
4369@cindex breakpoint commands
4370You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4371commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4372example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4373enable other breakpoints.
4374
4375@table @code
4376@kindex commands
4377@kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4378@item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4379@itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4380@itemx end
4381Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4382themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4383@code{end} to terminate the commands.
4384
4385To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4386follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4387
4388With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4389watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4390encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4391command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4392set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4393@code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4394creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4395Expressions}).
4396@end table
4397
4398Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4399disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4400
4401You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4402use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4403that resumes execution.
4404
4405Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4406execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4407(even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4408another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4409ambiguities about which list to execute.
4410
4411@kindex silent
4412If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4413usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4414be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4415then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4416see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4417meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4418
4419The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4420print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4421breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4422
4423For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4424value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4425
4426@smallexample
4427break foo if x>0
4428commands
4429silent
4430printf "x is %d\n",x
4431cont
4432end
4433@end smallexample
4434
4435One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4436you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4437of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4438erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4439to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4440so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4441command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4442
4443@smallexample
4444break 403
4445commands
4446silent
4447set x = y + 4
4448cont
4449end
4450@end smallexample
4451
4452@node Save Breakpoints
4453@subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4454
4455To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4456breakpoints}} command.
4457
4458@table @code
4459@kindex save breakpoints
4460@cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4461@item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4462This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4463their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4464suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4465types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4466tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4467@code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4468with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4469because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4470watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4471are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4472breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4473and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4474that can no longer be recreated.
4475@end table
4476
4477@c @ifclear BARETARGET
4478@node Error in Breakpoints
4479@subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4480
4481If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4482watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4483
4484@c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4485@c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4486@smallexample
4487Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4488You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4489@end smallexample
4490
4491@noindent
4492This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4493only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4494watchpoints it needs to insert.
4495
4496When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4497hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4498
4499@node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4500@subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4501@cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4502
4503Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4504which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4505@value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4506with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4507
4508One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4509a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4510bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4511constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4512bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4513honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4514first in the bundle.
4515
4516It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4517instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4518a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4519another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4520breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4521printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4522is hit.
4523
4524A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4525that's been subject to address adjustment:
4526
4527@smallexample
4528warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4529@end smallexample
4530
4531Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4532internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4533verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4534desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4535other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4536E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4537instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4538cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4539
4540@value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4541adjusted breakpoints:
4542
4543@smallexample
4544warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4545to 0x00010410.
4546@end smallexample
4547
4548When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4549action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4550frequently than expected.
4551
4552@node Continuing and Stepping
4553@section Continuing and Stepping
4554
4555@cindex stepping
4556@cindex continuing
4557@cindex resuming execution
4558@dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4559completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4560one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4561line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4562particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4563your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4564it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4565@samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4566
4567@table @code
4568@kindex continue
4569@kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4570@kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4571@item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4572@itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4573@itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4574Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4575any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4576@var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4577ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4578@code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4579
4580The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4581stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4582@code{continue} is ignored.
4583
4584The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4585debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4586purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4587@code{continue}.
4588@end table
4589
4590To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4591(@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4592calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4593Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4594
4595A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4596(@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4597beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4598is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4599and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4600interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4601
4602@table @code
4603@kindex step
4604@kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4605@item step
4606Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4607line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4608abbreviated @code{s}.
4609
4610@quotation
4611@c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4612@c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4613@c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4614@c distinction here.
4615@emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4616within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4617execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4618debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4619is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4620without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4621below.
4622@end quotation
4623
4624The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4625line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4626@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4627to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4628the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4629called within the line.
4630
4631Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4632number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4633@code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4634on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4635was any debugging information about the routine.
4636
4637@item step @var{count}
4638Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4639breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4640@var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4641
4642@kindex next
4643@kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4644@item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4645Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4646This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4647the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4648control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4649that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4650is abbreviated @code{n}.
4651
4652An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4653
4654
4655@c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4656@c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4657@c
4658@c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4659@c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4660@c function are executed without stopping.
4661
4662The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4663source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4664@code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4665
4666@kindex set step-mode
4667@item set step-mode
4668@cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4669@cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4670@itemx set step-mode on
4671The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4672stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4673information rather than stepping over it.
4674
4675This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4676machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4677want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4678
4679@item set step-mode off
4680Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4681debug information. This is the default.
4682
4683@item show step-mode
4684Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4685source line debug information.
4686
4687@kindex finish
4688@kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4689@item finish
4690Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4691returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4692abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4693
4694Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4695,Returning from a Function}).
4696
4697@kindex until
4698@kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4699@cindex run until specified location
4700@item until
4701@itemx u
4702Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4703current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4704stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4705command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4706automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4707than the address of the jump.
4708
4709This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4710though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4711exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4712simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4713through the next iteration.
4714
4715@code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4716stack frame.
4717
4718@code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4719of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4720example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4721(@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4722@code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4723
4724@smallexample
4725(@value{GDBP}) f
4726#0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4727206 expand_input();
4728(@value{GDBP}) until
4729195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4730@end smallexample
4731
4732This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4733generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4734start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4735written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4736to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4737expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4738statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4739
4740@code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4741instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4742argument.
4743
4744@item until @var{location}
4745@itemx u @var{location}
4746Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4747reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4748the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4749This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4750hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4751location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4752implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4753invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4754line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4755line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4756invocations have returned.
4757
4758@smallexample
475994 int factorial (int value)
476095 @{
476196 if (value > 1) @{
476297 value *= factorial (value - 1);
476398 @}
476499 return (value);
4765100 @}
4766@end smallexample
4767
4768
4769@kindex advance @var{location}
4770@itemx advance @var{location}
4771Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4772required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4773@ref{Specify Location}.
4774Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4775frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4776not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4777have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4778
4779
4780@kindex stepi
4781@kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4782@item stepi
4783@itemx stepi @var{arg}
4784@itemx si
4785Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4786
4787It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4788instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4789instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4790Display,, Automatic Display}.
4791
4792An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4793
4794@need 750
4795@kindex nexti
4796@kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4797@item nexti
4798@itemx nexti @var{arg}
4799@itemx ni
4800Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4801proceed until the function returns.
4802
4803An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4804@end table
4805
4806@node Signals
4807@section Signals
4808@cindex signals
4809
4810A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4811operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4812kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4813signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4814@code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4815memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4816the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4817requested an alarm).
4818
4819@cindex fatal signals
4820Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4821functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4822errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4823program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4824@code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4825fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4826
4827@value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4828program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4829signal.
4830
4831@cindex handling signals
4832Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4833@code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4834(so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4835but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4836You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4837
4838@table @code
4839@kindex info signals
4840@kindex info handle
4841@item info signals
4842@itemx info handle
4843Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4844handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4845the defined types of signals.
4846
4847@item info signals @var{sig}
4848Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4849
4850@code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4851
4852@kindex handle
4853@item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4854Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4855can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4856@samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4857@samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4858known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4859say what change to make.
4860@end table
4861
4862@c @group
4863The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4864Their full names are:
4865
4866@table @code
4867@item nostop
4868@value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4869still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4870
4871@item stop
4872@value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4873the @code{print} keyword as well.
4874
4875@item print
4876@value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4877
4878@item noprint
4879@value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4880implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4881
4882@item pass
4883@itemx noignore
4884@value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4885can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4886and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4887
4888@item nopass
4889@itemx ignore
4890@value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4891@code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4892@end table
4893@c @end group
4894
4895When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4896program until you
4897continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4898effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4899after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4900command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4901program sees that signal when you continue.
4902
4903The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4904non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4905@code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4906erroneous signals.
4907
4908You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4909seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4910or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4911due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4912values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4913execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4914a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4915you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4916Program a Signal}.
4917
4918@cindex extra signal information
4919@anchor{extra signal information}
4920
4921On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4922associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4923delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4924by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4925that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4926receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4927target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4928$_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4929standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4930system header.
4931
4932Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4933referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4934
4935@smallexample
4936@group
4937(@value{GDBP}) continue
4938Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
49390x0000000000400766 in main ()
494069 *(int *)p = 0;
4941(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4942type = struct @{
4943 int si_signo;
4944 int si_errno;
4945 int si_code;
4946 union @{
4947 int _pad[28];
4948 struct @{...@} _kill;
4949 struct @{...@} _timer;
4950 struct @{...@} _rt;
4951 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4952 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4953 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4954 @} _sifields;
4955@}
4956(@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4957type = struct @{
4958 void *si_addr;
4959@}
4960(@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4961$1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4962@end group
4963@end smallexample
4964
4965Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4966
4967@node Thread Stops
4968@section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4969
4970@cindex stopped threads
4971@cindex threads, stopped
4972
4973@cindex continuing threads
4974@cindex threads, continuing
4975
4976@value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4977(@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4978are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4979debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4980when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4981or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4982@value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4983@dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4984you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4985
4986@menu
4987* All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4988* Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4989* Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4990* Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4991* Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4992* Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
4993@end menu
4994
4995@node All-Stop Mode
4996@subsection All-Stop Mode
4997
4998@cindex all-stop mode
4999
5000In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5001@emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5002allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5003switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5004underfoot.
5005
5006Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5007executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5008like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5009
5010In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5011Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5012system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5013execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5014single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5015statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5016stops.
5017
5018You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5019continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5020thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5021first thread completes whatever you requested.
5022
5023@cindex automatic thread selection
5024@cindex switching threads automatically
5025@cindex threads, automatic switching
5026Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5027signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5028signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5029message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5030thread.
5031
5032On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5033locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5034
5035@table @code
5036@item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5037@cindex scheduler locking mode
5038@cindex lock scheduler
5039Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5040locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5041current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5042mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5043from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5044the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5045Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5046when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5047function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5048like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5049thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5050the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5051
5052@item show scheduler-locking
5053Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5054@end table
5055
5056@cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5057By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5058@code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5059threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5060is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5061@code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5062inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5063forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5064it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5065situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5066of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5067to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5068you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5069inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5070
5071@table @code
5072@kindex set schedule-multiple
5073@item set schedule-multiple
5074Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5075when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5076all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5077of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5078@code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5079or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5080
5081@item show schedule-multiple
5082Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5083multiple processes.
5084@end table
5085
5086@node Non-Stop Mode
5087@subsection Non-Stop Mode
5088
5089@cindex non-stop mode
5090
5091@c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5092@c with more details.
5093
5094For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5095mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5096the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5097minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5098where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5099respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5100
5101In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5102@emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5103threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5104execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5105only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5106in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5107ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5108one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5109one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5110independently and simultaneously.
5111
5112To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5113or attach to your program:
5114
5115@smallexample
5116# Enable the async interface.
5117set target-async 1
5118
5119# If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5120set pagination off
5121
5122# Finally, turn it on!
5123set non-stop on
5124@end smallexample
5125
5126You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5127
5128@table @code
5129@kindex set non-stop
5130@item set non-stop on
5131Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5132@item set non-stop off
5133Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5134@kindex show non-stop
5135@item show non-stop
5136Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5137@end table
5138
5139Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5140not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5141In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5142@value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5143not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5144since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5145non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5146default.
5147
5148In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5149by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5150To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5151
5152You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5153(@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5154while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5155The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5156always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5157
5158Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5159running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5160In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5161but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5162To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5163
5164Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5165
5166In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5167that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5168thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5169command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5170changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5171previously current thread.
5172
5173@node Background Execution
5174@subsection Background Execution
5175
5176@cindex foreground execution
5177@cindex background execution
5178@cindex asynchronous execution
5179@cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5180
5181@value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5182foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5183(asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5184the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5185another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5186a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5187
5188You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5189background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5190manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5191
5192@table @code
5193@kindex set target-async
5194@item set target-async on
5195Enable asynchronous mode.
5196@item set target-async off
5197Disable asynchronous mode.
5198@kindex show target-async
5199@item show target-async
5200Show the current target-async setting.
5201@end table
5202
5203If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5204message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5205
5206To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5207the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5208just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5209are:
5210
5211@table @code
5212@kindex run&
5213@item run
5214@xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5215
5216@item attach
5217@kindex attach&
5218@xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5219
5220@item step
5221@kindex step&
5222@xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5223
5224@item stepi
5225@kindex stepi&
5226@xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5227
5228@item next
5229@kindex next&
5230@xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5231
5232@item nexti
5233@kindex nexti&
5234@xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5235
5236@item continue
5237@kindex continue&
5238@xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5239
5240@item finish
5241@kindex finish&
5242@xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5243
5244@item until
5245@kindex until&
5246@xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5247
5248@end table
5249
5250Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5251mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5252However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5253the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5254previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5255mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5256
5257You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5258using the @code{interrupt} command.
5259
5260@table @code
5261@kindex interrupt
5262@item interrupt
5263@itemx interrupt -a
5264
5265Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5266@code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5267only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5268use @code{interrupt -a}.
5269@end table
5270
5271@node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5272@subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5273
5274When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5275Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5276breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5277
5278@table @code
5279@cindex breakpoints and threads
5280@cindex thread breakpoints
5281@kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5282@item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5283@itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5284@var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5285writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5286specify some source line.
5287
5288Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5289to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5290particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5291numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5292column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5293
5294If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5295breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5296program.
5297
5298You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5299well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5300after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5301
5302@smallexample
5303(@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5304@end smallexample
5305
5306@end table
5307
5308@node Interrupted System Calls
5309@subsection Interrupted System Calls
5310
5311@cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5312@cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5313@cindex premature return from system calls
5314There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5315multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5316breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5317system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5318consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5319that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5320stop execution.
5321
5322To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5323each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5324style anyways.
5325
5326For example, do not write code like this:
5327
5328@smallexample
5329 sleep (10);
5330@end smallexample
5331
5332The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5333at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5334
5335Instead, write this:
5336
5337@smallexample
5338 int unslept = 10;
5339 while (unslept > 0)
5340 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5341@end smallexample
5342
5343A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5344conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5345multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5346@value{GDBN}.
5347
5348Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5349monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5350When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5351prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5352
5353@node Observer Mode
5354@subsection Observer Mode
5355
5356If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5357without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5358variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5359whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5360at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5361
5362When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5363be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5364@code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5365mode.
5366
5367Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5368combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5369@code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5370then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5371stream will still not be able to be placed.
5372
5373@table @code
5374
5375@kindex observer
5376@item set observer on
5377@itemx set observer off
5378When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5379below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5380non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5381normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5382
5383@item show observer
5384Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5385
5386@kindex may-write-registers
5387@item set may-write-registers on
5388@itemx set may-write-registers off
5389This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5390registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5391@code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5392
5393@item show may-write-registers
5394Show the current permission to write registers.
5395
5396@kindex may-write-memory
5397@item set may-write-memory on
5398@itemx set may-write-memory off
5399This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5400of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5401defaults to @code{on}.
5402
5403@item show may-write-memory
5404Show the current permission to write memory.
5405
5406@kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5407@item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5408@itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5409This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5410This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5411by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5412
5413@item show may-insert-breakpoints
5414Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5415
5416@kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5417@item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5418@itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5419This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5420tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5421non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5422@code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5423
5424@item show may-insert-tracepoints
5425Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5426
5427@kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5428@item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5429@itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5430This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5431tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5432fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5433control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5434
5435@item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5436Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5437
5438@kindex may-interrupt
5439@item set may-interrupt on
5440@itemx set may-interrupt off
5441This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5442program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5443@code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5444@kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5445
5446@item show may-interrupt
5447Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5448
5449@end table
5450
5451@node Reverse Execution
5452@chapter Running programs backward
5453@cindex reverse execution
5454@cindex running programs backward
5455
5456When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5457you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5458If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5459``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5460
5461A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5462to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5463program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5464revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5465deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5466all target environments can support reverse execution.
5467
5468When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5469have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5470order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5471thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5472the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5473instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5474a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5475should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5476prior values@footnote{
5477Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5478memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5479targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5480
5481The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5482requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5483@value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5484results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5485@value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5486assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5487consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5488}.
5489
5490If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5491reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5492
5493@table @code
5494@kindex reverse-continue
5495@kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5496@item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5497@itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5498Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5499in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5500exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5501asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5502
5503@kindex reverse-step
5504@kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5505@item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5506Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5507different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5508
5509Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5510at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5511executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5512debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5513the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5514statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5515
5516Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5517called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5518
5519@kindex reverse-stepi
5520@kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5521@item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5522Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5523to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5524counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5525if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5526back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5527
5528@kindex reverse-next
5529@kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5530@item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5531Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5532the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5533calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5534the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5535to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5536just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5537line of a function back to its return to its caller
5538@footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5539
5540@kindex reverse-nexti
5541@kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5542@item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5543Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5544in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5545That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5546another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5547in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5548frame) is reached.
5549
5550@kindex reverse-finish
5551@item reverse-finish
5552Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5553current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5554where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5555function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5556
5557@kindex set exec-direction
5558@item set exec-direction
5559Set the direction of target execution.
5560@itemx set exec-direction reverse
5561@cindex execute forward or backward in time
5562@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5563exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5564@code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5565command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5566@item set exec-direction forward
5567@value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5568This is the default.
5569@end table
5570
5571
5572@node Process Record and Replay
5573@chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5574@cindex process record and replay
5575@cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5576
5577On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5578and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5579replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5580
5581@cindex replay mode
5582When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5583for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5584mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5585instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5586code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5587really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5588program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5589changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5590execution log.
5591
5592@cindex record mode
5593If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5594@value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5595inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5596for future replay.
5597
5598The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5599(@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5600inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5601this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5602log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5603support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5604
5605When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5606replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5607previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5608platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5609
5610For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5611@value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5612
5613@table @code
5614@kindex target record
5615@kindex record
5616@kindex rec
5617@item target record
5618This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5619record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5620running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5621@kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5622the @kbd{target record} command.
5623
5624Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5625
5626@cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5627Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5628will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5629is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5630doesn't support displaced stepping.
5631
5632@cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5633@cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5634If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5635the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5636process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5637support these two modes.
5638
5639@kindex record stop
5640@kindex rec s
5641@item record stop
5642Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5643replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5644inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5645
5646When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5647the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5648next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5649you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5650will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5651
5652On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5653while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5654but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5655at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5656usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5657
5658When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5659process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5660
5661@kindex record save
5662@item record save @var{filename}
5663Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5664Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5665@var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5666
5667@kindex record restore
5668@item record restore @var{filename}
5669Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5670File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5671
5672@kindex set record insn-number-max
5673@item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5674Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5675
5676If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5677deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5678instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5679instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5680instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5681(Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5682lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5683the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5684
5685If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5686instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5687instructions is unlimited in this case.
5688
5689@kindex show record insn-number-max
5690@item show record insn-number-max
5691Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5692
5693@kindex set record stop-at-limit
5694@item set record stop-at-limit
5695Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5696the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5697is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5698inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5699you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5700cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5701
5702If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5703oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5704
5705@kindex show record stop-at-limit
5706@item show record stop-at-limit
5707Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5708
5709@kindex set record memory-query
5710@item set record memory-query
5711Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5712changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5713whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5714
5715If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5716ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5717@value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5718instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5719results.
5720
5721@kindex show record memory-query
5722@item show record memory-query
5723Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5724
5725@kindex info record
5726@item info record
5727Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5728in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5729
5730@itemize @bullet
5731@item
5732Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5733@item
5734Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5735@item
5736Highest recorded instruction number.
5737@item
5738Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5739@item
5740Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5741@item
5742Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5743@end itemize
5744
5745@kindex record delete
5746@kindex rec del
5747@item record delete
5748When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5749subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5750from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5751recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5752@end table
5753
5754
5755@node Stack
5756@chapter Examining the Stack
5757
5758When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5759stopped and how it got there.
5760
5761@cindex call stack
5762Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5763is generated.
5764That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5765the arguments of the call,
5766and the local variables of the function being called.
5767The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5768The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5769stack}.
5770
5771When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5772stack allow you to see all of this information.
5773
5774@cindex selected frame
5775One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5776@value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5777particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5778your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5779special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5780interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5781
5782When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5783currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5784@code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5785
5786@menu
5787* Frames:: Stack frames
5788* Backtrace:: Backtraces
5789* Selection:: Selecting a frame
5790* Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5791
5792@end menu
5793
5794@node Frames
5795@section Stack Frames
5796
5797@cindex frame, definition
5798@cindex stack frame
5799The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5800frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5801with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5802to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5803which the function is executing.
5804
5805@cindex initial frame
5806@cindex outermost frame
5807@cindex innermost frame
5808When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5809function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5810@dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5811made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5812is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5813the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5814actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5815recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5816
5817@cindex frame pointer
5818Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5819stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5820kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5821address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5822in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5823(@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5824
5825@cindex frame number
5826@value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5827zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5828and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5829they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5830frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5831
5832@c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5833@c underflow problems.
5834@cindex frameless execution
5835Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5836without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5837@smallexample
5838@samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5839@end smallexample
5840generates functions without a frame.)
5841This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5842the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5843with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5844has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5845it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5846correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5847no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5848
5849@table @code
5850@kindex frame@r{, command}
5851@cindex current stack frame
5852@item frame @var{args}
5853The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5854and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5855address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5856@code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5857
5858@kindex select-frame
5859@cindex selecting frame silently
5860@item select-frame
5861The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5862to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5863@code{frame}.
5864@end table
5865
5866@node Backtrace
5867@section Backtraces
5868
5869@cindex traceback
5870@cindex call stack traces
5871A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5872line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5873frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5874stack.
5875
5876@table @code
5877@kindex backtrace
5878@kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5879@item backtrace
5880@itemx bt
5881Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5882frames in the stack.
5883
5884You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5885character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5886
5887@item backtrace @var{n}
5888@itemx bt @var{n}
5889Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5890
5891@item backtrace -@var{n}
5892@itemx bt -@var{n}
5893Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5894
5895@item backtrace full
5896@itemx bt full
5897@itemx bt full @var{n}
5898@itemx bt full -@var{n}
5899Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5900number of frames to print, as described above.
5901@end table
5902
5903@kindex where
5904@kindex info stack
5905The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5906are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5907
5908@cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5909In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5910backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5911several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5912(@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5913apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5914the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5915multi-threaded program.
5916
5917Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5918The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5919print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5920line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5921counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5922line number.
5923
5924Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5925@samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5926
5927@smallexample
5928@group
5929#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5930 at builtin.c:993
5931#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5932#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5933 at macro.c:71
5934(More stack frames follow...)
5935@end group
5936@end smallexample
5937
5938@noindent
5939The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5940value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5941code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5942
5943@noindent
5944The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5945@code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5946only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5947@kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5948on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5949
5950@cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5951@cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5952If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5953optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5954never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5955passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5956in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5957arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5958such a backtrace might look like:
5959
5960@smallexample
5961@group
5962#0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5963 at builtin.c:993
5964#1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5965#2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5966 at macro.c:71
5967(More stack frames follow...)
5968@end group
5969@end smallexample
5970
5971@noindent
5972The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5973shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5974
5975If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5976either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5977you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5978
5979@cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5980@cindex program entry point
5981@cindex startup code, and backtrace
5982Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5983libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5984@code{main}@footnote{
5985Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5986environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5987entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5988When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5989it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5990system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5991
5992If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5993in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5994
5995@table @code
5996@item set backtrace past-main
5997@itemx set backtrace past-main on
5998@kindex set backtrace
5999Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6000
6001@item set backtrace past-main off
6002Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6003default.
6004
6005@item show backtrace past-main
6006@kindex show backtrace
6007Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6008
6009@item set backtrace past-entry
6010@itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6011Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6012This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6013and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6014
6015@item set backtrace past-entry off
6016Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6017application. This is the default.
6018
6019@item show backtrace past-entry
6020Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6021
6022@item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6023@itemx set backtrace limit 0
6024@cindex backtrace limit
6025Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6026unlimited.
6027
6028@item show backtrace limit
6029Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6030@end table
6031
6032@node Selection
6033@section Selecting a Frame
6034
6035Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6036whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6037selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6038of the stack frame just selected.
6039
6040@table @code
6041@kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6042@kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6043@item frame @var{n}
6044@itemx f @var{n}
6045Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6046(currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6047innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6048@code{main}.
6049
6050@item frame @var{addr}
6051@itemx f @var{addr}
6052Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6053chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6054impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6055addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6056switches between them.
6057
6058On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6059select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6060
6061On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6062pointer and a program counter.
6063
6064On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6065pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6066
6067@kindex up
6068@item up @var{n}
6069Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6070advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6071that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6072
6073@kindex down
6074@kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6075@item down @var{n}
6076Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6077advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6078that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6079abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6080@end table
6081
6082All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6083frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6084arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6085frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6086
6087@need 1000
6088For example:
6089
6090@smallexample
6091@group
6092(@value{GDBP}) up
6093#1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6094 at env.c:10
609510 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6096@end group
6097@end smallexample
6098
6099After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6100prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6101You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6102editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6103@xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6104for details.
6105
6106@table @code
6107@kindex down-silently
6108@kindex up-silently
6109@item up-silently @var{n}
6110@itemx down-silently @var{n}
6111These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6112respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6113causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6114in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6115distracting.
6116@end table
6117
6118@node Frame Info
6119@section Information About a Frame
6120
6121There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6122stack frame.
6123
6124@table @code
6125@item frame
6126@itemx f
6127When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6128frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6129selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6130argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6131@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6132
6133@kindex info frame
6134@kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6135@item info frame
6136@itemx info f
6137This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6138including:
6139
6140@itemize @bullet
6141@item
6142the address of the frame
6143@item
6144the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6145@item
6146the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6147@item
6148the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6149@item
6150the address of the frame's arguments
6151@item
6152the address of the frame's local variables
6153@item
6154the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6155@item
6156which registers were saved in the frame
6157@end itemize
6158
6159@noindent The verbose description is useful when
6160something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6161the usual conventions.
6162
6163@item info frame @var{addr}
6164@itemx info f @var{addr}
6165Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6166selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6167command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6168architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6169@xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6170
6171@kindex info args
6172@item info args
6173Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6174
6175@item info locals
6176@kindex info locals
6177Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6178line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6179accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6180
6181@kindex info catch
6182@cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6183@cindex exception handlers, how to list
6184@item info catch
6185Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6186current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6187exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6188@code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6189@xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6190
6191@end table
6192
6193
6194@node Source
6195@chapter Examining Source Files
6196
6197@value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6198information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6199used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6200the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6201(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6202execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6203source files by explicit command.
6204
6205If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6206prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6207@value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6208
6209@menu
6210* List:: Printing source lines
6211* Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6212* Edit:: Editing source files
6213* Search:: Searching source files
6214* Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6215* Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6216@end menu
6217
6218@node List
6219@section Printing Source Lines
6220
6221@kindex list
6222@kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6223To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6224(abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6225There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6226print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6227
6228Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6229
6230@table @code
6231@item list @var{linenum}
6232Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6233current source file.
6234
6235@item list @var{function}
6236Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6237@var{function}.
6238
6239@item list
6240Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6241@code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6242printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6243as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6244Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6245
6246@item list -
6247Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6248@end table
6249
6250@cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6251By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6252the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6253
6254@table @code
6255@kindex set listsize
6256@item set listsize @var{count}
6257Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6258the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6259
6260@kindex show listsize
6261@item show listsize
6262Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6263@end table
6264
6265Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6266so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6267than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6268argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6269each repetition moves up in the source file.
6270
6271In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6272@dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6273of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6274to specify some source line.
6275
6276Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6277
6278@table @code
6279@item list @var{linespec}
6280Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6281
6282@item list @var{first},@var{last}
6283Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6284linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6285source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6286the same source file as the first linespec.
6287
6288@item list ,@var{last}
6289Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6290
6291@item list @var{first},
6292Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6293
6294@item list +
6295Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6296
6297@item list -
6298Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6299
6300@item list
6301As described in the preceding table.
6302@end table
6303
6304@node Specify Location
6305@section Specifying a Location
6306@cindex specifying location
6307@cindex linespec
6308
6309Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6310of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6311debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6312for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6313
6314Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6315@value{GDBN} understands:
6316
6317@table @code
6318@item @var{linenum}
6319Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6320
6321@item -@var{offset}
6322@itemx +@var{offset}
6323Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6324line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6325printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6326execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6327(@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6328used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6329this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6330linespec.
6331
6332@item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6333Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6334
6335@item @var{function}
6336Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6337For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6338
6339@item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6340Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6341in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6342function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6343functions in different source files.
6344
6345@item @var{label}
6346Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6347@value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6348the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6349stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6350@value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6351
6352@item *@var{address}
6353Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6354commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6355line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6356breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6357parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6358source files.
6359
6360Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6361language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6362address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6363semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6364that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6365of @var{address}:
6366
6367@table @code
6368@item @var{expression}
6369Any expression valid in the current working language.
6370
6371@item @var{funcaddr}
6372An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6373C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6374simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6375of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6376@code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6377(although the Pascal form also works).
6378
6379This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6380before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6381
6382@item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6383Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6384file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6385specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6386functions with identical names in different source files.
6387@end table
6388
6389@end table
6390
6391
6392@node Edit
6393@section Editing Source Files
6394@cindex editing source files
6395
6396@kindex edit
6397@kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6398To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6399The editing program of your choice
6400is invoked with the current line set to
6401the active line in the program.
6402Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6403want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6404
6405@table @code
6406@item edit @var{location}
6407Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6408that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6409specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6410of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6411command most commonly used:
6412
6413@table @code
6414@item edit @var{number}
6415Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6416
6417@item edit @var{function}
6418Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6419@end table
6420
6421@end table
6422
6423@subsection Choosing your Editor
6424You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6425@footnote{
6426The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6427following command-line syntax:
6428@smallexample
6429ex +@var{number} file
6430@end smallexample
6431The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6432the file where to start editing.}.
6433By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6434by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6435@value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6436@code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6437@smallexample
6438EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6439export EDITOR
6440gdb @dots{}
6441@end smallexample
6442or in the @code{csh} shell,
6443@smallexample
6444setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6445gdb @dots{}
6446@end smallexample
6447
6448@node Search
6449@section Searching Source Files
6450@cindex searching source files
6451
6452There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6453regular expression.
6454
6455@table @code
6456@kindex search
6457@kindex forward-search
6458@item forward-search @var{regexp}
6459@itemx search @var{regexp}
6460The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6461starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6462@var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6463synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6464@code{fo}.
6465
6466@kindex reverse-search
6467@item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6468The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6469with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6470for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6471this command as @code{rev}.
6472@end table
6473
6474@node Source Path
6475@section Specifying Source Directories
6476
6477@cindex source path
6478@cindex directories for source files
6479Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6480files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6481the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6482session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6483this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6484it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6485in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6486
6487For example, suppose an executable references the file
6488@file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6489@file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6490fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6491fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6492message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6493source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6494Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6495the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6496@file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6497@file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6498
6499Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6500names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6501instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6502is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6503@file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6504that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6505
6506Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6507source files.
6508
6509Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6510any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6511each line is in the file.
6512
6513@kindex directory
6514@kindex dir
6515When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6516and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6517To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6518
6519The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6520script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6521
6522In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6523that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6524rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6525debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6526directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6527two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6528the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6529In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6530@var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6531of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6532source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6533name to look up the sources.
6534
6535Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6536moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6537@value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6538@file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6539@file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6540of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6541substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6542(@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6543
6544To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6545@var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6546For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6547@file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6548not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6549is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6550not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6551
6552In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6553command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6554the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6555subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6556subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6557preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6558allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6559command.
6560
6561@code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6562The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6563longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6564the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6565for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6566located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6567method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6568
6569@cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6570@cindex default source path substitution
6571You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6572configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6573@samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6574should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6575prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6576directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6577automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6578location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6579with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6580together.
6581
6582@table @code
6583@item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6584@item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6585Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6586directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6587(@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6588part of absolute file names) or
6589whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6590path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6591
6592@kindex cdir
6593@kindex cwd
6594@vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6595@vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6596@cindex compilation directory
6597@cindex current directory
6598@cindex working directory
6599@cindex directory, current
6600@cindex directory, compilation
6601You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6602directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6603working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6604tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6605session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6606directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6607
6608@item directory
6609Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6610
6611@c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6612@c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6613
6614@item show directories
6615@kindex show directories
6616Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6617
6618@anchor{set substitute-path}
6619@item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6620@kindex set substitute-path
6621Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6622current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6623@var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6624
6625For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6626@file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6627
6628@smallexample
6629(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6630@end smallexample
6631
6632@noindent
6633will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6634@samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6635@file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6636
6637In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6638the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6639defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6640the substitution.
6641
6642For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6643
6644@smallexample
6645(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6646(@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6647@end smallexample
6648
6649@noindent
6650@value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6651@file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6652use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6653@file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6654
6655
6656@item unset substitute-path [path]
6657@kindex unset substitute-path
6658If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6659for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6660A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6661
6662If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6663
6664@item show substitute-path [path]
6665@kindex show substitute-path
6666If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6667which would rewrite that path, if any.
6668
6669If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6670rules.
6671
6672@end table
6673
6674If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6675interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6676versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6677
6678@enumerate
6679@item
6680Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6681
6682@item
6683Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6684directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6685directories in one command.
6686@end enumerate
6687
6688@node Machine Code
6689@section Source and Machine Code
6690@cindex source line and its code address
6691
6692You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6693addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6694a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6695@code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6696source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6697mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6698line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6699well as hex.
6700
6701@table @code
6702@kindex info line
6703@item info line @var{linespec}
6704Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6705source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6706the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6707@end table
6708
6709For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6710the object code for the first line of function
6711@code{m4_changequote}:
6712
6713@c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6714@c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6715@smallexample
6716(@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6717Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6718@end smallexample
6719
6720@noindent
6721@cindex code address and its source line
6722We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6723@var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6724@smallexample
6725(@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6726Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6727@end smallexample
6728
6729@cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6730@cindex @code{x} command, default address
6731@kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6732After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6733is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6734sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6735,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6736convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6737Variables}).
6738
6739@table @code
6740@kindex disassemble
6741@cindex assembly instructions
6742@cindex instructions, assembly
6743@cindex machine instructions
6744@cindex listing machine instructions
6745@item disassemble
6746@itemx disassemble /m
6747@itemx disassemble /r
6748This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6749instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6750the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6751in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6752The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6753program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6754command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6755surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6756be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6757arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
6758
6759@table @code
6760@item @var{start},@var{end}
6761the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
6762@item @var{start},+@var{length}
6763the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
6764@code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
6765@end table
6766
6767@noindent
6768When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
6769printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
6770
6771The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6772@samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6773
6774If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6775the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6776@end table
6777
6778The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6779HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6780
6781@smallexample
6782(@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6783Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6784 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6785 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6786 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6787 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6788 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6789 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6790 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6791 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6792End of assembler dump.
6793@end smallexample
6794
6795Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6796program is stopped just after function prologue:
6797
6798@smallexample
6799(@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6800Dump of assembler code for function main:
68015 @{
6802 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6803 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6804 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6805 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6806 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6807
68086 printf ("Hello.\n");
6809=> 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6810 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6811
68127 return 0;
68138 @}
6814 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6815 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6816 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6817
6818End of assembler dump.
6819@end smallexample
6820
6821Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
6822
6823@smallexample
6824(gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
6825Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
6826 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
6827 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
6828 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
6829 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
6830End of assembler dump.
6831@end smallexample
6832
6833Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6834mnemonics or other syntax.
6835
6836For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6837instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6838libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6839location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6840might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6841
6842@table @code
6843@kindex set disassembly-flavor
6844@cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6845@cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6846@item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6847Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6848program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6849
6850Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6851can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6852The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6853assemblers for x86-based targets.
6854
6855@kindex show disassembly-flavor
6856@item show disassembly-flavor
6857Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6858@end table
6859
6860@table @code
6861@kindex set disassemble-next-line
6862@kindex show disassemble-next-line
6863@item set disassemble-next-line
6864@itemx show disassemble-next-line
6865Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6866line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6867display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6868program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6869displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6870possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6871(e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6872info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6873next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6874AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6875if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6876@value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6877with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6878OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6879instruction.
6880@end table
6881
6882
6883@node Data
6884@chapter Examining Data
6885
6886@cindex printing data
6887@cindex examining data
6888@kindex print
6889@kindex inspect
6890@c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6891@c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6892@c different window or something like that.
6893The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6894command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6895evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6896program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6897Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
6898Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
6899
6900@table @code
6901@item print @var{expr}
6902@itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6903@var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6904value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6905you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6906@var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6907Formats}.
6908
6909@item print
6910@itemx print /@var{f}
6911@cindex reprint the last value
6912If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6913@dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6914conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6915@end table
6916
6917A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6918It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6919specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6920
6921If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6922fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6923command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6924Table}.
6925
6926@menu
6927* Expressions:: Expressions
6928* Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6929* Variables:: Program variables
6930* Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6931* Output Formats:: Output formats
6932* Memory:: Examining memory
6933* Auto Display:: Automatic display
6934* Print Settings:: Print settings
6935* Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
6936* Value History:: Value history
6937* Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6938* Registers:: Registers
6939* Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6940* Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6941* OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6942* Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6943* Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6944* Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6945* Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6946 character set than GDB does
6947* Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6948* Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6949@end menu
6950
6951@node Expressions
6952@section Expressions
6953
6954@cindex expressions
6955@code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6956compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6957by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6958@value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6959casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6960you compiled your program to include this information; see
6961@ref{Compilation}.
6962
6963@cindex arrays in expressions
6964@value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6965the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6966you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6967of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6968to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6969is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6970
6971Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6972this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6973Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6974languages.
6975
6976In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6977expressions regardless of your programming language.
6978
6979@cindex casts, in expressions
6980Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6981useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6982at that address in memory.
6983@c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6984
6985@value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6986to programming languages:
6987
6988@table @code
6989@item @@
6990@samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6991@xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6992
6993@item ::
6994@samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6995function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6996
6997@cindex @{@var{type}@}
6998@cindex type casting memory
6999@cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7000@cindex casts, to view memory
7001@item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7002Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7003memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7004pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7005a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7006normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7007@end table
7008
7009@node Ambiguous Expressions
7010@section Ambiguous Expressions
7011@cindex ambiguous expressions
7012
7013Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7014some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7015a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7016different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7017involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7018templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7019the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7020
7021In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7022the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7023can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7024@kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7025qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7026as well.
7027
7028When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7029has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7030possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7031The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7032aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7033used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7034menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7035choices.
7036
7037For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7038breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7039We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7040
7041@c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7042@smallexample
7043@group
7044(@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7045[0] cancel
7046[1] all
7047[2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7048[3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7049[4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7050[5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7051[6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7052[7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7053> 2 4 6
7054Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7055Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7056Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7057Multiple breakpoints were set.
7058Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7059 breakpoints.
7060(@value{GDBP})
7061@end group
7062@end smallexample
7063
7064@table @code
7065@kindex set multiple-symbols
7066@item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7067@cindex multiple-symbols menu
7068
7069This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7070is ambiguous.
7071
7072By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7073the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7074automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7075a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7076inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7077then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7078For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7079in the use of the menu.
7080
7081When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7082when an ambiguity is detected.
7083
7084Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7085an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7086
7087@kindex show multiple-symbols
7088@item show multiple-symbols
7089Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7090@end table
7091
7092@node Variables
7093@section Program Variables
7094
7095The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7096in your program.
7097
7098Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7099(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7100
7101@itemize @bullet
7102@item
7103global (or file-static)
7104@end itemize
7105
7106@noindent or
7107
7108@itemize @bullet
7109@item
7110visible according to the scope rules of the
7111programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7112@end itemize
7113
7114@noindent This means that in the function
7115
7116@smallexample
7117foo (a)
7118 int a;
7119@{
7120 bar (a);
7121 @{
7122 int b = test ();
7123 bar (b);
7124 @}
7125@}
7126@end smallexample
7127
7128@noindent
7129you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7130executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7131examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7132the block where @code{b} is declared.
7133
7134@cindex variable name conflict
7135There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7136scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7137in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7138function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7139happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7140you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
7141using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7142
7143@cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7144@ifnotinfo
7145@c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7146@cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7147@end ifnotinfo
7148@smallexample
7149@var{file}::@var{variable}
7150@var{function}::@var{variable}
7151@end smallexample
7152
7153@noindent
7154Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7155static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7156make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7157to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7158
7159@smallexample
7160(@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7161@end smallexample
7162
7163@cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7164This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7165use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7166scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7167@c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7168@c conflict?? --mew
7169
7170@cindex wrong values
7171@cindex variable values, wrong
7172@cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7173@cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7174@quotation
7175@emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7176wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7177scope, and just before exit.
7178@end quotation
7179You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7180This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7181set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7182stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7183values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7184also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7185after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7186variable definitions may be gone.
7187
7188This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7189To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7190when compiling.
7191
7192@cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7193Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7194unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7195opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7196offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7197might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7198happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7199
7200@smallexample
7201No symbol "foo" in current context.
7202@end smallexample
7203
7204To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7205different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7206formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
7207usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
7208produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
7209COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
7210an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
7211for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
7212Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
7213@xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
7214that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7215
7216If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7217@value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7218by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7219type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7220
7221Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7222signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7223printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7224@code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7225defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7226For program code
7227
7228@smallexample
7229char var0[] = "A";
7230signed char var1[] = "A";
7231@end smallexample
7232
7233You get during debugging
7234@smallexample
7235(gdb) print var0
7236$1 = "A"
7237(gdb) print var1
7238$2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7239@end smallexample
7240
7241@node Arrays
7242@section Artificial Arrays
7243
7244@cindex artificial array
7245@cindex arrays
7246@kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7247It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7248same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7249dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7250program.
7251
7252You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7253@dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7254operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7255and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7256of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7257the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7258argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7259following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7260example. If a program says
7261
7262@smallexample
7263int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7264@end smallexample
7265
7266@noindent
7267you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7268
7269@smallexample
7270p *array@@len
7271@end smallexample
7272
7273The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7274with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7275subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7276Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7277(@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7278
7279Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7280This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7281The value need not be in memory:
7282@smallexample
7283(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7284$1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7285@end smallexample
7286
7287As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7288@samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7289the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7290@smallexample
7291(@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7292$2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7293@end smallexample
7294
7295Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7296moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7297actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7298of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7299to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7300Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7301interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7302instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7303structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7304in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7305
7306@smallexample
7307set $i = 0
7308p dtab[$i++]->fv
7309@key{RET}
7310@key{RET}
7311@dots{}
7312@end smallexample
7313
7314@node Output Formats
7315@section Output Formats
7316
7317@cindex formatted output
7318@cindex output formats
7319By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7320this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7321in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7322at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7323these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7324
7325The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7326already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7327@code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7328letters supported are:
7329
7330@table @code
7331@item x
7332Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7333hexadecimal.
7334
7335@item d
7336Print as integer in signed decimal.
7337
7338@item u
7339Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7340
7341@item o
7342Print as integer in octal.
7343
7344@item t
7345Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7346@footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7347used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7348see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7349
7350@item a
7351@cindex unknown address, locating
7352@cindex locate address
7353Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7354the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7355where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7356
7357@smallexample
7358(@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7359$3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7360@end smallexample
7361
7362@noindent
7363The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7364@xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7365
7366@item c
7367Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7368prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7369character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7370for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7371
7372Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7373@w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7374constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7375data.
7376
7377@item f
7378Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7379using typical floating point syntax.
7380
7381@item s
7382@cindex printing strings
7383@cindex printing byte arrays
7384Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7385data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7386are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7387natural types.
7388
7389Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7390@code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7391strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7392array.
7393
7394@item r
7395@cindex raw printing
7396Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7397use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7398Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7399value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7400pretty-printer which might exist.
7401@end table
7402
7403For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7404
7405@smallexample
7406p/x $pc
7407@end smallexample
7408
7409@noindent
7410Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7411names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7412
7413To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7414you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7415expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7416
7417@node Memory
7418@section Examining Memory
7419
7420You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7421any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7422
7423@cindex examining memory
7424@table @code
7425@kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7426@item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7427@itemx x @var{addr}
7428@itemx x
7429Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7430@end table
7431
7432@var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7433much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7434expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7435If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7436Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7437
7438@table @r
7439@item @var{n}, the repeat count
7440The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7441how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7442@c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7443@c 4.1.2.
7444
7445@item @var{f}, the display format
7446The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7447(@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7448@samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7449The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7450each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7451
7452@item @var{u}, the unit size
7453The unit size is any of
7454
7455@table @code
7456@item b
7457Bytes.
7458@item h
7459Halfwords (two bytes).
7460@item w
7461Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7462@item g
7463Giant words (eight bytes).
7464@end table
7465
7466Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7467default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7468the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7469the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7470Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
747132-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7472Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7473current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7474modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7475UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7476be altered.
7477
7478@item @var{addr}, starting display address
7479@var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7480memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7481it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7482@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7483@var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7484other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7485the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7486starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7487a value from memory).
7488@end table
7489
7490For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7491(@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7492starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7493words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7494@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7495
7496Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7497letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7498unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7499specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7500(However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7501
7502Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7503and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7504@samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7505including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7506the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7507slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7508follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7509@code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7510instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7511
7512All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7513easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7514you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7515instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7516with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7517the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7518for successive uses of @code{x}.
7519
7520When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7521counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7522
7523@smallexample
7524(@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7525 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7526 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7527 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7528=> 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7529 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7530@end smallexample
7531
7532@cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7533The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7534in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7535would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7536subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7537@code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7538examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7539@code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7540the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7541
7542If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7543are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7544address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7545
7546@cindex remote memory comparison
7547@cindex verify remote memory image
7548When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7549(@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7550remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7551the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7552situations.
7553
7554@table @code
7555@kindex compare-sections
7556@item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7557Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7558executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7559the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7560arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7561availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7562remote request.
7563@end table
7564
7565@node Auto Display
7566@section Automatic Display
7567@cindex automatic display
7568@cindex display of expressions
7569
7570If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7571(to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7572display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7573Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7574to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7575The automatic display looks like this:
7576
7577@smallexample
75782: foo = 38
75793: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7580@end smallexample
7581
7582@noindent
7583This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7584displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7585specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7586whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7587specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7588or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7589
7590@table @code
7591@kindex display
7592@item display @var{expr}
7593Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7594each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7595
7596@code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7597
7598@item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7599For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7600count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7601arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7602@xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7603
7604@item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7605For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7606number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7607be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7608doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7609@end table
7610
7611For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7612instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7613is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7614
7615@table @code
7616@kindex delete display
7617@kindex undisplay
7618@item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7619@itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7620Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7621
7622@code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7623(Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7624
7625@kindex disable display
7626@item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7627Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7628item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7629enabled again later.
7630
7631@kindex enable display
7632@item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7633Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7634again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7635
7636@item display
7637Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7638done when your program stops.
7639
7640@kindex info display
7641@item info display
7642Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7643automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7644values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7645It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7646because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7647@end table
7648
7649@cindex display disabled out of scope
7650If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7651sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7652expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7653variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7654@code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7655@code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7656continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7657there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7658automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7659is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7660
7661@node Print Settings
7662@section Print Settings
7663
7664@cindex format options
7665@cindex print settings
7666@value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7667and symbols are printed.
7668
7669@noindent
7670These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7671
7672@table @code
7673@kindex set print
7674@item set print address
7675@itemx set print address on
7676@cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7677@value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7678traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7679even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7680is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7681@code{set print address on}:
7682
7683@smallexample
7684@group
7685(@value{GDBP}) f
7686#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7687 at input.c:530
7688530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7689@end group
7690@end smallexample
7691
7692@item set print address off
7693Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7694this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7695
7696@smallexample
7697@group
7698(@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7699(@value{GDBP}) f
7700#0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7701530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7702@end group
7703@end smallexample
7704
7705You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7706dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7707@code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7708all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7709
7710@kindex show print
7711@item show print address
7712Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7713@end table
7714
7715When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7716closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7717identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7718source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7719@code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7720you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7721it prints a symbolic address:
7722
7723@table @code
7724@item set print symbol-filename on
7725@cindex source file and line of a symbol
7726@cindex symbol, source file and line
7727Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7728symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7729
7730@item set print symbol-filename off
7731Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7732default.
7733
7734@item show print symbol-filename
7735Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7736line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7737@end table
7738
7739Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7740numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7741number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7742
7743Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7744printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7745
7746@table @code
7747@item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7748@cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7749Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7750offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7751@var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7752to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7753
7754@item show print max-symbolic-offset
7755Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7756symbolic address.
7757@end table
7758
7759@cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7760@cindex pointer, finding referent
7761If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7762@samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7763and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7764@samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7765For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7766at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7767
7768@smallexample
7769(@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7770(@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7771$4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7772@end smallexample
7773
7774@quotation
7775@emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7776does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7777the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7778@end quotation
7779
7780Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7781
7782@table @code
7783@item set print array
7784@itemx set print array on
7785@cindex pretty print arrays
7786Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7787but uses more space. The default is off.
7788
7789@item set print array off
7790Return to compressed format for arrays.
7791
7792@item show print array
7793Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7794arrays.
7795
7796@cindex print array indexes
7797@item set print array-indexes
7798@itemx set print array-indexes on
7799Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7800convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7801index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7802
7803@item set print array-indexes off
7804Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7805
7806@item show print array-indexes
7807Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7808arrays.
7809
7810@item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7811@cindex number of array elements to print
7812@cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7813Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7814If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7815printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7816This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7817When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7818Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7819
7820@item show print elements
7821Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7822If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7823
7824@item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7825@kindex set print frame-arguments
7826@cindex printing frame argument values
7827@cindex print all frame argument values
7828@cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7829@cindex do not print frame argument values
7830This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7831when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7832values are:
7833
7834@table @code
7835@item all
7836The values of all arguments are printed.
7837
7838@item scalars
7839Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7840complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7841by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7842only scalar arguments are shown:
7843
7844@smallexample
7845#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7846 at frame-args.c:23
7847@end smallexample
7848
7849@item none
7850None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7851is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7852
7853@smallexample
7854#1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7855 at frame-args.c:23
7856@end smallexample
7857@end table
7858
7859By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7860to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7861of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7862of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7863information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7864Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7865the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7866especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7867to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7868thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7869
7870@item show print frame-arguments
7871Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7872
7873@item set print repeats
7874@cindex repeated array elements
7875Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7876elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7877array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7878@code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7879identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7880themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7881be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7882
7883@item show print repeats
7884Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7885elements.
7886
7887@item set print null-stop
7888@cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7889Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7890@sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7891contain only short strings.
7892The default is off.
7893
7894@item show print null-stop
7895Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7896@sc{null} character.
7897
7898@item set print pretty on
7899@cindex print structures in indented form
7900@cindex indentation in structure display
7901Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7902per line, like this:
7903
7904@smallexample
7905@group
7906$1 = @{
7907 next = 0x0,
7908 flags = @{
7909 sweet = 1,
7910 sour = 1
7911 @},
7912 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7913@}
7914@end group
7915@end smallexample
7916
7917@item set print pretty off
7918Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7919
7920@smallexample
7921@group
7922$1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7923meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7924@end group
7925@end smallexample
7926
7927@noindent
7928This is the default format.
7929
7930@item show print pretty
7931Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7932
7933@item set print sevenbit-strings on
7934@cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7935@cindex octal escapes in strings
7936Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7937@value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7938character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7939best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7940high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7941
7942@item set print sevenbit-strings off
7943Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7944international character sets, and is the default.
7945
7946@item show print sevenbit-strings
7947Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7948
7949@item set print union on
7950@cindex unions in structures, printing
7951Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7952and other unions. This is the default setting.
7953
7954@item set print union off
7955Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7956structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7957instead.
7958
7959@item show print union
7960Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7961structures and other unions.
7962
7963For example, given the declarations
7964
7965@smallexample
7966typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7967typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7968typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7969 Bug_forms;
7970
7971struct thing @{
7972 Species it;
7973 union @{
7974 Tree_forms tree;
7975 Bug_forms bug;
7976 @} form;
7977@};
7978
7979struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7980@end smallexample
7981
7982@noindent
7983with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7984
7985@smallexample
7986$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7987@end smallexample
7988
7989@noindent
7990and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7991
7992@smallexample
7993$1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7994@end smallexample
7995
7996@noindent
7997@code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7998and in Pascal.
7999@end table
8000
8001@need 1000
8002@noindent
8003These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8004
8005@table @code
8006@cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8007@item set print demangle
8008@itemx set print demangle on
8009Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8010(``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8011linkage. The default is on.
8012
8013@item show print demangle
8014Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8015
8016@item set print asm-demangle
8017@itemx set print asm-demangle on
8018Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8019in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8020The default is off.
8021
8022@item show print asm-demangle
8023Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8024or demangled form.
8025
8026@cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8027@cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8028@kindex set demangle-style
8029@item set demangle-style @var{style}
8030Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8031represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8032
8033@table @code
8034@item auto
8035Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8036
8037@item gnu
8038Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8039This is the default.
8040
8041@item hp
8042Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8043
8044@item lucid
8045Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8046
8047@item arm
8048Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8049@strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8050debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8051require further enhancement to permit that.
8052
8053@end table
8054If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8055
8056@item show demangle-style
8057Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8058
8059@item set print object
8060@itemx set print object on
8061@cindex derived type of an object, printing
8062@cindex display derived types
8063When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8064(derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8065the virtual function table.
8066
8067@item set print object off
8068Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8069virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8070
8071@item show print object
8072Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8073
8074@item set print static-members
8075@itemx set print static-members on
8076@cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8077Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8078
8079@item set print static-members off
8080Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8081
8082@item show print static-members
8083Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8084
8085@item set print pascal_static-members
8086@itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8087@cindex static members of Pascal objects
8088@cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8089Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8090
8091@item set print pascal_static-members off
8092Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8093
8094@item show print pascal_static-members
8095Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8096
8097@c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8098@item set print vtbl
8099@itemx set print vtbl on
8100@cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8101@cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8102@cindex VTBL display
8103Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8104(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8105ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8106
8107@item set print vtbl off
8108Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8109
8110@item show print vtbl
8111Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8112@end table
8113
8114@node Pretty Printing
8115@section Pretty Printing
8116
8117@value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8118Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8119mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8120
8121For example, here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a
8122pretty-printer:
8123
8124@smallexample
8125(@value{GDBP}) print s
8126$1 = @{
8127 static npos = 4294967295,
8128 _M_dataplus = @{
8129 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8130 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8131 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8132 @},
8133 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8134 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8135 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8136 @}
8137@}
8138@end smallexample
8139
8140With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8141
8142@smallexample
8143(@value{GDBP}) print s
8144$2 = "abcd"
8145@end smallexample
8146
8147For implementing pretty printers for new types you should read the Python API
8148details (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
8149
8150@node Value History
8151@section Value History
8152
8153@cindex value history
8154@cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8155Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8156@dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8157Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8158(for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8159When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8160since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8161symbol table.
8162
8163@cindex @code{$}
8164@cindex @code{$$}
8165@cindex history number
8166The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8167refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8168@code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8169printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8170history number.
8171
8172To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8173history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8174remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8175the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8176@code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8177is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8178@code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8179
8180For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8181want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8182
8183@smallexample
8184p *$
8185@end smallexample
8186
8187If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8188to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8189
8190@smallexample
8191p *$.next
8192@end smallexample
8193
8194@noindent
8195You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8196command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8197
8198Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8199@code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8200
8201@smallexample
8202print x
8203set x=5
8204@end smallexample
8205
8206@noindent
8207then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8208remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8209
8210@table @code
8211@kindex show values
8212@item show values
8213Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8214This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8215values} does not change the history.
8216
8217@item show values @var{n}
8218Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8219
8220@item show values +
8221Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8222values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8223@end table
8224
8225Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8226same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8227
8228@node Convenience Vars
8229@section Convenience Variables
8230
8231@cindex convenience variables
8232@cindex user-defined variables
8233@value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8234@value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8235exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8236setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8237of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8238
8239Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8240@samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8241the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8242(Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8243by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8244
8245You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8246expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8247For example:
8248
8249@smallexample
8250set $foo = *object_ptr
8251@end smallexample
8252
8253@noindent
8254would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8255@code{object_ptr}.
8256
8257Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8258value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8259value with another assignment at any time.
8260
8261Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8262variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8263that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8264variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8265
8266@table @code
8267@kindex show convenience
8268@cindex show all user variables
8269@item show convenience
8270Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8271Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8272
8273@kindex init-if-undefined
8274@cindex convenience variables, initializing
8275@item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8276Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8277for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8278to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8279convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8280override default values used in a command script.
8281
8282If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8283any side-effects do not occur.
8284@end table
8285
8286One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8287incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8288a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8289
8290@smallexample
8291set $i = 0
8292print bar[$i++]->contents
8293@end smallexample
8294
8295@noindent
8296Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8297
8298Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8299values likely to be useful.
8300
8301@table @code
8302@vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8303@item $_
8304The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8305the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8306commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8307set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8308and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8309except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8310to the type of @code{$__}.
8311
8312@vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8313@item $__
8314The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8315to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8316to match the format in which the data was printed.
8317
8318@item $_exitcode
8319@vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8320The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8321the program being debugged terminates.
8322
8323@item $_sdata
8324@vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
8325The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
8326data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
8327@code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
8328if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
8329
8330@item $_siginfo
8331@vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8332The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8333(@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8334could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8335For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8336
8337@item $_tlb
8338@vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8339The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8340applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8341gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8342@xref{General Query Packets}.
8343This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8344
8345@end table
8346
8347On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8348begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8349name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8350
8351@cindex convenience functions
8352@value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8353have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8354function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8355however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8356@value{GDBN}.
8357
8358@table @code
8359@item help function
8360@kindex help function
8361@cindex show all convenience functions
8362Print a list of all convenience functions.
8363@end table
8364
8365@node Registers
8366@section Registers
8367
8368@cindex registers
8369You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8370with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8371for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8372your machine.
8373
8374@table @code
8375@kindex info registers
8376@item info registers
8377Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8378and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8379
8380@kindex info all-registers
8381@cindex floating point registers
8382@item info all-registers
8383Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8384and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8385
8386@item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8387Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8388As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8389the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8390the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8391@end table
8392
8393@cindex stack pointer register
8394@cindex program counter register
8395@cindex process status register
8396@cindex frame pointer register
8397@cindex standard registers
8398@value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8399expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8400architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8401@code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8402the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8403pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8404register that contains the processor status. For example,
8405you could print the program counter in hex with
8406
8407@smallexample
8408p/x $pc
8409@end smallexample
8410
8411@noindent
8412or print the instruction to be executed next with
8413
8414@smallexample
8415x/i $pc
8416@end smallexample
8417
8418@noindent
8419or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8420one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8421memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8422stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8423stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8424regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8425see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8426
8427@smallexample
8428set $sp += 4
8429@end smallexample
8430
8431Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8432your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8433so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8434shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8435registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8436can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8437is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8438
8439@value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8440integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8441special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8442registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8443to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8444(although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8445@samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8446
8447Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8448means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8449the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8450sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8451coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8452programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8453cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8454that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8455prints the data in both formats.
8456
8457@cindex SSE registers (x86)
8458@cindex MMX registers (x86)
8459Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8460in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8461have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8462together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8463registers in @code{struct} notation:
8464
8465@smallexample
8466(@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8467$1 = @{
8468 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8469 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8470 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8471 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8472 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8473 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8474 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8475@}
8476@end smallexample
8477
8478@noindent
8479To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8480view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8481value to a @code{struct} member:
8482
8483@smallexample
8484 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8485@end smallexample
8486
8487Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8488(@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8489value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8490were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8491true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8492frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8493
8494However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8495code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8496@value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8497frame makes no difference.
8498
8499@node Floating Point Hardware
8500@section Floating Point Hardware
8501@cindex floating point
8502
8503Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8504you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8505
8506@table @code
8507@kindex info float
8508@item info float
8509Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8510point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8511floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8512the ARM and x86 machines.
8513@end table
8514
8515@node Vector Unit
8516@section Vector Unit
8517@cindex vector unit
8518
8519Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8520more information about the status of the vector unit.
8521
8522@table @code
8523@kindex info vector
8524@item info vector
8525Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8526layout vary depending on the hardware.
8527@end table
8528
8529@node OS Information
8530@section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8531@cindex OS information
8532
8533@value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8534you debug your program.
8535
8536@cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8537@cindex @code{struct user} contents
8538When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8539machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8540system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8541called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8542command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8543structure.
8544
8545@table @code
8546@item info udot
8547@kindex info udot
8548Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8549kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8550contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8551the @code{examine} command.
8552@end table
8553
8554@cindex auxiliary vector
8555@cindex vector, auxiliary
8556Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8557startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8558specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8559binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8560hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8561identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8562Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8563@value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8564targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8565support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8566@ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8567
8568@table @code
8569@kindex info auxv
8570@item info auxv
8571Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8572live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8573numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8574tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8575pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8576most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8577an unrecognized tag.
8578@end table
8579
8580On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8581and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8582this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8583@samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8584
8585@table @code
8586@kindex info os
8587@item info os
8588List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
8589target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
8590report an error.
8591
8592@kindex info os processes
8593@item info os processes
8594Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8595@value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8596the command corresponding to the process.
8597@end table
8598
8599@node Memory Region Attributes
8600@section Memory Region Attributes
8601@cindex memory region attributes
8602
8603@dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8604required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8605attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8606accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8607target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8608fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8609user can override the fetched regions.
8610
8611Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8612memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8613accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8614been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8615all memory.
8616
8617When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8618to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8619
8620@table @code
8621@kindex mem
8622@item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8623Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8624attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8625monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8626case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8627(0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8628
8629@item mem auto
8630Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8631regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8632
8633@kindex delete mem
8634@item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8635Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8636monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8637
8638@kindex disable mem
8639@item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8640Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8641A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8642It may be enabled again later.
8643
8644@kindex enable mem
8645@item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8646Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8647
8648@kindex info mem
8649@item info mem
8650Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8651for each region:
8652
8653@table @emph
8654@item Memory Region Number
8655@item Enabled or Disabled.
8656Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8657Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8658
8659@item Lo Address
8660The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8661
8662@item Hi Address
8663The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8664
8665@item Attributes
8666The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8667@end table
8668@end table
8669
8670
8671@subsection Attributes
8672
8673@subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8674The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8675write accesses to a memory region.
8676
8677While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8678memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8679etc.@: from accessing memory.
8680
8681@table @code
8682@item ro
8683Memory is read only.
8684@item wo
8685Memory is write only.
8686@item rw
8687Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8688@end table
8689
8690@subsubsection Memory Access Size
8691The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8692accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8693require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8694specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8695
8696@table @code
8697@item 8
8698Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8699@item 16
8700Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8701@item 32
8702Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8703@item 64
8704Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8705@end table
8706
8707@c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8708@c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8709@c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8710@c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8711@c
8712@c @table @code
8713@c @item hwbreak
8714@c Always use hardware breakpoints
8715@c @item swbreak (default)
8716@c @end table
8717
8718@subsubsection Data Cache
8719The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8720memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8721protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8722does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8723registers.
8724
8725@table @code
8726@item cache
8727Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8728@item nocache
8729Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8730@end table
8731
8732@subsection Memory Access Checking
8733@value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8734not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8735regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8736better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8737
8738@table @code
8739@kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8740@item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8741If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8742explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8743to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8744memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8745treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8746The default value is @code{on}.
8747@kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8748@item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8749Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8750@end table
8751
8752
8753@c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8754@c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8755@c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8756@c
8757@c @table @code
8758@c @item verify
8759@c @item noverify (default)
8760@c @end table
8761
8762@node Dump/Restore Files
8763@section Copy Between Memory and a File
8764@cindex dump/restore files
8765@cindex append data to a file
8766@cindex dump data to a file
8767@cindex restore data from a file
8768
8769You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8770@code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8771@code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8772@code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8773memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8774Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8775files.
8776
8777@table @code
8778
8779@kindex dump
8780@item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8781@itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8782Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8783or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8784
8785The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8786@table @code
8787@item binary
8788Raw binary form.
8789@item ihex
8790Intel hex format.
8791@item srec
8792Motorola S-record format.
8793@item tekhex
8794Tektronix Hex format.
8795@end table
8796
8797@value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8798@sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8799@var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8800form.
8801
8802@kindex append
8803@item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8804@itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8805Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8806or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8807(@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8808
8809@kindex restore
8810@item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8811Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8812@code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8813file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8814must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8815
8816If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8817contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8818they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8819a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8820from that location.
8821
8822If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8823file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8824These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8825the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8826
8827@end table
8828
8829@node Core File Generation
8830@section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8831@cindex dump core from inferior
8832
8833A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8834image of a running process and its process status (register values
8835etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8836crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8837automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8838the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8839the post-mortem debugging mode.
8840
8841Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8842are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8843@value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8844
8845@table @code
8846@kindex gcore
8847@kindex generate-core-file
8848@item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8849@itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8850Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8851@var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8852specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8853@var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8854
8855Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8856this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8857@end table
8858
8859@node Character Sets
8860@section Character Sets
8861@cindex character sets
8862@cindex charset
8863@cindex translating between character sets
8864@cindex host character set
8865@cindex target character set
8866
8867If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8868represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8869@value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8870you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8871character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8872@dfn{target character set}.
8873
8874For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
8875uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
8876remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
8877running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
8878then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
8879@sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
8880target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
8881@sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
8882character and string literals in expressions.
8883
8884@value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
8885the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
8886target-charset} command, described below.
8887
8888Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
8889support:
8890
8891@table @code
8892@item set target-charset @var{charset}
8893@kindex set target-charset
8894Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
8895list of supported target character sets, type
8896@kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8897
8898@item set host-charset @var{charset}
8899@kindex set host-charset
8900Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
8901
8902By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8903system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8904@code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8905automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8906case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8907
8908@value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8909set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8910@value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8911
8912@item set charset @var{charset}
8913@kindex set charset
8914Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8915above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8916@value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8917for both host and target.
8918
8919@item show charset
8920@kindex show charset
8921Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8922
8923@item show host-charset
8924@kindex show host-charset
8925Show the name of the current host character set.
8926
8927@item show target-charset
8928@kindex show target-charset
8929Show the name of the current target character set.
8930
8931@item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8932@kindex set target-wide-charset
8933Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8934the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8935display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8936@kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8937
8938@item show target-wide-charset
8939@kindex show target-wide-charset
8940Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8941@end table
8942
8943Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8944Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8945@file{charset-test.c}:
8946
8947@smallexample
8948#include <stdio.h>
8949
8950char ascii_hello[]
8951 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8952 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8953char ibm1047_hello[]
8954 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8955 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8956
8957main ()
8958@{
8959 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8960@}
8961@end smallexample
8962
8963In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8964containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8965encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8966
8967We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8968
8969@smallexample
8970$ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8971$ gdb -nw charset-test
8972GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8973Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8974@dots{}
8975(@value{GDBP})
8976@end smallexample
8977
8978We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8979@value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8980strings:
8981
8982@smallexample
8983(@value{GDBP}) show charset
8984The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8985(@value{GDBP})
8986@end smallexample
8987
8988For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8989initial character set:
8990@smallexample
8991(@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8992(@value{GDBP}) show charset
8993The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8994(@value{GDBP})
8995@end smallexample
8996
8997Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8998host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8999characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9000them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9001@sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9002
9003@smallexample
9004(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9005$1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9006(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9007$2 = 72 'H'
9008(@value{GDBP})
9009@end smallexample
9010
9011@value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9012literals you use in expressions:
9013
9014@smallexample
9015(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9016$3 = 43 '+'
9017(@value{GDBP})
9018@end smallexample
9019
9020The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9021character.
9022
9023@value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9024target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9025character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9026
9027@smallexample
9028(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9029$4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9030(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9031$5 = 200 '\310'
9032(@value{GDBP})
9033@end smallexample
9034
9035If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9036@value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9037
9038@smallexample
9039(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9040ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9041(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9042@end smallexample
9043
9044We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9045program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9046@value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9047target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9048@sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9049
9050@smallexample
9051(@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9052(@value{GDBP}) show charset
9053The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9054The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9055(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9056$6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9057(@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9058$7 = 72 '\110'
9059(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9060$8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9061(@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9062$9 = 200 'H'
9063(@value{GDBP})
9064@end smallexample
9065
9066As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9067string literals you use in expressions:
9068
9069@smallexample
9070(@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9071$10 = 78 '+'
9072(@value{GDBP})
9073@end smallexample
9074
9075The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9076character.
9077
9078@node Caching Remote Data
9079@section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9080@cindex caching data of remote targets
9081
9082@value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9083remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9084performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9085bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9086caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9087does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9088addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9089memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9090Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9091known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9092rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9093in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9094stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9095Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9096cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9097
9098@table @code
9099@kindex set remotecache
9100@item set remotecache on
9101@itemx set remotecache off
9102This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9103with old scripts.
9104
9105@kindex show remotecache
9106@item show remotecache
9107Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9108
9109@kindex set stack-cache
9110@item set stack-cache on
9111@itemx set stack-cache off
9112Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9113caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9114
9115@kindex show stack-cache
9116@item show stack-cache
9117Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9118
9119@kindex info dcache
9120@item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9121Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9122information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9123each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9124referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9125operation.
9126
9127If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9128printed in hex.
9129@end table
9130
9131@node Searching Memory
9132@section Search Memory
9133@cindex searching memory
9134
9135Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9136@code{find} command.
9137
9138@table @code
9139@kindex find
9140@item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9141@itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9142Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9143etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9144@var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9145@end table
9146
9147@var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9148They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9149
9150@table @r
9151@item @var{s}, search query size
9152The size of each search query value.
9153
9154@table @code
9155@item b
9156bytes
9157@item h
9158halfwords (two bytes)
9159@item w
9160words (four bytes)
9161@item g
9162giant words (eight bytes)
9163@end table
9164
9165All values are interpreted in the current language.
9166This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9167then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9168
9169If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9170value's type in the current language.
9171This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9172pattern as a mixture of types.
9173Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9174a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9175which is typically four bytes.
9176
9177@item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9178The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9179@end table
9180
9181You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9182 (@code{"}).
9183The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9184regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9185
9186The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9187number of matches found.
9188
9189The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9190@samp{$_}.
9191A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9192
9193For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9194
9195@smallexample
9196void
9197hello ()
9198@{
9199 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9200 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9201 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9202 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9203 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9204@}
9205@end smallexample
9206
9207@noindent
9208you get during debugging:
9209
9210@smallexample
9211(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
92120x804956d <hello.1620+6>
92131 pattern found
9214(gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
92150x8049567 <hello.1620>
92160x804956d <hello.1620+6>
92172 patterns found
9218(gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
92190x8049567 <hello.1620>
92201 pattern found
9221(gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
92220x8049560 <mixed.1625>
92231 pattern found
9224(gdb) print $numfound
9225$1 = 1
9226(gdb) print $_
9227$2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9228@end smallexample
9229
9230@node Optimized Code
9231@chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9232@cindex optimized code, debugging
9233@cindex debugging optimized code
9234
9235Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9236disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9237directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9238applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9239diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9240information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9241the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9242
9243@value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9244can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9245progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9246where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9247
9248When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9249optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9250really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9251exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9252variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9253variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9254
9255Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9256@samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9257doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9258please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9259@xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9260
9261@menu
9262* Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9263@end menu
9264
9265@node Inline Functions
9266@section Inline Functions
9267@cindex inline functions, debugging
9268
9269@dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9270body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9271routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9272non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9273arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9274them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9275You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9276@code{info frame} command.
9277
9278For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9279record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9280@value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9281other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9282when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9283do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9284@samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9285function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9286displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9287local variables in the caller.
9288
9289The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9290unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9291the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9292start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9293the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9294the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9295instructions are executed.
9296
9297This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9298context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9299a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9300this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9301
9302There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9303function calls are the same as normal calls:
9304
9305@itemize @bullet
9306@item
9307You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9308either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9309breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9310will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9311set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9312function instead.
9313
9314@item
9315Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9316work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9317may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9318function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9319version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9320or inside the inlined function instead.
9321
9322@item
9323@value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9324using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9325debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9326and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9327
9328@end itemize
9329
9330
9331@node Macros
9332@chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9333
9334Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9335``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9336@value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9337the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9338where it was defined.
9339
9340You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9341with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9342include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9343with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9344
9345A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9346and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9347points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9348no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9349uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9350@value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9351see @ref{List}.
9352
9353Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9354macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9355the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9356
9357@table @code
9358
9359@kindex macro expand
9360@cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9361@cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9362@cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9363@item macro expand @var{expression}
9364@itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9365Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9366@var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9367not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9368it can be any string of tokens.
9369
9370@kindex macro exp1
9371@item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9372@itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9373@cindex expand macro once
9374@i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9375expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9376@var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9377left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9378particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9379expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9380parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9381can be any string of tokens.
9382
9383@kindex info macro
9384@cindex macro definition, showing
9385@cindex definition, showing a macro's
9386@item info macro @var{macro}
9387Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9388source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9389
9390@kindex macro define
9391@cindex user-defined macros
9392@cindex defining macros interactively
9393@cindex macros, user-defined
9394@item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9395@itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9396Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9397invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9398@var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9399``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9400defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9401@var{arglist}.
9402
9403A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9404expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9405@code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9406all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9407as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9408
9409@kindex macro undef
9410@item macro undef @var{macro}
9411Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9412This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9413define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9414in the program being debugged.
9415
9416@kindex macro list
9417@item macro list
9418List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9419@end table
9420
9421@cindex macros, example of debugging with
9422Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9423show our source files:
9424
9425@smallexample
9426$ cat sample.c
9427#include <stdio.h>
9428#include "sample.h"
9429
9430#define M 42
9431#define ADD(x) (M + x)
9432
9433main ()
9434@{
9435#define N 28
9436 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9437#undef N
9438 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9439#define N 1729
9440 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9441@}
9442$ cat sample.h
9443#define Q <
9444$
9445@end smallexample
9446
9447Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9448We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9449compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9450information.
9451
9452@smallexample
9453$ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9454$
9455@end smallexample
9456
9457Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9458
9459@smallexample
9460$ gdb -nw sample
9461GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9462Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9463GDB is free software, @dots{}
9464(@value{GDBP})
9465@end smallexample
9466
9467We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9468program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9469to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9470
9471@smallexample
9472(@value{GDBP}) list main
94733
94744 #define M 42
94755 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
94766
94777 main ()
94788 @{
94799 #define N 28
948010 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
948111 #undef N
948212 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9483(@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9484Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9485#define ADD(x) (M + x)
9486(@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9487Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9488 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9489#define Q <
9490(@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9491expands to: (42 + 1)
9492(@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9493expands to: once (M + 1)
9494(@value{GDBP})
9495@end smallexample
9496
9497In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9498the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9499@code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9500which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9501
9502Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9503force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9504
9505@smallexample
9506(@value{GDBP}) break main
9507Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9508(@value{GDBP}) run
9509Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9510
9511Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
951210 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9513(@value{GDBP})
9514@end smallexample
9515
9516At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9517
9518@smallexample
9519(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9520Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9521#define N 28
9522(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9523expands to: 28 < 42
9524(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9525$1 = 1
9526(@value{GDBP})
9527@end smallexample
9528
9529As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9530give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9531thereof) in force at each point:
9532
9533@smallexample
9534(@value{GDBP}) next
9535Hello, world!
953612 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9537(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9538The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9539at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9540(@value{GDBP}) next
9541We're so creative.
954214 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9543(@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9544Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9545#define N 1729
9546(@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9547expands to: 1729 < 42
9548(@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9549$2 = 0
9550(@value{GDBP})
9551@end smallexample
9552
9553In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9554line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9555such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9556of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9557
9558@smallexample
9559(@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9560Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9561-D__STDC__=1
9562(@value{GDBP})
9563@end smallexample
9564
9565
9566@node Tracepoints
9567@chapter Tracepoints
9568@c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9569@c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9570
9571@cindex tracepoints
9572In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9573the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9574anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9575depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9576might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9577fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9578to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9579
9580Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9581specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9582arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9583Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9584those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9585expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9586for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9587a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9588in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9589values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9590unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9591
9592The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9593targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9594how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9595remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9596support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9597packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9598Packets}.
9599
9600It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
9601of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
9602through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
9603
9604This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9605
9606@menu
9607* Set Tracepoints::
9608* Analyze Collected Data::
9609* Tracepoint Variables::
9610* Trace Files::
9611@end menu
9612
9613@node Set Tracepoints
9614@section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9615
9616Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9617tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9618breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9619standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9620tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9621of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9622as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9623
9624For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9625of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9626it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9627local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9628commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9629tracepoint was hit.
9630
9631Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
9632tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
9633commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
9634either.
9635
9636@cindex fast tracepoints
9637Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9638a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9639faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9640
9641@cindex static tracepoints
9642@cindex markers, static tracepoints
9643@cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
9644Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
9645that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
9646in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
9647tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
9648instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
9649the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
9650address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
9651investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
9652support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
9653points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
9654tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
9655@value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namelly, support for collecting
9656registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
9657point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
9658The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
9659instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
9660static tracepoint marker.
9661
9662@code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
9663@xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
9664
9665This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9666conditions and actions.
9667
9668@menu
9669* Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9670* Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9671* Tracepoint Passcounts::
9672* Tracepoint Conditions::
9673* Trace State Variables::
9674* Tracepoint Actions::
9675* Listing Tracepoints::
9676* Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
9677* Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9678* Tracepoint Restrictions::
9679@end menu
9680
9681@node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9682@subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9683
9684@table @code
9685@cindex set tracepoint
9686@kindex trace
9687@item trace @var{location}
9688The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9689Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9690an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9691@code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9692target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9693data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9694changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9695command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9696not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9697
9698Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9699
9700@smallexample
9701(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9702
9703(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9704
9705(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9706
9707(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9708
9709(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9710@end smallexample
9711
9712@noindent
9713You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9714
9715@item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9716Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9717@var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9718if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9719@xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9720information on tracepoint conditions.
9721
9722@item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9723@cindex set fast tracepoint
9724@cindex fast tracepoints, setting
9725@kindex ftrace
9726The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9727support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9728less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9729instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9730may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9731location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9732message.
9733
9734@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9735@code{trace}.
9736
9737@item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9738@cindex set static tracepoint
9739@cindex static tracepoints, setting
9740@cindex probe static tracepoint marker
9741@kindex strace
9742The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
9743support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
9744instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
9745be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
9746which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
9747
9748@value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
9749@code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
9750@code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
9751identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
9752depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
9753using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
9754of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
9755@xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
9756Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
9757tracing engine:
9758
9759@smallexample
9760main ()
9761@{
9762 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
9763@}
9764@end smallexample
9765
9766@noindent
9767the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
9768@code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
9769
9770@smallexample
9771(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
9772Cnt Enb ID Address What
97731 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
9774 Data: "str %s"
9775[etc...]
9776@end smallexample
9777
9778@noindent
9779so you may probe the marker above with:
9780
9781@smallexample
9782(@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
9783@end smallexample
9784
9785Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
9786$_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
9787call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
9788that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
9789string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
9790string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
9791static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
9792the @samp{Data:} field.
9793
9794You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
9795the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
9796@value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
9797
9798@vindex $tpnum
9799@cindex last tracepoint number
9800@cindex recent tracepoint number
9801@cindex tracepoint number
9802The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9803of the most recently set tracepoint.
9804
9805@kindex delete tracepoint
9806@cindex tracepoint deletion
9807@item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9808Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9809default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9810@code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9811
9812Examples:
9813
9814@smallexample
9815(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9816
9817(@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9818@end smallexample
9819
9820@noindent
9821You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9822@end table
9823
9824@node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9825@subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9826
9827These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9828
9829@table @code
9830@kindex disable tracepoint
9831@item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9832Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9833@var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9834the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9835a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9836
9837@kindex enable tracepoint
9838@item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9839Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9840tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9841run.
9842@end table
9843
9844@node Tracepoint Passcounts
9845@subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9846
9847@table @code
9848@kindex passcount
9849@cindex tracepoint pass count
9850@item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9851Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9852automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9853@var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9854the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9855@var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9856passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9857given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9858user.
9859
9860Examples:
9861
9862@smallexample
9863(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9864@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9865
9866(@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9867@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9868(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9869(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9870(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9871(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9872(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9873(@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
9874@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
9875@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
9876@exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
9877@end smallexample
9878@end table
9879
9880@node Tracepoint Conditions
9881@subsection Tracepoint Conditions
9882@cindex conditional tracepoints
9883@cindex tracepoint conditions
9884
9885The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
9886reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
9887a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
9888programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
9889tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
9890program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
9891is true.
9892
9893Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
9894using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
9895@xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
9896also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
9897just as with breakpoints.
9898
9899Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
9900the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
9901expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
9902suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
9903Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
9904accesses, and so forth.
9905
9906For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
9907frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
9908could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
9909of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
9910through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
9911collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
9912search through.
9913
9914@smallexample
9915(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
9916@end smallexample
9917
9918@node Trace State Variables
9919@subsection Trace State Variables
9920@cindex trace state variables
9921
9922A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
9923created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
9924that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
9925but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
9926using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
9927integers.
9928
9929Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
9930to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
9931experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
9932trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
9933
9934@cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
9935Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
9936them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
9937variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
9938while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
9939the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
9940cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
9941@code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
9942variable with the same name.
9943
9944@table @code
9945
9946@item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
9947@kindex tvariable
9948The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
9949@code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
9950@var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
9951entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
9952otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
9953@code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
9954variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
9955existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
9956value. The default initial value is 0.
9957
9958@item info tvariables
9959@kindex info tvariables
9960List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
9961Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
9962currently running.
9963
9964@item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
9965@kindex delete tvariable
9966Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
9967are specified.
9968
9969@end table
9970
9971@node Tracepoint Actions
9972@subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
9973
9974@table @code
9975@kindex actions
9976@cindex tracepoint actions
9977@item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9978This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
9979tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
9980specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
9981recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
9982@code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
9983actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
9984terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
9985far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
9986@code{while-stepping}.
9987
9988@code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
9989Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
9990actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
9991
9992@cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
9993To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
9994and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
9995
9996@smallexample
9997(@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
9998
9999(@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
10000
10001(@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
10002@end smallexample
10003
10004In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
10005commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
10006hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
10007following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
10008followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
10009sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
10010terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
10011list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
10012
10013@smallexample
10014(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10015(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10016Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
10017> collect bar,baz
10018> collect $regs
10019> while-stepping 12
10020 > collect $pc, arr[i]
10021 > end
10022end
10023@end smallexample
10024
10025@kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
10026@item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10027Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
10028This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
10029In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
10030special arguments are supported:
10031
10032@table @code
10033@item $regs
10034Collect all registers.
10035
10036@item $args
10037Collect all function arguments.
10038
10039@item $locals
10040Collect all local variables.
10041
10042@item $_sdata
10043@vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
10044Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
10045static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
10046Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
10047instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
10048tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
10049character string using the format provided by the programmer that
10050instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
10051Here's an example of a UST marker call:
10052
10053@smallexample
10054 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
10055 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
10056@end smallexample
10057
10058In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
10059@samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
10060inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
10061@value{GDBN}.
10062@end table
10063
10064You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
10065with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
10066arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
10067
10068The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
10069particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
10070
10071@kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
10072@item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10073Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
10074command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
10075are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
10076state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
10077values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
10078action were used.
10079
10080@kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
10081@item while-stepping @var{n}
10082Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
10083collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
10084command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
10085(followed by its own @code{end} command):
10086
10087@smallexample
10088> while-stepping 12
10089 > collect $regs, myglobal
10090 > end
10091>
10092@end smallexample
10093
10094@noindent
10095Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
10096@code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
10097you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
10098@code{stepping}.
10099
10100@item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10101@kindex set default-collect
10102@cindex default collection action
10103This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
10104hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
10105to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
10106individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
10107@code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
10108local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
10109
10110@item show default-collect
10111@kindex show default-collect
10112Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
10113tracepoint hit.
10114
10115@end table
10116
10117@node Listing Tracepoints
10118@subsection Listing Tracepoints
10119
10120@table @code
10121@kindex info tracepoints
10122@kindex info tp
10123@cindex information about tracepoints
10124@item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10125Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
10126specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
10127tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
10128@code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
10129command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
10130
10131A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
10132tracing:
10133
10134@itemize @bullet
10135@item
10136its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
10137@end itemize
10138
10139@smallexample
10140(@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
10141Num Type Disp Enb Address What
101421 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
10143 while-stepping 20
10144 collect globfoo, $regs
10145 end
10146 collect globfoo2
10147 end
10148 pass count 1200
10149(@value{GDBP})
10150@end smallexample
10151
10152@noindent
10153This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10154@end table
10155
10156@node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10157@subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10158
10159@table @code
10160@kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
10161@cindex information about static tracepoint markers
10162@item info static-tracepoint-markers
10163Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
10164program.
10165
10166For each marker, the following columns are printed:
10167
10168@table @emph
10169@item Count
10170An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
10171stable identifier.
10172@item ID
10173The marker ID, as reported by the target.
10174@item Enabled or Disabled
10175Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
10176that are not enabled.
10177@item Address
10178Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
10179@item What
10180Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
10181number. If the debug information included in the program does not
10182allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
10183will be left blank.
10184@end table
10185
10186@noindent
10187In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
10188
10189@table @emph
10190@item Data
10191User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
10192UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
10193marker call.
10194@item Static tracepoints probing the marker
10195The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
10196@end table
10197
10198@smallexample
10199(@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10200Cnt ID Enb Address What
102011 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
10202 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
10203 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
102042 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
10205 Data: str %s
10206(@value{GDBP})
10207@end smallexample
10208@end table
10209
10210@node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10211@subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10212
10213@table @code
10214@kindex tstart
10215@cindex start a new trace experiment
10216@cindex collected data discarded
10217@item tstart
10218This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
10219begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
10220the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
10221experiment.
10222
10223@kindex tstop
10224@cindex stop a running trace experiment
10225@item tstop
10226This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
10227stops collecting data.
10228
10229@strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10230automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10231(@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10232
10233@kindex tstatus
10234@cindex status of trace data collection
10235@cindex trace experiment, status of
10236@item tstatus
10237This command displays the status of the current trace data
10238collection.
10239@end table
10240
10241Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10242
10243@smallexample
10244(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10245(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10246Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10247> collect $regs,$locals,$args
10248> while-stepping 11
10249 > collect $regs
10250 > end
10251> end
10252(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10253 [time passes @dots{}]
10254(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10255@end smallexample
10256
10257@cindex disconnected tracing
10258You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10259@value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10260involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10261ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10262terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10263unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
10264@code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
10265continue running without @value{GDBN}.
10266
10267@table @code
10268@item set disconnected-tracing on
10269@itemx set disconnected-tracing off
10270@kindex set disconnected-tracing
10271Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
10272has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
10273@code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
10274matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
10275for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
10276
10277@item show disconnected-tracing
10278@kindex show disconnected-tracing
10279Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
10280
10281@end table
10282
10283When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
10284still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
10285meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
10286it will continue after reconnection.
10287
10288Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
10289tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
10290information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
10291to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
10292have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
10293the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
10294debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
10295which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
10296necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
10297created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
10298
10299@cindex circular trace buffer
10300If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
10301can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
10302buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
10303frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
10304collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
10305hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
10306buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
10307@samp{circular_trace_buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
10308including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
10309buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
10310the next run.
10311
10312@table @code
10313@item set circular-trace-buffer on
10314@itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
10315@kindex set circular-trace-buffer
10316Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
10317for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
10318fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
10319data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
10320
10321@item show circular-trace-buffer
10322@kindex show circular-trace-buffer
10323Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
10324match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
10325match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
10326for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
10327
10328@end table
10329
10330@node Tracepoint Restrictions
10331@subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
10332
10333@cindex tracepoint restrictions
10334There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
10335described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
10336without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
10337the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
10338examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
10339collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
10340is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
10341mentioned here.
10342
10343@itemize @bullet
10344
10345@item
10346Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
10347the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
10348You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
10349convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
10350state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
10351functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
10352cannot be collected either.
10353
10354@item
10355Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
10356@code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
10357behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
10358instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
10359may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
10360tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
10361variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
10362tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
10363where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
10364program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
10365
10366@item
10367Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
10368may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
10369in a misleading way.
10370
10371@item
10372When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
10373dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
10374being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
10375not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
10376dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
10377collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
10378@code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
10379by @code{ptr}.
10380
10381@item
10382It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
10383tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
10384bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*$esp@@300}
10385(adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
10386target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
10387Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
10388using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
10389depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
10390if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
10391stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
10392invalid address.
10393
10394@item
10395If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
10396infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
10397the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
10398for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
10399multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
10400inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
10401@value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
10402it to zero.
10403
10404@end itemize
10405
10406@node Analyze Collected Data
10407@section Using the Collected Data
10408
10409After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
10410for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
10411collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
10412snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
10413consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
10414examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
10415specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
10416snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
10417registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
10418rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
10419debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
10420(@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
10421behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
10422when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
10423the buffer will fail.
10424
10425@menu
10426* tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
10427* tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
10428* save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
10429@end menu
10430
10431@node tfind
10432@subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
10433
10434@kindex tfind
10435@cindex select trace snapshot
10436@cindex find trace snapshot
10437The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
10438@code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
10439counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
10440snapshot is selected.
10441
10442Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
10443
10444@table @code
10445@item tfind start
10446Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
10447@code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
10448
10449@item tfind none
10450Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
10451
10452@item tfind end
10453Same as @samp{tfind none}.
10454
10455@item tfind
10456No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
10457
10458@item tfind -
10459Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
10460retracing earlier steps.
10461
10462@item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
10463Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
10464proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
10465argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
10466for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
10467
10468@item tfind pc @var{addr}
10469Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
10470program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
10471snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
10472snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
10473
10474@item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10475Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
10476addresses (exclusive).
10477
10478@item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10479Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
10480@var{addr2} (inclusive).
10481
10482@item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
10483Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
10484the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
10485that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
10486trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
10487next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
10488@code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
10489stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
10490@end table
10491
10492The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
10493designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
10494instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
10495snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
10496trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
10497simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
10498snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
10499@key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
10500The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
10501for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
10502no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
10503(PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
10504no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
10505tracepoint as the current one.
10506
10507In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
10508these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
10509scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
10510you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
10511registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
10512
10513@smallexample
10514(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10515(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10516> printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
10517 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
10518> tfind
10519> end
10520
10521Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
10522Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
10523Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
10524Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
10525Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
10526Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
10527Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
10528Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
10529Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
10530Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
10531Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
10532@end smallexample
10533
10534Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
10535the buffer:
10536
10537@smallexample
10538(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10539(@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10540> printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
10541> tfind line
10542> end
10543
10544Frame 0, X = 1
10545Frame 7, X = 2
10546Frame 13, X = 255
10547@end smallexample
10548
10549@node tdump
10550@subsection @code{tdump}
10551@kindex tdump
10552@cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
10553@cindex tracepoint data, display
10554
10555This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
10556the current trace snapshot.
10557
10558@smallexample
10559(@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
10560(@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10561Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
10562> collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
10563> end
10564
10565(@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10566
10567(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
10568#0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
10569at gdb_test.c:444
10570444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
10571
10572(@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
10573Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
10574d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
10575d1 0x18 24
10576d2 0x80 128
10577d3 0x33 51
10578d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
10579d5 0x22 34
10580d6 0xe0 224
10581d7 0x380035 3670069
10582a0 0x19e24a 1696330
10583a1 0x3000668 50333288
10584a2 0x100 256
10585a3 0x322000 3284992
10586a4 0x3000698 50333336
10587a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
10588fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
10589sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
10590ps 0x0 0
10591pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
10592fpcontrol 0x0 0
10593fpstatus 0x0 0
10594fpiaddr 0x0 0
10595p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
10596p1 = (void *) 0x11
10597p2 = (void *) 0x22
10598p3 = (void *) 0x33
10599p4 = (void *) 0x44
10600p5 = (void *) 0x55
10601p6 = (void *) 0x66
10602gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
10603
10604(@value{GDBP})
10605@end smallexample
10606
10607@code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
10608actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
10609@code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
10610actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
10611
10612Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
10613uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
10614frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
10615collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
10616to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
10617body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
10618then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
10619list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
10620same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
10621@c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
10622
10623@node save tracepoints
10624@subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
10625@kindex save tracepoints
10626@kindex save-tracepoints
10627@cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
10628
10629This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
10630their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
10631suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
10632tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
10633Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
10634alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
10635
10636@node Tracepoint Variables
10637@section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
10638@cindex tracepoint variables
10639@cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10640
10641@table @code
10642@vindex $trace_frame
10643@item (int) $trace_frame
10644The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10645snapshot is selected.
10646
10647@vindex $tracepoint
10648@item (int) $tracepoint
10649The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10650
10651@vindex $trace_line
10652@item (int) $trace_line
10653The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10654
10655@vindex $trace_file
10656@item (char []) $trace_file
10657The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10658
10659@vindex $trace_func
10660@item (char []) $trace_func
10661The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10662@end table
10663
10664Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10665use @code{output} instead.
10666
10667Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10668stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10669data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10670which are managed by the target.
10671
10672@smallexample
10673(@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10674
10675(@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10676> output $trace_file
10677> printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10678> tfind
10679> end
10680@end smallexample
10681
10682@node Trace Files
10683@section Using Trace Files
10684@cindex trace files
10685
10686In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
10687longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
10688for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
10689dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
10690of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
10691
10692@table @code
10693
10694@kindex tsave
10695@item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
10696Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
10697assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
10698necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
10699then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
10700optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
10701the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
10702more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
10703@code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
10704
10705@kindex target tfile
10706@kindex tfile
10707@item target tfile @var{filename}
10708Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
10709that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
10710possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
10711the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
10712as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
10713on a filesystem accessible to the host.
10714
10715@end table
10716
10717@node Overlays
10718@chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10719@cindex overlays
10720
10721If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10722memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10723problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10724use overlays.
10725
10726@menu
10727* How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10728* Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10729* Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10730 mapped by asking the inferior.
10731* Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10732@end menu
10733
10734@node How Overlays Work
10735@section How Overlays Work
10736@cindex mapped overlays
10737@cindex unmapped overlays
10738@cindex load address, overlay's
10739@cindex mapped address
10740@cindex overlay area
10741
10742Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10743kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10744other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10745management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10746adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10747
10748One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10749independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10750@dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10751their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10752instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10753largest overlay as well.
10754
10755Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10756overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10757for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10758there.
10759
10760@c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10761@c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10762@c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10763
10764@smallexample
10765@group
10766 Data Instruction Larger
10767Address Space Address Space Address Space
10768+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10769| | | | | |
10770+-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10771| program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10772| variables | | program | | +-----------+
10773| and heap | | | | | |
10774+-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10775| | +-----------+ | | | load address
10776+-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10777 | | | | | |
10778 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10779 address | | | | | |
10780 | overlay | <-' | | |
10781 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10782 | | <---. | | load address
10783 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10784 | | | |
10785 +-----------+ | |
10786 +-----------+
10787 | |
10788 +-----------+
10789
10790 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10791@end group
10792@end smallexample
10793
10794The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10795and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10796its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10797Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10798may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10799data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10800program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10801program and the overlay area.
10802
10803An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10804@dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10805instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10806in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10807is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10808the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10809called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10810
10811Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10812program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10813global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10814
10815@itemize @bullet
10816
10817@item
10818Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10819must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10820return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10821overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10822
10823@item
10824If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10825will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10826your program's performance.
10827
10828@item
10829The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10830overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10831mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10832and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10833You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10834addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10835ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10836
10837@item
10838The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10839to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10840instruction and data spaces.
10841
10842@end itemize
10843
10844The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10845improved in many ways:
10846
10847@itemize @bullet
10848
10849@item
10850If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10851hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10852contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10853This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10854area in the usual way.
10855
10856@item
10857If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
10858overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
10859
10860@item
10861You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
10862general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
10863code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
10864return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
10865the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
10866must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
10867different data overlay into the same mapped area.
10868
10869@end itemize
10870
10871
10872@node Overlay Commands
10873@section Overlay Commands
10874
10875To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
10876correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
10877virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
10878mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
10879@value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
10880variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
10881
10882@value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
10883you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
10884
10885@table @code
10886@item overlay off
10887@kindex overlay
10888Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
10889disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
10890always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
10891overlay support is disabled.
10892
10893@item overlay manual
10894@cindex manual overlay debugging
10895Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10896relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
10897using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
10898commands described below.
10899
10900@item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
10901@itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
10902@cindex map an overlay
10903Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
10904be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
10905overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
10906functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
10907that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
10908@var{overlay} are now unmapped.
10909
10910@item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
10911@itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
10912@cindex unmap an overlay
10913Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
10914must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
10915When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
10916overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
10917
10918@item overlay auto
10919Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10920consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
10921to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
10922Overlay Debugging}.
10923
10924@item overlay load-target
10925@itemx overlay load
10926@cindex reloading the overlay table
10927Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
10928re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
10929stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
10930overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
10931useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
10932
10933@item overlay list-overlays
10934@itemx overlay list
10935@cindex listing mapped overlays
10936Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
10937addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
10938
10939@end table
10940
10941Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
10942of the function the address falls in:
10943
10944@smallexample
10945(@value{GDBP}) print main
10946$3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
10947@end smallexample
10948@noindent
10949When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
10950unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
10951asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
10952unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
10953
10954@smallexample
10955(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10956No sections are mapped.
10957(@value{GDBP}) print foo
10958$5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
10959@end smallexample
10960@noindent
10961When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
10962name normally:
10963
10964@smallexample
10965(@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10966Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
10967 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
10968(@value{GDBP}) print foo
10969$6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
10970@end smallexample
10971
10972When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
10973address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
10974overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
10975@code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
10976code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
10977
10978@itemize @bullet
10979@item
10980@cindex breakpoints in overlays
10981@cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
10982You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
10983@value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
10984@item
10985@value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
10986unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
10987overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
10988you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
10989breakpoints properly.
10990@end itemize
10991
10992
10993@node Automatic Overlay Debugging
10994@section Automatic Overlay Debugging
10995@cindex automatic overlay debugging
10996
10997@value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
10998are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
10999inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
11000@code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
11001looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
11002current state of the overlays.
11003
11004Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
11005@value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
11006
11007@table @asis
11008
11009@item @code{_ovly_table}:
11010This variable must be an array of the following structures:
11011
11012@smallexample
11013struct
11014@{
11015 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
11016 unsigned long vma;
11017
11018 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
11019 unsigned long size;
11020
11021 /* The overlay's load address. */
11022 unsigned long lma;
11023
11024 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
11025 zero otherwise. */
11026 unsigned long mapped;
11027@}
11028@end smallexample
11029
11030@item @code{_novlys}:
11031This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
11032number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
11033
11034@end table
11035
11036To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
11037looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
11038@code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
11039executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
11040the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
11041currently mapped.
11042
11043In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
11044@code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
11045will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
11046calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
11047will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
11048are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
11049in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
11050overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
11051are not being executed.
11052
11053@node Overlay Sample Program
11054@section Overlay Sample Program
11055@cindex overlay example program
11056
11057When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
11058at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
11059addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
11060Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
11061since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
11062architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
11063portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
11064
11065However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
11066program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
11067suite. The program consists of the following files from
11068@file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
11069
11070@table @file
11071@item overlays.c
11072The main program file.
11073@item ovlymgr.c
11074A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
11075@item foo.c
11076@itemx bar.c
11077@itemx baz.c
11078@itemx grbx.c
11079Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
11080@item d10v.ld
11081@itemx m32r.ld
11082Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
11083and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
11084@end table
11085
11086You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
11087cross-compiler like this:
11088
11089@smallexample
11090$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
11091$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
11092$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
11093$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
11094$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
11095$ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
11096$ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
11097 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
11098@end smallexample
11099
11100The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
11101you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
11102target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
11103
11104
11105@node Languages
11106@chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
11107@cindex languages
11108
11109Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
11110rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
11111dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
11112Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
11113represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
11114@samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
11115
11116@cindex working language
11117Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
11118allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
11119native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
11120consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
11121language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
11122language}.
11123
11124@menu
11125* Setting:: Switching between source languages
11126* Show:: Displaying the language
11127* Checks:: Type and range checks
11128* Supported Languages:: Supported languages
11129* Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
11130@end menu
11131
11132@node Setting
11133@section Switching Between Source Languages
11134
11135There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
11136set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
11137@code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
11138defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
11139used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
11140are printed, etc.
11141
11142In addition to the working language, every source file that
11143@value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
11144file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
11145source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
11146language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
11147controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
11148show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
11149set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
11150set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
11151Displaying the Language}.
11152
11153This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
11154as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
11155another language. In that case, make the
11156program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
11157@value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
11158program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
11159
11160@menu
11161* Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
11162* Manually:: Setting the working language manually
11163* Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
11164@end menu
11165
11166@node Filenames
11167@subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
11168
11169If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
11170@value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
11171
11172@table @file
11173@item .ada
11174@itemx .ads
11175@itemx .adb
11176@itemx .a
11177Ada source file.
11178
11179@item .c
11180C source file
11181
11182@item .C
11183@itemx .cc
11184@itemx .cp
11185@itemx .cpp
11186@itemx .cxx
11187@itemx .c++
11188C@t{++} source file
11189
11190@item .d
11191D source file
11192
11193@item .m
11194Objective-C source file
11195
11196@item .f
11197@itemx .F
11198Fortran source file
11199
11200@item .mod
11201Modula-2 source file
11202
11203@item .s
11204@itemx .S
11205Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
11206@value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
11207@end table
11208
11209In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
11210extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
11211
11212@node Manually
11213@subsection Setting the Working Language
11214
11215If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
11216expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
11217your program.
11218
11219@kindex set language
11220If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
11221command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
11222a language, such as
11223@code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
11224For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
11225
11226Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
11227language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
11228to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11229source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11230languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11231source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11232command such as:
11233
11234@smallexample
11235print a = b + c
11236@end smallexample
11237
11238@noindent
11239might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
11240@code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
11241printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
11242@code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
11243
11244@node Automatically
11245@subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
11246
11247To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
11248@samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
11249then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
11250frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
11251working language to the language recorded for the function in that
11252frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
11253or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
11254does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
11255not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
11256
11257This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
11258entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
11259written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
11260a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
11261case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
11262
11263@node Show
11264@section Displaying the Language
11265
11266The following commands help you find out which language is the
11267working language, and also what language source files were written in.
11268
11269@table @code
11270@item show language
11271@kindex show language
11272Display the current working language. This is the
11273language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
11274build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
11275
11276@item info frame
11277@kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
11278Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
11279working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
11280@xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
11281information listed here.
11282
11283@item info source
11284@kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
11285Display the source language of this source file.
11286@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
11287information listed here.
11288@end table
11289
11290In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
11291not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
11292with a language explicitly:
11293
11294@table @code
11295@item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
11296@kindex set extension-language
11297Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
11298assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
11299
11300@item info extensions
11301@kindex info extensions
11302List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
11303@end table
11304
11305@node Checks
11306@section Type and Range Checking
11307
11308@quotation
11309@emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
11310checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
11311section documents the intended facilities.
11312@end quotation
11313@c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
11314
11315Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
11316errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
11317checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
11318sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
11319these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
11320by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
11321errors when your program is running.
11322
11323@value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
11324Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
11325it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
11326evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
11327working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
11328automatically based on your program's source language.
11329@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
11330settings of supported languages.
11331
11332@menu
11333* Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
11334* Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
11335@end menu
11336
11337@cindex type checking
11338@cindex checks, type
11339@node Type Checking
11340@subsection An Overview of Type Checking
11341
11342Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
11343arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
11344otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
11345errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
11346
11347@smallexample
113481 + 2 @result{} 3
11349@exdent but
11350@error{} 1 + 2.3
11351@end smallexample
11352
11353The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
11354type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
11355
11356For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
11357@value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
11358to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
11359or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
11360but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
11361these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
11362also issues a warning.
11363
11364Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
11365related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
11366For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
11367a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
11368with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
11369the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
11370
11371Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
11372instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
11373operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
11374represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
11375operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
11376details on specific languages.
11377
11378@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
11379
11380@kindex set check type
11381@kindex show check type
11382@table @code
11383@item set check type auto
11384Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
11385@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11386each language.
11387
11388@item set check type on
11389@itemx set check type off
11390Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11391current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
11392match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
11393evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
11394message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
11395
11396@item set check type warn
11397Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
11398evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
11399be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
11400numbers and structures.
11401
11402@item show type
11403Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
11404is setting it automatically.
11405@end table
11406
11407@cindex range checking
11408@cindex checks, range
11409@node Range Checking
11410@subsection An Overview of Range Checking
11411
11412In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
11413bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
11414checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
11415computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
11416not exceed the bounds of the array.
11417
11418For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
11419@value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
11420always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
11421warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
11422
11423A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
11424array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
11425of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
11426error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
11427result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
11428the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
11429
11430@smallexample
11431@var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
11432@end smallexample
11433
11434This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
11435specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
11436Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
11437
11438@value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
11439
11440@kindex set check range
11441@kindex show check range
11442@table @code
11443@item set check range auto
11444Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
11445@xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11446each language.
11447
11448@item set check range on
11449@itemx set check range off
11450Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11451current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
11452match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
11453then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
11454
11455@item set check range warn
11456Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
11457but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
11458expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
11459memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
11460systems).
11461
11462@item show range
11463Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
11464being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
11465@end table
11466
11467@node Supported Languages
11468@section Supported Languages
11469
11470@value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
11471assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
11472@c This is false ...
11473Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
11474language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
11475and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
11476,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
11477language.
11478
11479The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
11480supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
11481tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
11482@value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
11483formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
11484books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
11485language reference or tutorial.
11486
11487@menu
11488* C:: C and C@t{++}
11489* D:: D
11490* Objective-C:: Objective-C
11491* Fortran:: Fortran
11492* Pascal:: Pascal
11493* Modula-2:: Modula-2
11494* Ada:: Ada
11495@end menu
11496
11497@node C
11498@subsection C and C@t{++}
11499
11500@cindex C and C@t{++}
11501@cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
11502
11503Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
11504to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
11505together.
11506
11507@cindex C@t{++}
11508@cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
11509@cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
11510The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
11511compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
11512effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
11513C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
11514compiler (@code{aCC}).
11515
11516For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
11517format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
11518format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
11519command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
11520@xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
11521gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
11522
11523@menu
11524* C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
11525* C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
11526* C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
11527* C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
11528* C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
11529* Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
11530* Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
11531* Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
11532@end menu
11533
11534@node C Operators
11535@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
11536
11537@cindex C and C@t{++} operators
11538
11539Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11540@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11541often defined on groups of types.
11542
11543For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
11544
11545@itemize @bullet
11546
11547@item
11548@emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
11549specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
11550
11551@item
11552@emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
11553@code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
11554
11555@item
11556@emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
11557
11558@item
11559@emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
11560
11561@end itemize
11562
11563@noindent
11564The following operators are supported. They are listed here
11565in order of increasing precedence:
11566
11567@table @code
11568@item ,
11569The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
11570are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
11571expression being the last expression evaluated.
11572
11573@item =
11574Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
11575assigned. Defined on scalar types.
11576
11577@item @var{op}=
11578Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
11579and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
11580@w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
11581@var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
11582@code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
11583
11584@item ?:
11585The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
11586of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
11587integral type.
11588
11589@item ||
11590Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11591
11592@item &&
11593Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11594
11595@item |
11596Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11597
11598@item ^
11599Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11600
11601@item &
11602Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11603
11604@item ==@r{, }!=
11605Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
11606expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
11607
11608@item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
11609Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
11610Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
11611and non-zero for true.
11612
11613@item <<@r{, }>>
11614left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
11615
11616@item @@
11617The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11618
11619@item +@r{, }-
11620Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
11621pointer types.
11622
11623@item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
11624Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
11625defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
11626integral types.
11627
11628@item ++@r{, }--
11629Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
11630operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
11631when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
11632operation takes place.
11633
11634@item *
11635Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
11636@code{++}.
11637
11638@item &
11639Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
11640
11641For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
11642allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
11643to examine the address
11644where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
11645stored.
11646
11647@item -
11648Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
11649precedence as @code{++}.
11650
11651@item !
11652Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11653@code{++}.
11654
11655@item ~
11656Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11657@code{++}.
11658
11659
11660@item .@r{, }->
11661Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
11662@value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
11663pointer based on the stored type information.
11664Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
11665
11666@item .*@r{, }->*
11667Dereferences of pointers to members.
11668
11669@item []
11670Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
11671@code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11672
11673@item ()
11674Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11675
11676@item ::
11677C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11678and @code{class} types.
11679
11680@item ::
11681Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11682(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11683above.
11684@end table
11685
11686If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11687attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11688predefined meaning.
11689
11690@node C Constants
11691@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11692
11693@cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11694
11695@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11696following ways:
11697
11698@itemize @bullet
11699@item
11700Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11701specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11702by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11703@samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11704@code{long} value.
11705
11706@item
11707Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11708point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11709exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11710@samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11711sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11712A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11713@samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11714the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11715a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11716constant.
11717
11718@item
11719Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11720integral equivalents.
11721
11722@item
11723Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11724(@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11725(usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11726be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11727the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11728of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11729@samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11730@samp{\n} for newline.
11731
11732@item
11733String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11734double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11735above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11736a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11737characters.
11738
11739@item
11740Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11741to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11742
11743@item
11744Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11745and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11746integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11747and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11748@end itemize
11749
11750@node C Plus Plus Expressions
11751@subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11752
11753@cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11754@value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11755
11756@cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11757@cindex C@t{++} compilers
11758@cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11759@cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11760@quotation
11761@emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11762proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11763works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11764@value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11765@option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11766stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11767stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11768specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11769are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11770C@t{++} code.
11771@end quotation
11772
11773@enumerate
11774
11775@cindex member functions
11776@item
11777Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11778
11779@smallexample
11780count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11781@end smallexample
11782
11783@vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11784@cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11785@item
11786While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11787expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11788that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11789pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11790
11791@cindex call overloaded functions
11792@cindex overloaded functions, calling
11793@cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11794@item
11795You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11796call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11797perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11798calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11799in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11800default arguments.
11801
11802It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11803promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11804class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11805functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11806number of function arguments.
11807
11808Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11809@code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11810,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11811
11812You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11813explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11814@smallexample
11815p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11816@end smallexample
11817
11818The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11819see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11820
11821@cindex reference declarations
11822@item
11823@value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11824them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11825dereferenced.
11826
11827In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11828reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11829avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11830The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11831you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11832
11833@item
11834@value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11835expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11836one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11837necessary, for example in an expression like
11838@samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11839resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11840debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11841@end enumerate
11842
11843In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11844calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11845objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11846invoking user-defined operators.
11847
11848@node C Defaults
11849@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11850
11851@cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11852
11853If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11854both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
11855C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11856selects the working language.
11857
11858If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
11859recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
11860@file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
11861these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
11862@xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
11863for further details.
11864
11865@c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
11866@c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
11867@c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
11868
11869@node C Checks
11870@subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
11871
11872@cindex C and C@t{++} checks
11873
11874By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
11875is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
11876considers two variables type equivalent if:
11877
11878@itemize @bullet
11879@item
11880The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
11881enumerated tag.
11882
11883@item
11884The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
11885declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
11886
11887@ignore
11888@c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
11889@c FIXME--beers?
11890@item
11891The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
11892declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
11893compilers.)
11894@end ignore
11895@end itemize
11896
11897Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
11898indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
11899that is not itself an array.
11900
11901@node Debugging C
11902@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
11903
11904The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
11905the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
11906inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
11907appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
11908
11909The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
11910with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
11911,Expressions}.
11912
11913@node Debugging C Plus Plus
11914@subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
11915
11916@cindex commands for C@t{++}
11917
11918Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
11919designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
11920
11921@table @code
11922@cindex break in overloaded functions
11923@item @r{breakpoint menus}
11924When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
11925@value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
11926locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
11927@xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
11928
11929@cindex overloading in C@t{++}
11930@item rbreak @var{regex}
11931Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
11932breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
11933classes.
11934@xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
11935
11936@cindex C@t{++} exception handling
11937@item catch throw
11938@itemx catch catch
11939Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
11940Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
11941
11942@cindex inheritance
11943@item ptype @var{typename}
11944Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
11945@var{typename}.
11946@xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
11947
11948@cindex C@t{++} symbol display
11949@item set print demangle
11950@itemx show print demangle
11951@itemx set print asm-demangle
11952@itemx show print asm-demangle
11953Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
11954displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
11955@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11956
11957@item set print object
11958@itemx show print object
11959Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
11960@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11961
11962@item set print vtbl
11963@itemx show print vtbl
11964Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
11965@xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11966(The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
11967ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
11968
11969@kindex set overload-resolution
11970@cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
11971@item set overload-resolution on
11972Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
11973is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
11974and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
11975using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
11976Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
11977If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
11978
11979@item set overload-resolution off
11980Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
11981overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11982chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
11983symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
11984overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11985searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
11986argument types.
11987
11988@kindex show overload-resolution
11989@item show overload-resolution
11990Show the current setting of overload resolution.
11991
11992@item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
11993You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
11994the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
11995@code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
11996also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
11997available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
11998@xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
11999@end table
12000
12001@node Decimal Floating Point
12002@subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
12003@cindex decimal floating point format
12004
12005@value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
12006decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
12007@code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
12008specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
12009
12010There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
12011Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
12012PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
12013target.
12014
12015Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
12016to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
12017(using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
12018
12019In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
12020point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
12021underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
12022
12023In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
12024to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
12025See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
12026
12027@node D
12028@subsection D
12029
12030@cindex D
12031@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
12032GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
12033specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
12034
12035@node Objective-C
12036@subsection Objective-C
12037
12038@cindex Objective-C
12039This section provides information about some commands and command
12040options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
12041@ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
12042few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
12043
12044@menu
12045* Method Names in Commands::
12046* The Print Command with Objective-C::
12047@end menu
12048
12049@node Method Names in Commands
12050@subsubsection Method Names in Commands
12051
12052The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
12053names as line specifications:
12054
12055@kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
12056@kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
12057@kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
12058@kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
12059@kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
12060@itemize
12061@item @code{clear}
12062@item @code{break}
12063@item @code{info line}
12064@item @code{jump}
12065@item @code{list}
12066@end itemize
12067
12068A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
12069
12070@smallexample
12071-[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
12072@end smallexample
12073
12074where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
12075plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
12076name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
12077brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
12078source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
12079instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
12080debugged, enter:
12081
12082@smallexample
12083break -[Fruit create]
12084@end smallexample
12085
12086To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
12087enter:
12088
12089@smallexample
12090list +[NSText initialize]
12091@end smallexample
12092
12093In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
12094required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
12095sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
12096is also possible to specify just a method name:
12097
12098@smallexample
12099break create
12100@end smallexample
12101
12102You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
12103your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
12104you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
12105method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
12106none apply.
12107
12108As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
12109@code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
12110
12111@smallexample
12112clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
12113@end smallexample
12114
12115@node The Print Command with Objective-C
12116@subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
12117@cindex Objective-C, print objects
12118@kindex print-object
12119@kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
12120
12121The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
12122
12123@smallexample
12124print -[@var{object} hash]
12125@end smallexample
12126
12127@cindex print an Objective-C object description
12128@cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
12129@noindent
12130will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
12131and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
12132@code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
12133the description of an object. However, this command may only work
12134with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
12135function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
12136
12137@node Fortran
12138@subsection Fortran
12139@cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
12140
12141@value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
12142currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
12143
12144@cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
12145Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
12146among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
12147functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
12148will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
12149underscore.
12150
12151@menu
12152* Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
12153* Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
12154* Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
12155@end menu
12156
12157@node Fortran Operators
12158@subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
12159
12160@cindex Fortran operators and expressions
12161
12162Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12163@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
12164arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
12165
12166@table @code
12167@item **
12168The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
12169of the second one.
12170
12171@item :
12172The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
12173represent a section of array.
12174
12175@item %
12176The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
12177types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
12178this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
12179union type.
12180@end table
12181
12182@node Fortran Defaults
12183@subsubsection Fortran Defaults
12184
12185@cindex Fortran Defaults
12186
12187Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
12188default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
12189change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
12190@ref{Symbols}, for the details.
12191
12192@node Special Fortran Commands
12193@subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
12194
12195@cindex Special Fortran commands
12196
12197@value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
12198such as displaying common blocks.
12199
12200@table @code
12201@cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
12202@kindex info common
12203@item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
12204This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
12205block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
12206all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
12207printed.
12208@end table
12209
12210@node Pascal
12211@subsection Pascal
12212
12213@cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
12214Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
12215nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
12216entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
12217syntax.
12218
12219The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
12220controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
12221@xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
12222
12223@node Modula-2
12224@subsection Modula-2
12225
12226@cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
12227
12228The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
12229output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
12230developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
12231attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12232to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
12233table.
12234
12235@cindex expressions in Modula-2
12236@menu
12237* M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
12238* Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
12239* M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
12240* M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
12241* M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
12242* Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
12243* M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
12244* M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12245* GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12246@end menu
12247
12248@node M2 Operators
12249@subsubsection Operators
12250@cindex Modula-2 operators
12251
12252Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12253@code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12254often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
12255following definitions hold:
12256
12257@itemize @bullet
12258
12259@item
12260@emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
12261their subranges.
12262
12263@item
12264@emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
12265
12266@item
12267@emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
12268
12269@item
12270@emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
12271@var{type}}.
12272
12273@item
12274@emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
12275
12276@item
12277@emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
12278
12279@item
12280@emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
12281@end itemize
12282
12283@noindent
12284The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
12285increasing precedence:
12286
12287@table @code
12288@item ,
12289Function argument or array index separator.
12290
12291@item :=
12292Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
12293@var{value}.
12294
12295@item <@r{, }>
12296Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
12297types.
12298
12299@item <=@r{, }>=
12300Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
12301on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
12302set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
12303
12304@item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
12305Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
12306Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
12307available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
12308comment character.
12309
12310@item IN
12311Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
12312Same precedence as @code{<}.
12313
12314@item OR
12315Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12316
12317@item AND@r{, }&
12318Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12319
12320@item @@
12321The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12322
12323@item +@r{, }-
12324Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
12325and difference on set types.
12326
12327@item *
12328Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
12329on set types.
12330
12331@item /
12332Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
12333types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
12334
12335@item DIV@r{, }MOD
12336Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
12337precedence as @code{*}.
12338
12339@item -
12340Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
12341
12342@item ^
12343Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
12344
12345@item NOT
12346Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
12347@code{^}.
12348
12349@item .
12350@code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
12351precedence as @code{^}.
12352
12353@item []
12354Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
12355
12356@item ()
12357Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
12358as @code{^}.
12359
12360@item ::@r{, }.
12361@value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
12362@end table
12363
12364@quotation
12365@emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
12366treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
12367@code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
12368@code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
12369@end quotation
12370
12371
12372@node Built-In Func/Proc
12373@subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
12374@cindex Modula-2 built-ins
12375
12376Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
12377In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
12378
12379@table @var
12380
12381@item a
12382represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
12383
12384@item c
12385represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
12386
12387@item i
12388represents a variable or constant of integral type.
12389
12390@item m
12391represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
12392same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
12393be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
12394
12395@item n
12396represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
12397
12398@item r
12399represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
12400
12401@item t
12402represents a type.
12403
12404@item v
12405represents a variable.
12406
12407@item x
12408represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
12409explanation of the function for details.
12410@end table
12411
12412All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
12413
12414@table @code
12415@item ABS(@var{n})
12416Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
12417
12418@item CAP(@var{c})
12419If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
12420equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
12421
12422@item CHR(@var{i})
12423Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12424
12425@item DEC(@var{v})
12426Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12427
12428@item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
12429Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12430new value.
12431
12432@item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12433Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
12434set.
12435
12436@item FLOAT(@var{i})
12437Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
12438
12439@item HIGH(@var{a})
12440Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
12441
12442@item INC(@var{v})
12443Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12444
12445@item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
12446Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12447new value.
12448
12449@item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12450Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
12451there. Returns the new set.
12452
12453@item MAX(@var{t})
12454Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
12455
12456@item MIN(@var{t})
12457Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
12458
12459@item ODD(@var{i})
12460Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
12461
12462@item ORD(@var{x})
12463Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
12464value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
12465@sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
12466integral, character and enumerated types.
12467
12468@item SIZE(@var{x})
12469Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12470
12471@item TRUNC(@var{r})
12472Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
12473
12474@item TSIZE(@var{x})
12475Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12476
12477@item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
12478Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12479@end table
12480
12481@quotation
12482@emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
12483@value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
12484an error.
12485@end quotation
12486
12487@cindex Modula-2 constants
12488@node M2 Constants
12489@subsubsection Constants
12490
12491@value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
12492ways:
12493
12494@itemize @bullet
12495
12496@item
12497Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
12498expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
12499rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
12500trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
12501
12502@item
12503Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
12504decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
12505then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
12506@samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
12507digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
12508digits.
12509
12510@item
12511Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
12512like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
12513also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
12514followed by a @samp{C}.
12515
12516@item
12517String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
12518pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
12519Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
12520Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
12521sequences.
12522
12523@item
12524Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
12525
12526@item
12527Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
12528@code{FALSE}.
12529
12530@item
12531Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
12532
12533@item
12534Set constants are not yet supported.
12535@end itemize
12536
12537@node M2 Types
12538@subsubsection Modula-2 Types
12539@cindex Modula-2 types
12540
12541Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
12542syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
12543types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
12544print the contents of variables declared using these type.
12545This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
12546sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
12547
12548The first example contains the following section of code:
12549
12550@smallexample
12551VAR
12552 s: SET OF CHAR ;
12553 r: [20..40] ;
12554@end smallexample
12555
12556@noindent
12557and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
12558@code{r} and @code{s}.
12559
12560@smallexample
12561(@value{GDBP}) print s
12562@{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
12563(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12564SET OF CHAR
12565(@value{GDBP}) print r
1256621
12567(@value{GDBP}) ptype r
12568[20..40]
12569@end smallexample
12570
12571@noindent
12572Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
12573
12574@smallexample
12575VAR
12576 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
12577@end smallexample
12578
12579@noindent
12580then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
12581
12582@smallexample
12583(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12584type = SET ['A'..'Z']
12585@end smallexample
12586
12587@noindent
12588Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
12589expressions using the debugger.
12590
12591The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
12592and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
12593
12594@smallexample
12595VAR
12596 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
12597@end smallexample
12598
12599@smallexample
12600(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12601ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
12602@end smallexample
12603
12604Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
12605is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
12606arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
12607above.
12608
12609Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
12610
12611@smallexample
12612TYPE
12613 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
12614 t = [blue..yellow] ;
12615VAR
12616 s: t ;
12617BEGIN
12618 s := blue ;
12619@end smallexample
12620
12621@noindent
12622The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
12623and value of a variable.
12624
12625@smallexample
12626(@value{GDBP}) print s
12627$1 = blue
12628(@value{GDBP}) ptype t
12629type = [blue..yellow]
12630@end smallexample
12631
12632@noindent
12633In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
12634displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
12635their @code{C} counterparts.
12636
12637@smallexample
12638VAR
12639 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12640BEGIN
12641 s[1] := 1 ;
12642@end smallexample
12643
12644@smallexample
12645(@value{GDBP}) print s
12646$1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
12647(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12648type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12649@end smallexample
12650
12651The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
12652pointer types as shown in this example:
12653
12654@smallexample
12655VAR
12656 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12657BEGIN
12658 NEW(s) ;
12659 s^[1] := 1 ;
12660@end smallexample
12661
12662@noindent
12663and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
12664
12665@smallexample
12666(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12667type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12668@end smallexample
12669
12670@value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
12671Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
12672types:
12673
12674@smallexample
12675TYPE
12676 foo = RECORD
12677 f1: CARDINAL ;
12678 f2: CHAR ;
12679 f3: myarray ;
12680 END ;
12681
12682 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
12683 myrange = [-2..2] ;
12684VAR
12685 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12686@end smallexample
12687
12688@noindent
12689and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12690below.
12691
12692@smallexample
12693(@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12694type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12695 f1 : CARDINAL;
12696 f2 : CHAR;
12697 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12698END
12699@end smallexample
12700
12701@node M2 Defaults
12702@subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12703@cindex Modula-2 defaults
12704
12705If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12706both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12707Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12708selected the working language.
12709
12710If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12711code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12712working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12713Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12714
12715@node Deviations
12716@subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12717@cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12718
12719A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12720This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12721
12722@itemize @bullet
12723@item
12724Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12725integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12726debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12727pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12728through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12729returned a pointer.)
12730
12731@item
12732C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12733non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12734escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12735printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12736
12737@item
12738The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12739argument.
12740
12741@item
12742All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12743@end itemize
12744
12745@node M2 Checks
12746@subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12747@cindex Modula-2 checks
12748
12749@quotation
12750@emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12751range checking.
12752@end quotation
12753@c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12754
12755@value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12756
12757@itemize @bullet
12758@item
12759They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12760@var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12761
12762@item
12763They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12764@sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12765@end itemize
12766
12767As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12768whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12769
12770Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12771index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12772
12773@node M2 Scope
12774@subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12775@cindex scope
12776@cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12777@cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12778@ifinfo
12779@vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12780@c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12781@end ifinfo
12782@ifnotinfo
12783@vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
12784@end ifnotinfo
12785
12786There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
12787(@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
12788similar syntax:
12789
12790@smallexample
12791
12792@var{module} . @var{id}
12793@var{scope} :: @var{id}
12794@end smallexample
12795
12796@noindent
12797where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12798@var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12799identifier within your program, except another module.
12800
12801Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12802specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12803found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12804enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12805
12806Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12807the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12808definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12809an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12810module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12811@var{module}.
12812
12813@node GDB/M2
12814@subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12815
12816Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12817Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12818specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
12819@samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
12820apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
12821analogue in Modula-2.
12822
12823The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
12824with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
12825intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
12826created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
12827address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
12828@samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
12829
12830@cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
12831In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
12832interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
12833
12834@node Ada
12835@subsection Ada
12836@cindex Ada
12837
12838The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
12839output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
12840Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
12841attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12842to be difficult.
12843
12844
12845@cindex expressions in Ada
12846@menu
12847* Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
12848 and semantics supported by Ada mode
12849 in @value{GDBN}.
12850* Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
12851* Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
12852* Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
12853* Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
12854* Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12855* Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
12856@end menu
12857
12858@node Ada Mode Intro
12859@subsubsection Introduction
12860@cindex Ada mode, general
12861
12862The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
12863syntax, with some extensions.
12864The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
12865
12866@itemize @bullet
12867@item
12868That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
12869arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
12870leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
12871program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
12872
12873@item
12874That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
12875are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12876
12877@item
12878That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12879@end itemize
12880
12881Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
12882user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
12883according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
12884names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
12885ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
12886
12887The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
12888As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
12889was translated from an Ada source file.
12890
12891While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
12892mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
12893(@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
12894middle (to allow based literals).
12895
12896The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
12897the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
12898actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
12899the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
12900procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
12901functions to procedures elsewhere.
12902
12903@node Omissions from Ada
12904@subsubsection Omissions from Ada
12905@cindex Ada, omissions from
12906
12907Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
12908
12909@itemize @bullet
12910@item
12911Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
12912
12913@itemize @minus
12914@item
12915@t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
12916 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
12917
12918@item
12919@t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
12920
12921@item
12922@t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
12923
12924@item
12925@t{'Tag}.
12926
12927@item
12928@t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
12929operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
12930
12931@item
12932@t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
12933@t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
12934
12935@item
12936@t{'Address}.
12937@end itemize
12938
12939@item
12940The names in
12941@code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
12942concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
12943not currently available.
12944
12945@item
12946Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
12947equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
12948for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
12949They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
12950types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
12951(in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
12952zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
12953indeterminate values.
12954
12955@item
12956The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
12957@code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
12958are not implemented.
12959
12960@item
12961@cindex array aggregates (Ada)
12962@cindex record aggregates (Ada)
12963@cindex aggregates (Ada)
12964There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
12965permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
12966
12967@smallexample
12968(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
12969(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
12970(@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
12971(@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
12972(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
12973(@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
12974@end smallexample
12975
12976Changing a
12977discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
12978undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
12979However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
12980them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
12981aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
12982declared to have a type such as:
12983
12984@smallexample
12985type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
12986 Id : Integer;
12987 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
12988end record;
12989@end smallexample
12990
12991you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
12992assignments:
12993
12994@smallexample
12995(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
12996(@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
12997@end smallexample
12998
12999As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
13000rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
13001components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
13002component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
13003original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
13004indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
13005redundant component associations, although which component values are
13006assigned in such cases is not defined.
13007
13008@item
13009Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
13010
13011@item
13012The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
13013than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
13014which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
13015looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
13016function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
13017the proper resolution.
13018
13019@item
13020The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
13021
13022@item
13023Entry calls are not implemented.
13024
13025@item
13026Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
13027formats are not supported.
13028
13029@item
13030It is not possible to slice a packed array.
13031
13032@item
13033The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
13034are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
13035context.
13036Should your program
13037redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
13038you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
13039@end itemize
13040
13041@node Additions to Ada
13042@subsubsection Additions to Ada
13043@cindex Ada, deviations from
13044
13045As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
13046extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
13047
13048@itemize @bullet
13049@item
13050If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
13051a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
13052then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
13053@var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
13054Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
13055in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
13056Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
13057which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
13058
13059@item
13060@code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
13061appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
13062you must typically surround it in single quotes.
13063
13064@item
13065The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
13066@var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
13067
13068@item
13069A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
13070(@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
13071@end itemize
13072
13073In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
13074additions specific to Ada:
13075
13076@itemize @bullet
13077@item
13078The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
13079its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
13080
13081@smallexample
13082(@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
13083(@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
13084@end smallexample
13085
13086@item
13087The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
13088the value of its right-hand operand.
13089This allows, for example,
13090complex conditional breaks:
13091
13092@smallexample
13093(@value{GDBP}) break f
13094(@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
13095@end smallexample
13096
13097@item
13098Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
13099characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
13100which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
13101@samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
13102(single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
13103sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
13104in strings. For example,
13105@smallexample
13106 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
13107@end smallexample
13108@noindent
13109contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
13110after each period.
13111
13112@item
13113The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
13114@t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
13115to write
13116
13117@smallexample
13118(@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
13119@end smallexample
13120
13121@item
13122When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
13123array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
13124For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
13125of 3 might print as
13126
13127@smallexample
13128(3 => 10, 17, 1)
13129@end smallexample
13130
13131@noindent
13132That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
13133clause.
13134
13135@item
13136You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
13137multi-character subsequence of
13138their names (an exact match gets preference).
13139For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
13140in place of @t{a'length}.
13141
13142@item
13143@cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
13144Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
13145to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
13146some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
13147For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
13148enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
13149For example,
13150@smallexample
13151(@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
13152@end smallexample
13153
13154@item
13155Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
13156access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
13157specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
13158selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
13159object.
13160
13161@end itemize
13162
13163@node Stopping Before Main Program
13164@subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
13165
13166@cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
13167It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
13168before reaching the main procedure.
13169As defined in the Ada Reference
13170Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
13171@code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
13172elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
13173@code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
13174
13175@node Ada Tasks
13176@subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
13177@cindex Ada, tasking
13178
13179Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
13180@value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
13181
13182@table @code
13183@kindex info tasks
13184@item info tasks
13185This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
13186
13187
13188@smallexample
13189@iftex
13190@leftskip=0.5cm
13191@end iftex
13192(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13193 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13194 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13195 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
13196 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
13197* 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
13198
13199@end smallexample
13200
13201@noindent
13202In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
13203task currently being inspected.
13204
13205@table @asis
13206@item ID
13207Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
13208
13209@item TID
13210The Ada task ID.
13211
13212@item P-ID
13213The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
13214
13215@item Pri
13216The base priority of the task.
13217
13218@item State
13219Current state of the task.
13220
13221@table @code
13222@item Unactivated
13223The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
13224executing.
13225
13226@item Runnable
13227The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
13228for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
13229
13230@item Terminated
13231The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
13232that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
13233terminated themselves.
13234
13235@item Child Activation Wait
13236The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
13237
13238@item Accept Statement
13239The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
13240
13241@item Waiting on entry call
13242The task is waiting on an entry call.
13243
13244@item Async Select Wait
13245The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
13246select statement.
13247
13248@item Delay Sleep
13249The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
13250alternative open.
13251
13252@item Child Termination Wait
13253The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
13254waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
13255waiting on a terminate Phase.
13256
13257@item Wait Child in Term Alt
13258The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
13259finish terminating.
13260
13261@item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
13262The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
13263@end table
13264
13265@item Name
13266Name of the task in the program.
13267
13268@end table
13269
13270@kindex info task @var{taskno}
13271@item info task @var{taskno}
13272This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
13273the following example:
13274@smallexample
13275@iftex
13276@leftskip=0.5cm
13277@end iftex
13278(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13279 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13280 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13281* 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
13282(@value{GDBP}) info task 2
13283Ada Task: 0x807c468
13284Name: task_1
13285Thread: 0x807f378
13286Parent: 1 (main_task)
13287Base Priority: 15
13288State: Runnable
13289@end smallexample
13290
13291@item task
13292@kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
13293@cindex current Ada task ID
13294This command prints the ID of the current task.
13295
13296@smallexample
13297@iftex
13298@leftskip=0.5cm
13299@end iftex
13300(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13301 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13302 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13303* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13304(@value{GDBP}) task
13305[Current task is 2]
13306@end smallexample
13307
13308@item task @var{taskno}
13309@cindex Ada task switching
13310This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
13311command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
13312from the current task to the given task.
13313
13314@smallexample
13315@iftex
13316@leftskip=0.5cm
13317@end iftex
13318(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13319 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13320 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13321* 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13322(@value{GDBP}) task 1
13323[Switching to task 1]
13324#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13325(@value{GDBP}) bt
13326#0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13327#1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
13328#2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
13329#3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
13330#4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
13331@end smallexample
13332
13333@item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
13334@itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
13335@cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
13336@cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
13337@kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
13338These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
13339command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
13340@var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
13341in @ref{Specify Location}.
13342
13343Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
13344to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
13345particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
13346numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
13347column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
13348
13349If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
13350breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
13351program.
13352
13353You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
13354well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
13355breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
13356
13357For example,
13358
13359@smallexample
13360@iftex
13361@leftskip=0.5cm
13362@end iftex
13363(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13364 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13365 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13366 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
13367 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13368* 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
13369(@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
13370Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
13371(@value{GDBP}) cont
13372Continuing.
13373task # 1 running
13374task # 2 running
13375
13376Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
1337715 flush;
13378(@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13379 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13380 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13381* 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
13382 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13383 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
13384@end smallexample
13385@end table
13386
13387@node Ada Tasks and Core Files
13388@subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13389@cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
13390
13391When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
13392tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
13393the platform being used.
13394For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
13395switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
13396as usual.
13397
13398On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
13399memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
13400a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
13401privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
13402Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
13403file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
13404
13405@node Ada Glitches
13406@subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
13407@cindex Ada, problems
13408
13409Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
13410we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
13411@value{GDBN},
13412some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
13413and the GNU Ada compiler.
13414
13415@itemize @bullet
13416@item
13417Currently, the debugger
13418has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
13419pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
13420Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
13421to get it printed properly.
13422
13423@item
13424Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
13425storage are invisible to the debugger.
13426
13427@item
13428Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
13429argument lists are treated as positional).
13430
13431@item
13432Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
13433
13434@item
13435Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
13436floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
13437the host machine.
13438
13439@item
13440The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
13441the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
13442this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
13443look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
13444symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
13445defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
13446local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
13447GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
13448you can usually resolve the confusion
13449by qualifying the problematic names with package
13450@code{Standard} explicitly.
13451@end itemize
13452
13453Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
13454information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
13455of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
13456around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
13457to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
13458enabled.
13459
13460@kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13461@kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13462@table @code
13463
13464@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
13465Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
13466value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
13467types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
13468a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
13469This is the default.
13470
13471@item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
13472This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
13473sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
13474trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
13475the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
13476@code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
13477recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
13478
13479@end table
13480
13481@node Unsupported Languages
13482@section Unsupported Languages
13483
13484@cindex unsupported languages
13485@cindex minimal language
13486In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
13487@value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
13488It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
13489of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
13490This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
13491an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
13492
13493If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
13494select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
13495language.
13496
13497@node Symbols
13498@chapter Examining the Symbol Table
13499
13500The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
13501symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
13502program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
13503does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
13504program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
13505(@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
13506file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13507
13508@cindex symbol names
13509@cindex names of symbols
13510@cindex quoting names
13511Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
13512characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
13513most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
13514source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
13515are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
13516ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
13517@samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
13518@samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
13519
13520@smallexample
13521p 'foo.c'::x
13522@end smallexample
13523
13524@noindent
13525looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
13526
13527@table @code
13528@cindex case-insensitive symbol names
13529@cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
13530@kindex set case-sensitive
13531@item set case-sensitive on
13532@itemx set case-sensitive off
13533@itemx set case-sensitive auto
13534Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
13535with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
13536Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
13537case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
13538case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
13539you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
13540suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
13541matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
13542case-insensitive matches.
13543
13544@kindex show case-sensitive
13545@item show case-sensitive
13546This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
13547lookups.
13548
13549@kindex info address
13550@cindex address of a symbol
13551@item info address @var{symbol}
13552Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
13553variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
13554local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
13555is always stored.
13556
13557Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
13558at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
13559the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
13560
13561@kindex info symbol
13562@cindex symbol from address
13563@cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
13564@item info symbol @var{addr}
13565Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
13566If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
13567nearest symbol and an offset from it:
13568
13569@smallexample
13570(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
13571_initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
13572@end smallexample
13573
13574@noindent
13575This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
13576it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
13577
13578For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
13579library containing the symbol is also printed:
13580
13581@smallexample
13582(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
13583_start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
13584(@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
13585__read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
13586@end smallexample
13587
13588@kindex whatis
13589@item whatis [@var{arg}]
13590Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
13591a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
13592last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
13593not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
13594assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
13595@var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
13596for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
13597@samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
13598@samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
13599@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13600
13601@kindex ptype
13602@item ptype [@var{arg}]
13603@code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
13604detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
13605@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13606
13607For example, for this variable declaration:
13608
13609@smallexample
13610struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
13611@end smallexample
13612
13613@noindent
13614the two commands give this output:
13615
13616@smallexample
13617@group
13618(@value{GDBP}) whatis v
13619type = struct complex
13620(@value{GDBP}) ptype v
13621type = struct complex @{
13622 double real;
13623 double imag;
13624@}
13625@end group
13626@end smallexample
13627
13628@noindent
13629As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
13630the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
13631
13632@cindex incomplete type
13633Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
13634of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
13635program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
13636the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
13637given these declarations:
13638
13639@smallexample
13640 struct foo;
13641 struct foo *fooptr;
13642@end smallexample
13643
13644@noindent
13645but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
13646
13647@smallexample
13648 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
13649 $1 = <incomplete type>
13650@end smallexample
13651
13652@noindent
13653``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
13654completely specified.
13655
13656@kindex info types
13657@item info types @var{regexp}
13658@itemx info types
13659Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
13660expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
13661no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
13662complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
13663types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
13664@samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
13665name is @code{value}.
13666
13667This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
13668@code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
13669lists all source files where a type is defined.
13670
13671@kindex info scope
13672@cindex local variables
13673@item info scope @var{location}
13674List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
13675accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
13676an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
13677to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
13678details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
13679
13680@smallexample
13681(@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
13682Scope for command_line_handler:
13683Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
13684Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
13685Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
13686Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
13687Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
13688Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
13689Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
13690@end smallexample
13691
13692@noindent
13693This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
13694during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
13695collect}.
13696
13697@kindex info source
13698@item info source
13699Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
13700the function containing the current point of execution:
13701@itemize @bullet
13702@item
13703the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
13704@item
13705the directory it was compiled in,
13706@item
13707its length, in lines,
13708@item
13709which programming language it is written in,
13710@item
13711whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
13712if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13713@item
13714whether the debugging information includes information about
13715preprocessor macros.
13716@end itemize
13717
13718
13719@kindex info sources
13720@item info sources
13721Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13722debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13723have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13724
13725@kindex info functions
13726@item info functions
13727Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13728
13729@item info functions @var{regexp}
13730Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13731whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13732Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13733include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13734start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13735that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13736@samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13737
13738@kindex info variables
13739@item info variables
13740Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13741outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13742
13743@item info variables @var{regexp}
13744Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13745variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13746@var{regexp}.
13747
13748@kindex info classes
13749@cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13750@item info classes
13751@itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13752Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13753(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13754expression.
13755
13756@kindex info selectors
13757@item info selectors
13758@itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
13759Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
13760(with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13761expression.
13762
13763@ignore
13764This was never implemented.
13765@kindex info methods
13766@item info methods
13767@itemx info methods @var{regexp}
13768The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
13769methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
13770specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
13771C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
13772from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
13773@code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
13774which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
13775@end ignore
13776
13777@cindex reloading symbols
13778Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
13779be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
13780in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
13781running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
13782@value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
13783
13784@table @code
13785@kindex set symbol-reloading
13786@item set symbol-reloading on
13787Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
13788object file with a particular name is seen again.
13789
13790@item set symbol-reloading off
13791Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
13792same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
13793running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
13794should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
13795may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
13796several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
13797name.
13798
13799@kindex show symbol-reloading
13800@item show symbol-reloading
13801Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
13802@end table
13803
13804@cindex opaque data types
13805@kindex set opaque-type-resolution
13806@item set opaque-type-resolution on
13807Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
13808declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
13809@code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
13810source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
13811another source file. The default is on.
13812
13813A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
13814the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
13815
13816@item set opaque-type-resolution off
13817Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
13818is printed as follows:
13819@smallexample
13820@{<no data fields>@}
13821@end smallexample
13822
13823@kindex show opaque-type-resolution
13824@item show opaque-type-resolution
13825Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
13826
13827@kindex maint print symbols
13828@cindex symbol dump
13829@kindex maint print psymbols
13830@cindex partial symbol dump
13831@item maint print symbols @var{filename}
13832@itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
13833@itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
13834Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
13835These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
13836symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
13837symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
13838collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
13839only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
13840command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
13841use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
13842symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
13843files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
13844@samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
13845required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
13846@xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
13847@value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
13848
13849@kindex maint info symtabs
13850@kindex maint info psymtabs
13851@cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
13852@cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13853@cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13854@cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13855@item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13856@itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13857
13858List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
13859structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
13860given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
13861copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
13862structure in more detail. For example:
13863
13864@smallexample
13865(@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
13866@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13867 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13868 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13869 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
13870 readin no
13871 fullname (null)
13872 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
13873 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
13874 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
13875 dependencies (none)
13876 @}
13877@}
13878(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13879(@value{GDBP})
13880@end smallexample
13881@noindent
13882We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
13883the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
13884and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
13885If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
13886read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
13887
13888@smallexample
13889(@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
13890Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
13891line 1574.
13892(@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13893@{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13894 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13895 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13896 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
13897 dirname (null)
13898 fullname (null)
13899 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
13900 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
13901 debugformat DWARF 2
13902 @}
13903@}
13904(@value{GDBP})
13905@end smallexample
13906@end table
13907
13908
13909@node Altering
13910@chapter Altering Execution
13911
13912Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
13913find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
13914correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
13915experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
13916program.
13917
13918For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
13919locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
13920address, or even return prematurely from a function.
13921
13922@menu
13923* Assignment:: Assignment to variables
13924* Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
13925* Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
13926* Returning:: Returning from a function
13927* Calling:: Calling your program's functions
13928* Patching:: Patching your program
13929@end menu
13930
13931@node Assignment
13932@section Assignment to Variables
13933
13934@cindex assignment
13935@cindex setting variables
13936To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
13937@xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
13938
13939@smallexample
13940print x=4
13941@end smallexample
13942
13943@noindent
13944stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
13945value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
13946@xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
13947information on operators in supported languages.
13948
13949@kindex set variable
13950@cindex variables, setting
13951If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
13952@code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
13953really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
13954not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
13955,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
13956
13957If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
13958appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
13959variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
13960to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
13961program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
13962a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
13963command @code{set width}:
13964
13965@smallexample
13966(@value{GDBP}) whatis width
13967type = double
13968(@value{GDBP}) p width
13969$4 = 13
13970(@value{GDBP}) set width=47
13971Invalid syntax in expression.
13972@end smallexample
13973
13974@noindent
13975The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
13976order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
13977
13978@smallexample
13979(@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
13980@end smallexample
13981
13982Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
13983with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
13984@code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
13985your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
13986to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
13987the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
13988
13989@smallexample
13990@group
13991(@value{GDBP}) whatis g
13992type = double
13993(@value{GDBP}) p g
13994$1 = 1
13995(@value{GDBP}) set g=4
13996(@value{GDBP}) p g
13997$2 = 1
13998(@value{GDBP}) r
13999The program being debugged has been started already.
14000Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
14001Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
14002"/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
14003 Invalid bfd target.
14004(@value{GDBP}) show g
14005The current BFD target is "=4".
14006@end group
14007@end smallexample
14008
14009@noindent
14010The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
14011@code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
14012@code{g}, use
14013
14014@smallexample
14015(@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
14016@end smallexample
14017
14018@value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
14019freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
14020and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
14021same length or shorter.
14022@comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
14023@comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
14024
14025To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
14026construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
14027(@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
14028to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
14029and representation in memory), and
14030
14031@smallexample
14032set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
14033@end smallexample
14034
14035@noindent
14036stores the value 4 into that memory location.
14037
14038@node Jumping
14039@section Continuing at a Different Address
14040
14041Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
14042it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
14043an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
14044
14045@table @code
14046@kindex jump
14047@item jump @var{linespec}
14048@itemx jump @var{location}
14049Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
14050@var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
14051breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
14052different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
14053practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
14054@code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14055
14056The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
14057the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
14058register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
14059a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
14060be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
14061of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
14062confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
14063executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
14064well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
14065@end table
14066
14067@c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
14068On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
14069command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
14070difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
14071changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
14072example,
14073
14074@smallexample
14075set $pc = 0x485
14076@end smallexample
14077
14078@noindent
14079makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
14080address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
14081@xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
14082
14083The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
14084up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
14085that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
14086detail.
14087
14088@c @group
14089@node Signaling
14090@section Giving your Program a Signal
14091@cindex deliver a signal to a program
14092
14093@table @code
14094@kindex signal
14095@item signal @var{signal}
14096Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
14097signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
14098signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
14099SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
14100
14101Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
14102giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
14103a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
14104@code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
14105signal.
14106
14107@code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
14108after executing the command.
14109@end table
14110@c @end group
14111
14112Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
14113@code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
14114causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
14115the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
14116passes the signal directly to your program.
14117
14118
14119@node Returning
14120@section Returning from a Function
14121
14122@table @code
14123@cindex returning from a function
14124@kindex return
14125@item return
14126@itemx return @var{expression}
14127You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
14128command. If you give an
14129@var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
14130value.
14131@end table
14132
14133When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
14134(and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
14135discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
14136be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
14137
14138This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
14139Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
14140innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
14141specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
14142of functions.
14143
14144The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
14145program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
14146returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
14147and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
14148selected stack frame returns naturally.
14149
14150@value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
14151the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
14152type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
14153OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
14154CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
14155registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
14156specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
14157current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
14158assignment into the right register(s).
14159
14160Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
14161use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
14162debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
14163function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
14164int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
14165into a @code{long long int}:
14166
14167@smallexample
14168Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
1416929 return 31;
14170(@value{GDBP}) return -1
14171Make func return now? (y or n) y
14172#0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
1417343 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
14174(@value{GDBP})
14175@end smallexample
14176
14177However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
14178function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
14179to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
14180in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
14181typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
14182of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
14183architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
14184an appropriate cast explicitly:
14185
14186@smallexample
14187Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
14188(@value{GDBP}) return -1
14189Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
14190Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
14191(@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
14192Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
14193#0 0x00400526 in main ()
14194(@value{GDBP})
14195@end smallexample
14196
14197@node Calling
14198@section Calling Program Functions
14199
14200@table @code
14201@cindex calling functions
14202@cindex inferior functions, calling
14203@item print @var{expr}
14204Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
14205@var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
14206debugged.
14207
14208@kindex call
14209@item call @var{expr}
14210Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
14211returned values.
14212
14213You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
14214execute a function from your program that does not return anything
14215(a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
14216with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
14217print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
14218value history.
14219@end table
14220
14221It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
14222@code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
14223the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
14224in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
14225
14226Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
14227call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
14228exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
14229frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
14230an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
14231dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
14232seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
14233in that case is controlled by the
14234@code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
14235
14236@table @code
14237@item set unwindonsignal
14238@kindex set unwindonsignal
14239@cindex unwind stack in called functions
14240@cindex call dummy stack unwinding
14241Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
14242that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
14243@value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
14244the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
14245default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
14246received.
14247
14248@item show unwindonsignal
14249@kindex show unwindonsignal
14250Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14251@value{GDBN}.
14252
14253@item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14254@kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14255@cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
14256@cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
14257Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
14258unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
14259debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
14260it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
14261the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
14262the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
14263
14264@item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14265@kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14266Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14267@value{GDBN}.
14268
14269@end table
14270
14271@cindex weak alias functions
14272Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
14273for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
14274the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
14275which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
14276As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
14277even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
14278function instead.
14279
14280@node Patching
14281@section Patching Programs
14282
14283@cindex patching binaries
14284@cindex writing into executables
14285@cindex writing into corefiles
14286
14287By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
14288executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
14289alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
14290patching your program's binary.
14291
14292If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
14293explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
14294want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
14295repairs.
14296
14297@table @code
14298@kindex set write
14299@item set write on
14300@itemx set write off
14301If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
14302core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
14303off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
14304
14305If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
14306@code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
14307write}, for your new setting to take effect.
14308
14309@item show write
14310@kindex show write
14311Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
14312as well as reading.
14313@end table
14314
14315@node GDB Files
14316@chapter @value{GDBN} Files
14317
14318@value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
14319both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
14320program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
14321@value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
14322
14323@menu
14324* Files:: Commands to specify files
14325* Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
14326* Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
14327* Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
14328* Data Files:: GDB data files
14329@end menu
14330
14331@node Files
14332@section Commands to Specify Files
14333
14334@cindex symbol table
14335@cindex core dump file
14336
14337You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
14338way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
14339@value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
14340Out of @value{GDBN}}).
14341
14342Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
14343@value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
14344specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
14345via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
14346Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
14347new files are useful.
14348
14349@table @code
14350@cindex executable file
14351@kindex file
14352@item file @var{filename}
14353Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
14354symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
14355executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
14356directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
14357@value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
14358directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
14359to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
14360and your program, using the @code{path} command.
14361
14362@cindex unlinked object files
14363@cindex patching object files
14364You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
14365the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
14366file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
14367if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
14368@kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
14369that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
14370case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
14371the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
14372
14373@item file
14374@code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
14375has on both executable file and the symbol table.
14376
14377@kindex exec-file
14378@item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14379Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
14380in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
14381if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
14382discard information on the executable file.
14383
14384@kindex symbol-file
14385@item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14386Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
14387searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
14388table and program to run from the same file.
14389
14390@code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
14391program's symbol table.
14392
14393The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
14394some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
14395contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
14396which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
14397@value{GDBN}.
14398
14399@code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
14400executing it once.
14401
14402When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
14403understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
14404generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14405other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
14406Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
14407using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
14408optimized code.
14409
14410For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
14411using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
14412symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
14413quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
14414details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
14415
14416The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
14417start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
14418occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
14419file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
14420pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
14421Warnings and Messages}.)
14422
14423We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
14424symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
14425symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
14426still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
14427in stabs format.
14428
14429@kindex readnow
14430@cindex reading symbols immediately
14431@cindex symbols, reading immediately
14432@item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14433@itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14434You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
14435tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
14436load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14437entire symbol table available.
14438
14439@c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
14440@c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
14441@c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
14442@c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
14443@c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
14444@c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
14445@c files.
14446
14447@kindex core-file
14448@item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
14449@itemx core
14450Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
14451of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
14452address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
14453executable file itself for other parts.
14454
14455@code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
14456to be used.
14457
14458Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
14459under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
14460wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
14461the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
14462(@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
14463
14464@kindex add-symbol-file
14465@cindex dynamic linking
14466@item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
14467@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
14468@itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
14469The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
14470information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
14471when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
14472into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
14473address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
14474this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
14475of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
14476section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
14477@var{address} as an expression.
14478
14479The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
14480originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
14481@code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
14482thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
14483instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
14484
14485@cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
14486@cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
14487@cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
14488@cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
14489@cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
14490Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
14491executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
14492relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
14493information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
14494
14495@itemize @bullet
14496@item
14497the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
14498that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
14499@item
14500every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
14501been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
14502@item
14503you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
14504provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14505@end itemize
14506
14507@noindent
14508Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
14509relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
14510typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
14511important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
14512procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
14513assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
14514general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
14515relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
14516as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
14517way.
14518
14519@code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
14520
14521@kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
14522@cindex @code{syscall DSO}
14523@cindex load symbols from memory
14524@item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
14525Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
14526object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
14527For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
14528process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
14529some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
14530evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
14531For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
14532@code{exec-file} commands in advance.
14533
14534@kindex add-shared-symbol-files
14535@kindex assf
14536@item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
14537@itemx assf @var{library-file}
14538The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
14539in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
14540alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
14541@value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
14542@value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
14543@code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
14544library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
14545@code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
14546
14547@kindex section
14548@item section @var{section} @var{addr}
14549The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
14550@var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
14551exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
14552@code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
14553itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
14554@code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
14555their addresses.
14556
14557@kindex info files
14558@kindex info target
14559@item info files
14560@itemx info target
14561@code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
14562current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
14563including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
14564use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
14565command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
14566current ones.
14567
14568@kindex maint info sections
14569@item maint info sections
14570Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
14571is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
14572displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
14573offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
14574@code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
14575may be arbitrarily combined):
14576
14577@table @code
14578@item ALLOBJ
14579Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
14580@item @var{sections}
14581Display info only for named @var{sections}.
14582@item @var{section-flags}
14583Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
14584The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
14585@table @code
14586@item ALLOC
14587Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
14588Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
14589@item LOAD
14590Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
14591Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
14592@item RELOC
14593Section needs to be relocated before loading.
14594@item READONLY
14595Section cannot be modified by the child process.
14596@item CODE
14597Section contains executable code only.
14598@item DATA
14599Section contains data only (no executable code).
14600@item ROM
14601Section will reside in ROM.
14602@item CONSTRUCTOR
14603Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
14604@item HAS_CONTENTS
14605Section is not empty.
14606@item NEVER_LOAD
14607An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
14608@item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
14609A notification to the linker that the section contains
14610COFF shared library information.
14611@item IS_COMMON
14612Section contains common symbols.
14613@end table
14614@end table
14615@kindex set trust-readonly-sections
14616@cindex read-only sections
14617@item set trust-readonly-sections on
14618Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
14619really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
14620In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
14621out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
14622For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
14623enhancement to debugging performance.
14624
14625The default is off.
14626
14627@item set trust-readonly-sections off
14628Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
14629the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
14630and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
14631
14632@item show trust-readonly-sections
14633Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
14634@end table
14635
14636All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
14637as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
14638name and remembers it that way.
14639
14640@cindex shared libraries
14641@anchor{Shared Libraries}
14642@value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
14643and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
14644
14645On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
14646shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
14647
14648@value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
14649when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
14650(Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
14651references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
14652debugging a core file).
14653
14654On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
14655automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
14656
14657@c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
14658@c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
14659@c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
14660
14661There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
14662symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
14663particularly large or there are many of them.
14664
14665To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
14666commands:
14667
14668@table @code
14669@kindex set auto-solib-add
14670@item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
14671If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
14672will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
14673attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
14674informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
14675is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
14676@code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
14677
14678@cindex memory used for symbol tables
14679If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
14680takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
14681memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
14682symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
14683auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
14684library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
14685@var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
14686the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
14687
14688@kindex show auto-solib-add
14689@item show auto-solib-add
14690Display the current autoloading mode.
14691@end table
14692
14693@cindex load shared library
14694To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
14695command:
14696
14697@table @code
14698@kindex info sharedlibrary
14699@kindex info share
14700@item info share @var{regex}
14701@itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14702Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
14703that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
14704all shared libraries that are loaded.
14705
14706@kindex sharedlibrary
14707@kindex share
14708@item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14709@itemx share @var{regex}
14710Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
14711Unix regular expression.
14712As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
14713required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
14714@var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14715loaded.
14716
14717@item nosharedlibrary
14718@kindex nosharedlibrary
14719@cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14720Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14721that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14722libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14723discarded.
14724@end table
14725
14726Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14727when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14728stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14729
14730@table @code
14731@item set stop-on-solib-events
14732@kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14733This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14734when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14735The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14736shared library.
14737
14738@item show stop-on-solib-events
14739@kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14740Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14741library events happen.
14742@end table
14743
14744Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14745configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14746this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14747on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14748libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14749provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14750copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14751not.
14752
14753@cindex where to look for shared libraries
14754For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14755libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14756may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
14757to specify the search directories for target libraries.
14758
14759@table @code
14760@cindex prefix for shared library file names
14761@cindex system root, alternate
14762@kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
14763@kindex set sysroot
14764@item set sysroot @var{path}
14765Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
14766absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
14767runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
14768target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
14769libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
14770the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
14771under @var{path}.
14772
14773If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
14774retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
14775supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
14776command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
14777The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
14778(if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
14779@footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
14780that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
14781variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
14782
14783For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
14784SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
14785absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
14786@value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
14787slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
14788
14789@smallexample
14790 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
14791@end smallexample
14792
14793Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
14794@var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
14795system:
14796
14797@smallexample
14798 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
14799@end smallexample
14800
14801If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
14802the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
14803for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
14804colons:
14805
14806@smallexample
14807 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
14808@end smallexample
14809
14810This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
14811with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
14812copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
14813@samp{z}):
14814
14815@smallexample
14816 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
14817 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
14818 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
14819@end smallexample
14820
14821@noindent
14822and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
14823@value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
14824@file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
14825
14826If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
14827removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
14828
14829@smallexample
14830 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
14831@end smallexample
14832
14833This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
14834if you don't want or need to.
14835
14836The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
14837sysroot}.
14838
14839@cindex default system root
14840@cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
14841You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
14842@samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
14843@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14844@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
14845automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14846location.
14847
14848@kindex show sysroot
14849@item show sysroot
14850Display the current shared library prefix.
14851
14852@kindex set solib-search-path
14853@item set solib-search-path @var{path}
14854If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
14855directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
14856is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
14857path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
14858use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
14859@samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
14860finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
14861it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
14862of shared library symbols.
14863
14864@kindex show solib-search-path
14865@item show solib-search-path
14866Display the current shared library search path.
14867
14868@cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
14869@kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
14870@kindex show target-file-system-kind
14871@item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
14872Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
14873
14874Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
14875make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
14876example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
14877system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
14878@value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
14879@file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
14880drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
14881indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
14882normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
14883the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
14884as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
14885it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
14886shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
14887with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
14888@code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
14889to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
14890map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
14891semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
14892to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
14893tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
14894current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
14895Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
14896
14897@table @code
14898@item unix
14899Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
14900kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
14901are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
14902the forward slash.
14903
14904@item dos-based
14905Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
14906File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
14907followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
14908both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
14909considered directory separators.
14910
14911@item auto
14912Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
14913target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
14914This is the default.
14915@end table
14916@end table
14917
14918
14919@node Separate Debug Files
14920@section Debugging Information in Separate Files
14921@cindex separate debugging information files
14922@cindex debugging information in separate files
14923@cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
14924@cindex debugging information directory, global
14925@cindex global debugging information directory
14926@cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
14927@cindex @file{.build-id} directory
14928
14929@value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
14930file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
14931@value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
14932Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
14933than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
14934information for their executables in separate files, which users can
14935install only when they need to debug a problem.
14936
14937@value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
14938file:
14939
14940@itemize @bullet
14941@item
14942The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
14943the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
14944usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
14945name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
14946(e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
14947debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
14948checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
14949the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
14950
14951@item
14952The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
14953also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
14954only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
14955for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
14956this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
14957command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
14958The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
14959explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
14960below.
14961@end itemize
14962
14963Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
14964uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
14965
14966@itemize @bullet
14967@item
14968For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
14969the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
14970directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
14971directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
14972directories of the executable's absolute file name.
14973
14974@item
14975For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
14976@file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
14977named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
14978first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
14979are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
14980hex characters, not 10.)
14981@end itemize
14982
14983So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
14984@file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
14985file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
14986@code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
14987@file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
14988debug information files, in the indicated order:
14989
14990@itemize @minus
14991@item
14992@file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
14993@item
14994@file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
14995@item
14996@file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
14997@item
14998@file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
14999@end itemize
15000
15001You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
15002name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
15003
15004@table @code
15005
15006@kindex set debug-file-directory
15007@item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
15008Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15009information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
15010concatenating them by a directory separator.
15011
15012@kindex show debug-file-directory
15013@item show debug-file-directory
15014Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15015information files.
15016
15017@end table
15018
15019@cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
15020@cindex debug link sections
15021A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
15022@code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
15023
15024@itemize
15025@item
15026A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
15027a zero byte,
15028@item
15029zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
15030boundary within the section, and
15031@item
15032a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
15033executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
15034information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
15035zero as the @var{crc} argument.
15036@end itemize
15037
15038Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
15039contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
15040described above.
15041
15042@cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
15043@cindex build ID sections
15044The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
15045ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
15046often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
15047It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
15048the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
15049algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
15050content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
15051value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
15052stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
15053
15054The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
15055executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
15056debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
15057should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
15058but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
15059in an ordinary executable.
15060
15061The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
15062@samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
15063the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
15064following commands:
15065
15066@smallexample
15067@kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
15068@kbd{strip -g foo}
15069@end smallexample
15070
15071@noindent
15072These commands remove the debugging
15073information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
15074@file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
15075two files:
15076
15077@itemize @bullet
15078@item
15079The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
15080behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
15081
15082@smallexample
15083@kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
15084@end smallexample
15085
15086Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
15087a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
15088foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
15089the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
15090
15091@item
15092Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
15093the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
15094compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
15095utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
15096@end itemize
15097
15098@noindent
15099
15100@cindex CRC algorithm definition
15101The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
15102IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
15103
15104@c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
15105@c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
15106@c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
15107@c different ways!
15108@ifhtml
15109@display
15110@html
15111 <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>
15112 + <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
15113@end html
15114@end display
15115@end ifhtml
15116@ifnothtml
15117@display
15118 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
15119 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
15120@end display
15121@end ifnothtml
15122
15123The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
15124significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
15125@code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
15126the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
15127CRC.
15128
15129@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
15130@dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
15131, @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
15132case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
15133significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
15134zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
15135
15136To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
15137which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
15138initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
15139this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
15140@code{0xffffffff}.
15141
15142@kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
15143@smallexample
15144unsigned long
15145gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
15146 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
15147@{
15148 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
15149 @{
15150 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
15151 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
15152 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
15153 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
15154 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
15155 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
15156 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
15157 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
15158 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
15159 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
15160 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
15161 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
15162 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
15163 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
15164 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
15165 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
15166 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
15167 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
15168 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
15169 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
15170 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
15171 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
15172 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
15173 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
15174 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
15175 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
15176 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
15177 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
15178 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
15179 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
15180 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
15181 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
15182 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
15183 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
15184 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
15185 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
15186 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
15187 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
15188 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
15189 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
15190 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
15191 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
15192 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
15193 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
15194 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
15195 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
15196 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
15197 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
15198 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
15199 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
15200 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
15201 0x2d02ef8d
15202 @};
15203 unsigned char *end;
15204
15205 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15206 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
15207 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
15208 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15209@}
15210@end smallexample
15211
15212@noindent
15213This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
15214
15215
15216@node Index Files
15217@section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
15218@cindex index files
15219@cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
15220
15221When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
15222file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
15223@value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
15224on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
15225@value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
15226startup.
15227
15228The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
15229write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
15230using @command{objcopy}.
15231
15232To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
15233
15234@table @code
15235@item save gdb-index @var{directory}
15236@kindex save gdb-index
15237Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
15238@value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
15239with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
15240@var{directory}.
15241@end table
15242
15243Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
15244file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
15245
15246@smallexample
15247$ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
15248 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
15249@end smallexample
15250
15251There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
15252for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
15253currently work for programs using Ada.
15254
15255@node Symbol Errors
15256@section Errors Reading Symbol Files
15257
15258While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
15259such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
15260output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
15261they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
15262debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
15263about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
15264only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
15265times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
15266to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
15267complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15268Messages}).
15269
15270The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
15271
15272@table @code
15273@item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
15274
15275The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
15276(such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
15277error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
15278in its outer scope blocks.
15279
15280@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
15281the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
15282may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
15283function.
15284
15285@item block at @var{address} out of order
15286
15287The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
15288order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
15289do so.
15290
15291@value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
15292locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
15293can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
15294@code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15295Messages}.)
15296
15297@item bad block start address patched
15298
15299The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
15300smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
15301to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
15302
15303@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
15304starting on the previous source line.
15305
15306@item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
15307
15308@cindex foo
15309Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
15310larger than the size of the string table.
15311
15312@value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
15313name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
15314with this name.
15315
15316@item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
15317
15318The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
15319not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
15320uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
15321
15322@value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
15323This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
15324are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
15325debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
15326on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
15327and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
15328
15329@item stub type has NULL name
15330
15331@value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
15332
15333@item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
15334The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
15335information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
15336it.
15337
15338@item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
15339
15340@value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
15341
15342@end table
15343
15344@node Data Files
15345@section GDB Data Files
15346
15347@cindex prefix for data files
15348@value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
15349are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
15350
15351You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
15352is currently using.
15353
15354@table @code
15355@kindex set data-directory
15356@item set data-directory @var{directory}
15357Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
15358to @var{directory}.
15359
15360@kindex show data-directory
15361@item show data-directory
15362Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
15363@end table
15364
15365@cindex default data directory
15366@cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
15367You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
15368@samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
15369@value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15370@samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
15371automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15372location.
15373
15374@node Targets
15375@chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
15376
15377@cindex debugging target
15378A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
15379
15380Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
15381in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
15382you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
15383flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
15384host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
15385realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
15386command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
15387(@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
15388
15389@cindex target architecture
15390It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
15391architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
15392one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
15393command.
15394
15395@table @code
15396@kindex set architecture
15397@kindex show architecture
15398@item set architecture @var{arch}
15399This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
15400value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
15401supported architectures.
15402
15403@item show architecture
15404Show the current target architecture.
15405
15406@item set processor
15407@itemx processor
15408@kindex set processor
15409@kindex show processor
15410These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
15411and @code{show architecture}.
15412@end table
15413
15414@menu
15415* Active Targets:: Active targets
15416* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
15417* Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
15418@end menu
15419
15420@node Active Targets
15421@section Active Targets
15422
15423@cindex stacking targets
15424@cindex active targets
15425@cindex multiple targets
15426
15427There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
15428recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
15429and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
15430on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
15431example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
15432the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
15433recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
15434presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
15435remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
15436
15437Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
15438file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
15439specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
15440command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
15441
15442@node Target Commands
15443@section Commands for Managing Targets
15444
15445@table @code
15446@item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
15447Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
15448process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
15449facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
15450protocol of the target machine.
15451
15452Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
15453typically include things like device names or host names to connect
15454with, process numbers, and baud rates.
15455
15456The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
15457after executing the command.
15458
15459@kindex help target
15460@item help target
15461Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
15462currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
15463(@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15464
15465@item help target @var{name}
15466Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
15467select it.
15468
15469@kindex set gnutarget
15470@item set gnutarget @var{args}
15471@value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
15472knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
15473a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
15474with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
15475with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
15476
15477@quotation
15478@emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
15479you must know the actual BFD name.
15480@end quotation
15481
15482@noindent
15483@xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
15484
15485@kindex show gnutarget
15486@item show gnutarget
15487Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
15488@code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
15489@value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
15490and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
15491@end table
15492
15493@cindex common targets
15494Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
15495configuration):
15496
15497@table @code
15498@kindex target
15499@item target exec @var{program}
15500@cindex executable file target
15501An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
15502@samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
15503
15504@item target core @var{filename}
15505@cindex core dump file target
15506A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
15507@samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
15508
15509@item target remote @var{medium}
15510@cindex remote target
15511A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
15512connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
15513protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
15514
15515For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
15516machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
15517
15518@smallexample
15519target remote /dev/ttya
15520@end smallexample
15521
15522@code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
15523useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
15524system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
15525clobbered by the download.
15526
15527@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
15528@cindex built-in simulator target
15529Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
15530In general,
15531@smallexample
15532 target sim
15533 load
15534 run
15535@end smallexample
15536@noindent
15537works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
15538drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
15539provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
15540see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
15541Processors}.
15542
15543@end table
15544
15545Some configurations may include these targets as well:
15546
15547@table @code
15548
15549@item target nrom @var{dev}
15550@cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
15551NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
15552
15553@end table
15554
15555Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
15556your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
15557
15558Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
15559you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
15560various aspects of this process.
15561
15562@table @code
15563
15564@item set hash
15565@kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15566@cindex hash mark while downloading
15567This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
15568downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
15569displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
15570monitor.
15571
15572@item show hash
15573@kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15574Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
15575
15576@item set debug monitor
15577@kindex set debug monitor
15578@cindex display remote monitor communications
15579Enable or disable display of communications messages between
15580@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15581
15582@item show debug monitor
15583@kindex show debug monitor
15584Show the current status of displaying communications between
15585@value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15586@end table
15587
15588@table @code
15589
15590@kindex load @var{filename}
15591@item load @var{filename}
15592@anchor{load}
15593Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
15594@value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
15595is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
15596on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
15597@code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
15598the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15599
15600If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
15601execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
15602target is @dots{}}''
15603
15604The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
15605For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
15606link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
15607specifies a fixed address.
15608@c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
15609
15610Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
15611load programs into flash memory.
15612
15613@code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
15614@end table
15615
15616@node Byte Order
15617@section Choosing Target Byte Order
15618
15619@cindex choosing target byte order
15620@cindex target byte order
15621
15622Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
15623offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
15624orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
15625designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
15626which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
15627@value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
15628
15629@table @code
15630@kindex set endian
15631@item set endian big
15632Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
15633
15634@item set endian little
15635Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
15636
15637@item set endian auto
15638Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
15639executable.
15640
15641@item show endian
15642Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
15643
15644@end table
15645
15646Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
15647data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
15648target system.
15649
15650
15651@node Remote Debugging
15652@chapter Debugging Remote Programs
15653@cindex remote debugging
15654
15655If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
15656@value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
15657For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
15658or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
15659powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
15660
15661Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
15662to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
15663@value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
15664but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
15665write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
15666communicate with @value{GDBN}.
15667
15668Other remote targets may be available in your
15669configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
15670
15671@menu
15672* Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
15673* File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
15674* Server:: Using the gdbserver program
15675* Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
15676* Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
15677@end menu
15678
15679@node Connecting
15680@section Connecting to a Remote Target
15681
15682On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
15683your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
15684Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
15685program as the first argument.
15686
15687@cindex @code{target remote}
15688@value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
15689over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
15690each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
15691program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
15692@code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
15693Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
15694
15695@table @code
15696
15697@item target remote @var{serial-device}
15698@cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
15699Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
15700to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
15701
15702@smallexample
15703target remote /dev/ttyb
15704@end smallexample
15705
15706If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
15707@w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
15708(@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
15709@code{target} command.
15710
15711@item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
15712@itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15713@cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
15714Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
15715The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
15716address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
15717the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
15718it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
15719target.
15720
15721For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
15722@code{manyfarms}:
15723
15724@smallexample
15725target remote manyfarms:2828
15726@end smallexample
15727
15728If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
15729debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
15730same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
15731port 1234 on your local machine:
15732
15733@smallexample
15734target remote :1234
15735@end smallexample
15736@noindent
15737
15738Note that the colon is still required here.
15739
15740@item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15741@cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
15742Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
15743connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
15744
15745@smallexample
15746target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
15747@end smallexample
15748
15749When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
15750keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
15751can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
15752cause havoc with your debugging session.
15753
15754@item target remote | @var{command}
15755@cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
15756Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
15757pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
15758by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
15759protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
15760standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
15761that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
15762using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
15763
15764If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
15765@value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
15766program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
15767
15768@end table
15769
15770Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
15771commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
15772running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
15773need to use @kbd{run}.
15774
15775@cindex interrupting remote programs
15776@cindex remote programs, interrupting
15777Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
15778interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
15779program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
15780and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
15781interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
15782
15783@smallexample
15784Interrupted while waiting for the program.
15785Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
15786@end smallexample
15787
15788If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
15789(If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
15790remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
15791goes back to waiting.
15792
15793@table @code
15794@kindex detach (remote)
15795@item detach
15796When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
15797@code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
15798Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
15799will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
15800command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
15801
15802@kindex disconnect
15803@item disconnect
15804The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
15805the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
15806(this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
15807the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
15808another target.
15809
15810@cindex send command to remote monitor
15811@cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
15812@cindex add new commands for external monitor
15813@kindex monitor
15814@item monitor @var{cmd}
15815This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
15816remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
15817sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
15818can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
15819and implement.
15820@end table
15821
15822@node File Transfer
15823@section Sending files to a remote system
15824@cindex remote target, file transfer
15825@cindex file transfer
15826@cindex sending files to remote systems
15827
15828Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
15829connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
15830for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
15831running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
15832e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
15833the only way to upload or download files.
15834
15835Not all remote targets support these commands.
15836
15837@table @code
15838@kindex remote put
15839@item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
15840Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
15841@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
15842
15843@kindex remote get
15844@item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
15845Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
15846on the host system.
15847
15848@kindex remote delete
15849@item remote delete @var{targetfile}
15850Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
15851
15852@end table
15853
15854@node Server
15855@section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
15856
15857@kindex gdbserver
15858@cindex remote connection without stubs
15859@code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
15860allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
15861@code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
15862
15863@code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
15864because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
15865that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
15866@code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
15867@value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
15868because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
15869also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
15870started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
15871Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
15872the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
15873do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
15874by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
15875choice for debugging.
15876
15877@value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
15878or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
15879protocol.
15880
15881@quotation
15882@emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
15883Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
15884@value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
15885target system with the same privileges as the user running
15886@code{gdbserver}.
15887@end quotation
15888
15889@subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
15890@cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
15891
15892Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
15893program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
15894@code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
15895strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
15896system does all the symbol handling.
15897
15898To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
15899the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
15900syntax is:
15901
15902@smallexample
15903target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
15904@end smallexample
15905
15906@var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
15907hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
15908@samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
15909@file{/dev/com1}:
15910
15911@smallexample
15912target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
15913@end smallexample
15914
15915@code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
15916with it.
15917
15918To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
15919
15920@smallexample
15921target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
15922@end smallexample
15923
15924The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
15925specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
15926TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
15927expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
15928(Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
15929you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
15930TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
15931reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
15932conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
15933and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
15934@code{target remote} command.
15935
15936@subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
15937
15938On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
15939This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
15940
15941@smallexample
15942target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
15943@end smallexample
15944
15945@var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
15946to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
15947
15948@pindex pidof
15949@cindex attach to a program by name
15950You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
15951@code{pidof} utility:
15952
15953@smallexample
15954target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
15955@end smallexample
15956
15957In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
15958has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
15959@code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
15960
15961@subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
15962@cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
15963@cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
15964
15965When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
15966@code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
15967program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
15968and @code{gdbserver} exits.
15969
15970If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
15971enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
15972detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
15973though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
15974commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
15975The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
15976remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
15977arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
15978redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
15979
15980To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
15981or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
15982Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
15983the program you want to debug.
15984
15985@code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
15986You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
15987(@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
15988
15989@subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
15990
15991The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
15992status information about the debugging process. The
15993@option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
15994remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
15995@code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
15996
15997The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
15998for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
15999wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
16000@kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
16001
16002@code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
16003command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
16004program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
16005runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
16006
16007You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
16008its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
16009this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
16010with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
16011
16012For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
16013the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
16014environment:
16015
16016@smallexample
16017$ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
16018@end smallexample
16019
16020@subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
16021
16022Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
16023
16024First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
16025your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
16026@code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
16027was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
16028
16029The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
16030and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
16031system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
16032are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
16033during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
16034files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
16035programs.
16036
16037Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16038For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
16039the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
16040text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
16041@samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
16042command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
16043already on the target.
16044
16045@subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
16046@cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
16047@anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
16048
16049During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
16050@code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
16051Here are the available commands.
16052
16053@table @code
16054@item monitor help
16055List the available monitor commands.
16056
16057@item monitor set debug 0
16058@itemx monitor set debug 1
16059Disable or enable general debugging messages.
16060
16061@item monitor set remote-debug 0
16062@itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
16063Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
16064protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
16065
16066@item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
16067@cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
16068When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16069directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
16070libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
16071@samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
16072
16073@item monitor exit
16074Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
16075@code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
16076detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
16077Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
16078of a multi-process mode debug session.
16079
16080@end table
16081
16082@subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16083@cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
16084
16085On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
16086tracepoints and static tracepoints.
16087
16088For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
16089@dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
16090This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
16091@code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
16092requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
16093support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
16094@url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
16095is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
16096standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
16097@code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
16098to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
16099using @option{--with-ust=no}.
16100
16101There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
16102
16103@table @code
16104@item Specifying it as dependency at link time
16105
16106You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
16107library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
16108@code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
16109
16110@item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
16111
16112You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
16113your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
16114support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
16115cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
16116in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
16117@option{--wrapper} command line option.
16118
16119@item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
16120
16121On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
16122by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
16123of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
16124systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
16125command for that. For example:
16126
16127@smallexample
16128(@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
16129@end smallexample
16130
16131Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
16132available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
16133@end table
16134
16135On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
16136systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
16137remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
16138loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
16139program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
16140case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
16141features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
16142libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
16143main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
16144@code{gdbserver} like so:
16145
16146@smallexample
16147$ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
16148@end smallexample
16149
16150Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
16151
16152@smallexample
16153$ gdb myprogram
16154(@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
161550x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
16156(@value{GDBP}) b main
16157(@value{GDBP}) continue
16158@end smallexample
16159
16160The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
16161process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
16162command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
16163process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
16164tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
16165tracing.
16166
16167@node Remote Configuration
16168@section Remote Configuration
16169
16170@kindex set remote
16171@kindex show remote
16172This section documents the configuration options available when
16173debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
16174extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
16175system-call-allowed}.
16176
16177@table @code
16178@item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
16179@cindex address size for remote targets
16180@cindex bits in remote address
16181Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
16182number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
16183that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
16184default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
16185
16186@item show remoteaddresssize
16187Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
16188
16189@item set remotebaud @var{n}
16190@cindex baud rate for remote targets
16191Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
16192value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
16193remote targets.
16194
16195@item show remotebaud
16196Show the current speed of the remote connection.
16197
16198@item set remotebreak
16199@cindex interrupt remote programs
16200@cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
16201@anchor{set remotebreak}
16202If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
16203when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
16204on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
16205character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
16206expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
16207
16208@item show remotebreak
16209Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
16210interrupt the remote program.
16211
16212@item set remoteflow on
16213@itemx set remoteflow off
16214@kindex set remoteflow
16215Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
16216on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
16217
16218@item show remoteflow
16219@kindex show remoteflow
16220Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
16221
16222@item set remotelogbase @var{base}
16223Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
16224communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
16225@code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
16226@code{ascii}.
16227
16228@item show remotelogbase
16229Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
16230protocol.
16231
16232@item set remotelogfile @var{file}
16233@cindex record serial communications on file
16234Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
16235default is not to record at all.
16236
16237@item show remotelogfile.
16238Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
16239serial communications.
16240
16241@item set remotetimeout @var{num}
16242@cindex timeout for serial communications
16243@cindex remote timeout
16244Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
16245@var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
16246
16247@item show remotetimeout
16248Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
16249responses.
16250
16251@cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
16252@cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
16253@anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
16254@anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
16255@item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
16256@itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
16257Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
16258watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
16259
16260@item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
16261@itemx show remote exec-file
16262@anchor{set remote exec-file}
16263@cindex executable file, for remote target
16264Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
16265extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
16266target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
16267filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
16268
16269@item set remote interrupt-sequence
16270@cindex interrupt remote programs
16271@cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
16272Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
16273@samp{BREAK-g} as the
16274sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
16275@samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
16276is high level of serial line for some certain time.
16277Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
16278It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
16279
16280@item show interrupt-sequence
16281Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
16282is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
16283@code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
16284also known as Magic SysRq g.
16285
16286@item set remote interrupt-on-connect
16287@cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
16288Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
16289@value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
16290Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
16291which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
16292
16293@item show interrupt-on-connect
16294Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
16295to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
16296
16297@kindex set tcp
16298@kindex show tcp
16299@item set tcp auto-retry on
16300@cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
16301Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
16302debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
16303condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
16304before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
16305enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
16306to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
16307@code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
16308
16309@item set tcp auto-retry off
16310Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
16311
16312@item show tcp auto-retry
16313Show the current auto-retry setting.
16314
16315@item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
16316@cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
16317@cindex timeout, for remote target connection
16318Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
16319@var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
16320(enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
16321that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
16322value.
16323
16324@item show tcp connect-timeout
16325Show the current connection timeout setting.
16326@end table
16327
16328@cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
16329The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
16330your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
16331can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
16332packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
16333packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
16334or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
16335all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
16336see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
16337
16338During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
16339If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
16340in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
16341@value{GDBN} developers.
16342
16343For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
16344packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
16345are:
16346
16347@multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
16348@item Command Name
16349@tab Remote Packet
16350@tab Related Features
16351
16352@item @code{fetch-register}
16353@tab @code{p}
16354@tab @code{info registers}
16355
16356@item @code{set-register}
16357@tab @code{P}
16358@tab @code{set}
16359
16360@item @code{binary-download}
16361@tab @code{X}
16362@tab @code{load}, @code{set}
16363
16364@item @code{read-aux-vector}
16365@tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
16366@tab @code{info auxv}
16367
16368@item @code{symbol-lookup}
16369@tab @code{qSymbol}
16370@tab Detecting multiple threads
16371
16372@item @code{attach}
16373@tab @code{vAttach}
16374@tab @code{attach}
16375
16376@item @code{verbose-resume}
16377@tab @code{vCont}
16378@tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
16379
16380@item @code{run}
16381@tab @code{vRun}
16382@tab @code{run}
16383
16384@item @code{software-breakpoint}
16385@tab @code{Z0}
16386@tab @code{break}
16387
16388@item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
16389@tab @code{Z1}
16390@tab @code{hbreak}
16391
16392@item @code{write-watchpoint}
16393@tab @code{Z2}
16394@tab @code{watch}
16395
16396@item @code{read-watchpoint}
16397@tab @code{Z3}
16398@tab @code{rwatch}
16399
16400@item @code{access-watchpoint}
16401@tab @code{Z4}
16402@tab @code{awatch}
16403
16404@item @code{target-features}
16405@tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
16406@tab @code{set architecture}
16407
16408@item @code{library-info}
16409@tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
16410@tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
16411
16412@item @code{memory-map}
16413@tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
16414@tab @code{info mem}
16415
16416@item @code{read-sdata-object}
16417@tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
16418@tab @code{print $_sdata}
16419
16420@item @code{read-spu-object}
16421@tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
16422@tab @code{info spu}
16423
16424@item @code{write-spu-object}
16425@tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
16426@tab @code{info spu}
16427
16428@item @code{read-siginfo-object}
16429@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
16430@tab @code{print $_siginfo}
16431
16432@item @code{write-siginfo-object}
16433@tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
16434@tab @code{set $_siginfo}
16435
16436@item @code{threads}
16437@tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
16438@tab @code{info threads}
16439
16440@item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
16441@tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
16442@tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
16443
16444@item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
16445@tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
16446@tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
16447
16448@item @code{search-memory}
16449@tab @code{qSearch:memory}
16450@tab @code{find}
16451
16452@item @code{supported-packets}
16453@tab @code{qSupported}
16454@tab Remote communications parameters
16455
16456@item @code{pass-signals}
16457@tab @code{QPassSignals}
16458@tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
16459
16460@item @code{hostio-close-packet}
16461@tab @code{vFile:close}
16462@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16463
16464@item @code{hostio-open-packet}
16465@tab @code{vFile:open}
16466@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16467
16468@item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
16469@tab @code{vFile:pread}
16470@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16471
16472@item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
16473@tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
16474@tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16475
16476@item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
16477@tab @code{vFile:unlink}
16478@tab @code{remote delete}
16479
16480@item @code{noack-packet}
16481@tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
16482@tab Packet acknowledgment
16483
16484@item @code{osdata}
16485@tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
16486@tab @code{info os}
16487
16488@item @code{query-attached}
16489@tab @code{qAttached}
16490@tab Querying remote process attach state.
16491@end multitable
16492
16493@node Remote Stub
16494@section Implementing a Remote Stub
16495
16496@cindex debugging stub, example
16497@cindex remote stub, example
16498@cindex stub example, remote debugging
16499The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
16500communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
16501@value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
16502these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
16503implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
16504with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
16505organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
16506
16507@cindex remote serial debugging, overview
16508To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
16509@dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
16510prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
16511program, you need:
16512
16513@enumerate
16514@item
16515A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
16516have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
16517your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
16518
16519@item
16520A C subroutine library to support your program's
16521subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
16522
16523@item
16524A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
16525download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
16526manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
16527documentation.
16528@end enumerate
16529
16530The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
16531communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
16532machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
16533
16534@table @emph
16535@item On the host,
16536@value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
16537else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
16538(@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
16539
16540@item On the target,
16541you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
16542implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
16543subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
16544
16545On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
16546@code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
16547@xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
16548@end table
16549
16550The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
16551machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
16552@sc{sparc} boards.
16553
16554@cindex remote serial stub list
16555These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
16556
16557@table @code
16558
16559@item i386-stub.c
16560@cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
16561@cindex Intel
16562@cindex i386
16563For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
16564
16565@item m68k-stub.c
16566@cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
16567@cindex Motorola 680x0
16568@cindex m680x0
16569For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
16570
16571@item sh-stub.c
16572@cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
16573@cindex Renesas
16574@cindex SH
16575For Renesas SH architectures.
16576
16577@item sparc-stub.c
16578@cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
16579@cindex Sparc
16580For @sc{sparc} architectures.
16581
16582@item sparcl-stub.c
16583@cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
16584@cindex Fujitsu
16585@cindex SparcLite
16586For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
16587
16588@end table
16589
16590The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
16591recently added stubs.
16592
16593@menu
16594* Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
16595* Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
16596* Debug Session:: Putting it all together
16597@end menu
16598
16599@node Stub Contents
16600@subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
16601
16602@cindex remote serial stub
16603The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
16604subroutines:
16605
16606@table @code
16607@item set_debug_traps
16608@findex set_debug_traps
16609@cindex remote serial stub, initialization
16610This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
16611program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
16612beginning of your program.
16613
16614@item handle_exception
16615@findex handle_exception
16616@cindex remote serial stub, main routine
16617This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
16618explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
16619run when a trap is triggered.
16620
16621@code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
16622execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
16623with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
16624protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
16625representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
16626information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
16627retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
16628execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
16629@code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
16630machine.
16631
16632@item breakpoint
16633@cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
16634Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
16635breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
16636way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
16637machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
16638pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
16639@code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
16640simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
16641again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
16642your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
16643@value{GDBN} session gets control.
16644
16645Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
16646to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
16647start of your debugging session.
16648@end table
16649
16650@node Bootstrapping
16651@subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
16652
16653@cindex remote stub, support routines
16654The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
16655chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
16656debugging target machine.
16657
16658First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
16659serial port.
16660
16661@table @code
16662@item int getDebugChar()
16663@findex getDebugChar
16664Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
16665It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
16666different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16667
16668@item void putDebugChar(int)
16669@findex putDebugChar
16670Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
16671It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
16672different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16673@end table
16674
16675@cindex control C, and remote debugging
16676@cindex interrupting remote targets
16677If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
16678running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
16679for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
16680character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
16681remote system to stop.
16682
16683Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
16684probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
16685is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
16686@value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
16687
16688Other routines you need to supply are:
16689
16690@table @code
16691@item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
16692@findex exceptionHandler
16693Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
16694handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
16695way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
16696are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
16697containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
16698@var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
16699its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
16700might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
16701exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
16702@var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
16703and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
16704you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
16705should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
16706
16707For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
16708gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
16709should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
16710@sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
16711help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
16712
16713@item void flush_i_cache()
16714@findex flush_i_cache
16715On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
16716instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
16717instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
16718
16719On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
16720function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
16721@end table
16722
16723@noindent
16724You must also make sure this library routine is available:
16725
16726@table @code
16727@item void *memset(void *, int, int)
16728@findex memset
16729This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
16730memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
16731@code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
16732either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
16733@end table
16734
16735If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
16736library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
16737but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
16738subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
16739
16740
16741@node Debug Session
16742@subsection Putting it All Together
16743
16744@cindex remote serial debugging summary
16745In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
16746steps.
16747
16748@enumerate
16749@item
16750Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
16751(@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
16752@display
16753@code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
16754@code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
16755@end display
16756
16757@item
16758Insert these lines near the top of your program:
16759
16760@smallexample
16761set_debug_traps();
16762breakpoint();
16763@end smallexample
16764
16765@item
16766For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
16767@code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
16768
16769@smallexample
16770void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
16771@end smallexample
16772
16773@noindent
16774but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
16775function in your program, that function is called when
16776@code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
16777error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
16778one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
16779
16780@item
16781Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
16782your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
16783
16784@item
16785Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
16786the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
16787
16788@item
16789@c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
16790@c document that. FIXME.
16791Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
16792whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
16793
16794@item
16795Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
16796(@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16797
16798@end enumerate
16799
16800@node Configurations
16801@chapter Configuration-Specific Information
16802
16803While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
16804cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
16805describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
16806
16807There are three major categories of configurations: native
16808configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
16809operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
16810different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
16811are quite different from each other.
16812
16813@menu
16814* Native::
16815* Embedded OS::
16816* Embedded Processors::
16817* Architectures::
16818@end menu
16819
16820@node Native
16821@section Native
16822
16823This section describes details specific to particular native
16824configurations.
16825
16826@menu
16827* HP-UX:: HP-UX
16828* BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
16829* SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
16830* DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
16831* Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
16832* Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
16833* Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
16834* Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
16835@end menu
16836
16837@node HP-UX
16838@subsection HP-UX
16839
16840On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
16841begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
16842name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
16843
16844
16845@node BSD libkvm Interface
16846@subsection BSD libkvm Interface
16847
16848@cindex libkvm
16849@cindex kernel memory image
16850@cindex kernel crash dump
16851
16852BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
16853interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
16854memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
16855uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
16856dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
16857special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
16858the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
16859@code{kvm} target:
16860
16861@smallexample
16862(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
16863@end smallexample
16864
16865For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
16866argument:
16867
16868@smallexample
16869(@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
16870@end smallexample
16871
16872Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
16873available:
16874
16875@table @code
16876@kindex kvm
16877@item kvm pcb
16878Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
16879
16880@item kvm proc
16881Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
16882modern FreeBSD systems.
16883@end table
16884
16885@node SVR4 Process Information
16886@subsection SVR4 Process Information
16887@cindex /proc
16888@cindex examine process image
16889@cindex process info via @file{/proc}
16890
16891Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
16892@samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
16893process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
16894for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
16895proc} is available to report information about the process running
16896your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
16897proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
16898This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
16899Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
16900
16901@table @code
16902@kindex info proc
16903@cindex process ID
16904@item info proc
16905@itemx info proc @var{process-id}
16906Summarize available information about any running process. If a
16907process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
16908that process; otherwise display information about the program being
16909debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
16910line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
16911executable file's absolute file name.
16912
16913On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
16914@samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
16915within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
16916a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
16917needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
16918a process ID rather than a thread ID).
16919
16920@item info proc mappings
16921@cindex memory address space mappings
16922Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
16923information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
16924rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
16925includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
16926memory access rights to that range.
16927
16928@item info proc stat
16929@itemx info proc status
16930@cindex process detailed status information
16931These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
16932the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
16933how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
16934the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
16935consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
16936value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
16937(type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
16938
16939@item info proc all
16940Show all the information about the process described under all of the
16941above @code{info proc} subcommands.
16942
16943@ignore
16944@comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
16945@comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
16946@comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
16947@kindex info proc times
16948@item info proc times
16949Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
16950its children.
16951
16952@kindex info proc id
16953@item info proc id
16954Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
16955the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
16956@end ignore
16957
16958@item set procfs-trace
16959@kindex set procfs-trace
16960@cindex @code{procfs} API calls
16961This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
16962
16963@item show procfs-trace
16964@kindex show procfs-trace
16965Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
16966
16967@item set procfs-file @var{file}
16968@kindex set procfs-file
16969Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
16970@var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
16971contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
16972standard output.
16973
16974@item show procfs-file
16975@kindex show procfs-file
16976Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
16977
16978@item proc-trace-entry
16979@itemx proc-trace-exit
16980@itemx proc-untrace-entry
16981@itemx proc-untrace-exit
16982@kindex proc-trace-entry
16983@kindex proc-trace-exit
16984@kindex proc-untrace-entry
16985@kindex proc-untrace-exit
16986These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
16987from the @code{syscall} interface.
16988
16989@item info pidlist
16990@kindex info pidlist
16991@cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
16992For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
16993processes and all the threads within each process.
16994
16995@item info meminfo
16996@kindex info meminfo
16997@cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
16998For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
16999@end table
17000
17001@node DJGPP Native
17002@subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
17003@cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
17004@cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
17005@cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
17006
17007@cindex DPMI
17008@sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
17009MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
17010that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
17011top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
17012
17013@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
17014defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
17015subsection describes those commands.
17016
17017@table @code
17018@kindex info dos
17019@item info dos
17020This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
17021information about the target system and important OS structures.
17022
17023@kindex sysinfo
17024@cindex MS-DOS system info
17025@cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
17026@item info dos sysinfo
17027This command displays assorted information about the underlying
17028platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
17029DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
17030
17031@cindex GDT
17032@cindex LDT
17033@cindex IDT
17034@cindex segment descriptor tables
17035@cindex descriptor tables display
17036@item info dos gdt
17037@itemx info dos ldt
17038@itemx info dos idt
17039These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
17040and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
17041tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
17042that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
17043descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
17044descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
17045rights.
17046
17047A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
17048segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
17049allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
17050conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
17051additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
17052
17053@cindex garbled pointers
17054These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
17055Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
17056displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
17057display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
17058example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
17059debugged program's data segment:
17060
17061@smallexample
17062@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
17063@exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
17064@end smallexample
17065
17066@noindent
17067This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
17068the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
17069
17070@cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
17071@item info dos pde
17072@itemx info dos pte
17073These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
17074Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
17075data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
17076into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
17077page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
17078may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
17079Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
17080that is currently in use.
17081
17082Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
17083Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
17084the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
17085@kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
17086Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
17087means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
17088the specified entry in the Page Directory.
17089
17090@cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
17091These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
17092Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
17093controller.
17094
17095These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
17096
17097@cindex physical address from linear address
17098@item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
17099This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
17100address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
17101already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
17102because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
17103segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
17104the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
17105
17106@smallexample
17107@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
17108@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
17109@exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
17110@end smallexample
17111
17112@noindent
17113This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
17114whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
17115attributes of that page.
17116
17117Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
17118since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
17119address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
17120be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
17121declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
17122@code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
17123
17124Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
17125transfer buffer:
17126
17127@smallexample
17128@exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
17129@exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
17130@exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
17131@end smallexample
17132
17133@noindent
17134(The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
171353rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
17136clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
17137memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
17138linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
17139
17140This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
17141@end table
17142
17143@cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
17144In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
17145debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
17146to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
17147
17148@table @code
17149@kindex set com1base
17150@kindex set com1irq
17151@kindex set com2base
17152@kindex set com2irq
17153@kindex set com3base
17154@kindex set com3irq
17155@kindex set com4base
17156@kindex set com4irq
17157@item set com1base @var{addr}
17158This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
17159port.
17160
17161@item set com1irq @var{irq}
17162This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
17163for the @file{COM1} serial port.
17164
17165There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
17166etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
17167other 3 COM ports.
17168
17169@kindex show com1base
17170@kindex show com1irq
17171@kindex show com2base
17172@kindex show com2irq
17173@kindex show com3base
17174@kindex show com3irq
17175@kindex show com4base
17176@kindex show com4irq
17177The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
17178display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
17179lines used by the COM ports.
17180
17181@item info serial
17182@kindex info serial
17183@cindex DOS serial port status
17184This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
17185port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
17186IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
17187counts of various errors encountered so far.
17188@end table
17189
17190
17191@node Cygwin Native
17192@subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
17193@cindex MS Windows debugging
17194@cindex native Cygwin debugging
17195@cindex Cygwin-specific commands
17196
17197@value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
17198DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
17199
17200@cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
17201@cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
17202MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
17203special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
17204by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
17205supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
17206sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
17207ignores @kbd{C-c}.
17208
17209There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
17210this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
17211described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
17212
17213@table @code
17214@kindex info w32
17215@item info w32
17216This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
17217information about the target system and important OS structures.
17218
17219@item info w32 selector
17220This command displays information returned by
17221the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
17222It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
17223a long value to give the information about this given selector.
17224Without argument, this command displays information
17225about the six segment registers.
17226
17227@item info w32 thread-information-block
17228This command displays thread specific information stored in the
17229Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
17230selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
17231
17232@kindex info dll
17233@item info dll
17234This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
17235
17236@kindex dll-symbols
17237@item dll-symbols
17238This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
17239add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
17240
17241@kindex set cygwin-exceptions
17242@cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
17243@cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
17244@item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
17245If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
17246happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
17247@value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
17248exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
17249``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
17250Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
17251@value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
17252
17253@kindex show cygwin-exceptions
17254@item show cygwin-exceptions
17255Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
17256inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
17257
17258@kindex set new-console
17259@item set new-console @var{mode}
17260If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
17261be started in a new console on next start.
17262If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
17263be started in the same console as the debugger.
17264
17265@kindex show new-console
17266@item show new-console
17267Displays whether a new console is used
17268when the debuggee is started.
17269
17270@kindex set new-group
17271@item set new-group @var{mode}
17272This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
17273start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
17274This affects the way the Windows OS handles
17275@samp{Ctrl-C}.
17276
17277@kindex show new-group
17278@item show new-group
17279Displays current value of new-group boolean.
17280
17281@kindex set debugevents
17282@item set debugevents
17283This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
17284to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
17285signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
17286unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
17287Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
17288
17289@kindex set debugexec
17290@item set debugexec
17291This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
17292(such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
17293
17294@kindex set debugexceptions
17295@item set debugexceptions
17296This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
17297debuggee seen by the debugger.
17298
17299@kindex set debugmemory
17300@item set debugmemory
17301This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
17302and writes by the debugger.
17303
17304@kindex set shell
17305@item set shell
17306This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
17307via a shell or directly (default value is on).
17308
17309@kindex show shell
17310@item show shell
17311Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
17312
17313@end table
17314
17315@menu
17316* Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
17317@end menu
17318
17319@node Non-debug DLL Symbols
17320@subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
17321@cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
17322@cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
17323
17324Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
17325not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
17326@file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
17327symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
17328information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
17329describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
17330``minimal symbols''.
17331
17332Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
17333will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
17334start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
17335program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
17336@value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
17337see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
17338@code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
17339explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
17340cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
17341which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
17342
17343@subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
17344
17345In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
17346tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
17347DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
17348also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
17349sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
17350(particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
17351necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
17352contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
17353exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
17354
17355Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
17356though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
17357symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
17358some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
17359@code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
17360(@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
17361
17362@smallexample
17363(@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
17364All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
17365
17366Non-debugging symbols:
173670x77e885f4 CreateFileA
173680x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
17369@end smallexample
17370
17371@smallexample
17372(@value{GDBP}) info function !
17373All functions matching regular expression "!":
17374
17375Non-debugging symbols:
173760x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
173770x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
173780x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
17379[etc...]
17380@end smallexample
17381
17382@subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
17383
17384Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
17385type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
17386refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
17387contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
17388contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
17389means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
17390a function within a DLL without a running program.
17391
17392Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
17393automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
17394variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
17395type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
17396problem:
17397
17398@smallexample
17399(@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
17400$1 = 268572168
17401@end smallexample
17402
17403@smallexample
17404(@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
174050x10021610: "\230y\""
17406@end smallexample
17407
17408And two possible solutions:
17409
17410@smallexample
17411(@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
17412$2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17413@end smallexample
17414
17415@smallexample
17416(@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
174170x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
17418(@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
174190x10021608: 0x0022fd98
17420(@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
174210x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17422@end smallexample
17423
17424Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
17425starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
17426examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
17427function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
17428to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
17429
17430@smallexample
17431(@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
17432Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
17433@end smallexample
17434
17435The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
17436break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
17437safe.
17438
17439@node Hurd Native
17440@subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
17441@cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
17442
17443This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
17444@sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
17445
17446@table @code
17447@item set signals
17448@itemx set sigs
17449@kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
17450@kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17451This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
17452@value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
17453affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
17454@code{signals}.
17455
17456@item show signals
17457@itemx show sigs
17458@kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
17459@kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17460Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
17461
17462@item set signal-thread
17463@itemx set sigthread
17464@kindex set signal-thread
17465@kindex set sigthread
17466This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
17467thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
17468process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
17469signal-thread}.
17470
17471@item show signal-thread
17472@itemx show sigthread
17473@kindex show signal-thread
17474@kindex show sigthread
17475These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
17476delivered a signal.
17477
17478@item set stopped
17479@kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17480This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
17481as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
17482continued by delivering a signal to it.
17483
17484@item show stopped
17485@kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17486This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
17487stopped.
17488
17489@item set exceptions
17490@kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17491Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
17492When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
17493single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
17494trapping on.
17495
17496@item show exceptions
17497@kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17498Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
17499
17500@item set task pause
17501@kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
17502@cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17503@cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17504This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
17505Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
17506whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
17507effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
17508to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
17509thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
17510
17511@item show task pause
17512@kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
17513Show the current state of task suspension.
17514
17515@item set task detach-suspend-count
17516@cindex task suspend count
17517@cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17518This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
17519@value{GDBN} detaches from it.
17520
17521@item show task detach-suspend-count
17522Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
17523
17524@item set task exception-port
17525@itemx set task excp
17526@cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17527This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
17528forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
17529rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
17530
17531@item set noninvasive
17532@cindex noninvasive task options
17533This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
17534invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
17535is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
17536@code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
17537
17538@item info send-rights
17539@itemx info receive-rights
17540@itemx info port-rights
17541@itemx info port-sets
17542@itemx info dead-names
17543@itemx info ports
17544@itemx info psets
17545@cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17546@cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17547@cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17548@cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17549@cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17550These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
17551receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
17552There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
17553port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
17554
17555@item set thread pause
17556@kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
17557@cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17558@cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17559This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
17560control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
17561thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
17562off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
17563Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
17564control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
17565task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
17566only the current thread.
17567
17568@item show thread pause
17569@kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
17570This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
17571
17572@item set thread run
17573This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17574
17575@item show thread run
17576Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17577
17578@item set thread detach-suspend-count
17579@cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17580@cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17581This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
17582thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
17583found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
17584takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
17585
17586@item show thread detach-suspend-count
17587Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
17588detaching.
17589
17590@item set thread exception-port
17591@itemx set thread excp
17592Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
17593overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
17594@code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
17595
17596@item set thread takeover-suspend-count
17597Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
17598value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
17599changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
17600
17601@item set thread default
17602@itemx show thread default
17603@cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17604Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
17605default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
17606thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
17607variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
17608threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
17609the non-default commands.
17610@end table
17611
17612
17613@node Neutrino
17614@subsection QNX Neutrino
17615@cindex QNX Neutrino
17616
17617@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
17618Neutrino target:
17619
17620@table @code
17621@item set debug nto-debug
17622@kindex set debug nto-debug
17623When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
17624Neutrino support.
17625
17626@item show debug nto-debug
17627@kindex show debug nto-debug
17628Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
17629@end table
17630
17631@node Darwin
17632@subsection Darwin
17633@cindex Darwin
17634
17635@value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
17636
17637@table @code
17638@item set debug darwin @var{num}
17639@kindex set debug darwin
17640When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
17641the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
17642
17643@item show debug darwin
17644@kindex show debug darwin
17645Show the current state of Darwin messages.
17646
17647@item set debug mach-o @var{num}
17648@kindex set debug mach-o
17649When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
17650@value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
17651file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
17652values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
17653problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
17654usage.
17655
17656@item show debug mach-o
17657@kindex show debug mach-o
17658Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
17659
17660@item set mach-exceptions on
17661@itemx set mach-exceptions off
17662@kindex set mach-exceptions
17663On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
17664mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
17665Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
17666better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
17667
17668@item show mach-exceptions
17669@kindex show mach-exceptions
17670Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
17671@end table
17672
17673
17674@node Embedded OS
17675@section Embedded Operating Systems
17676
17677This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
17678embedded operating systems that are available for several different
17679architectures.
17680
17681@menu
17682* VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17683@end menu
17684
17685@value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
17686various real-time operating systems.
17687
17688@node VxWorks
17689@subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17690
17691@cindex VxWorks
17692
17693@table @code
17694
17695@kindex target vxworks
17696@item target vxworks @var{machinename}
17697A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
17698is the target system's machine name or IP address.
17699
17700@end table
17701
17702On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
17703current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
17704
17705@value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
17706VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
17707the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17708both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
17709@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
17710installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
17711@value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
17712
17713@table @code
17714@item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
17715@kindex vxworks-timeout
17716All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
17717This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17718seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
17719your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
17720of a thin network line.
17721@end table
17722
17723The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
17724this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
17725procedures.
17726
17727@findex INCLUDE_RDB
17728To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
17729to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
17730library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
17731VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
17732kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
17733source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
17734information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
17735manual.
17736@c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
17737
17738Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
17739your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17740run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
17741@code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
17742
17743@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17744
17745@smallexample
17746(vxgdb)
17747@end smallexample
17748
17749@menu
17750* VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
17751* VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
17752* VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
17753@end menu
17754
17755@node VxWorks Connection
17756@subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
17757
17758The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
17759network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
17760
17761@smallexample
17762(vxgdb) target vxworks tt
17763@end smallexample
17764
17765@need 750
17766@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17767
17768@smallexample
17769Attaching remote machine across net...
17770Connected to tt.
17771@end smallexample
17772
17773@need 1000
17774@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
17775loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
17776these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
17777path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
17778to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
17779
17780@smallexample
17781prog.o: No such file or directory.
17782@end smallexample
17783
17784When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
17785the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
17786command again.
17787
17788@node VxWorks Download
17789@subsubsection VxWorks Download
17790
17791@cindex download to VxWorks
17792If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
17793object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
17794@code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
17795incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
17796command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
17797to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
17798table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
17799the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
17800filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
17801Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
17802to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
17803the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
17804@file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
17805and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
17806program, type this on VxWorks:
17807
17808@smallexample
17809-> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
17810@end smallexample
17811
17812@noindent
17813Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17814
17815@smallexample
17816(vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
17817(vxgdb) load prog.o
17818@end smallexample
17819
17820@value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
17821
17822@smallexample
17823Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
17824@end smallexample
17825
17826You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
17827after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
17828this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
17829auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
17830history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
17831debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
17832table.)
17833
17834@node VxWorks Attach
17835@subsubsection Running Tasks
17836
17837@cindex running VxWorks tasks
17838You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
17839follows:
17840
17841@smallexample
17842(vxgdb) attach @var{task}
17843@end smallexample
17844
17845@noindent
17846where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
17847or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
17848the time of attachment.
17849
17850@node Embedded Processors
17851@section Embedded Processors
17852
17853This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
17854configurations.
17855
17856@cindex send command to simulator
17857Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
17858allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
17859
17860@table @code
17861@item sim @var{command}
17862@kindex sim@r{, a command}
17863Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
17864documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
17865acceptable commands.
17866@end table
17867
17868
17869@menu
17870* ARM:: ARM RDI
17871* M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
17872* M68K:: Motorola M68K
17873* MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
17874* MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
17875* OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
17876* PA:: HP PA Embedded
17877* PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
17878* Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
17879* Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
17880* Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
17881* AVR:: Atmel AVR
17882* CRIS:: CRIS
17883* Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
17884@end menu
17885
17886@node ARM
17887@subsection ARM
17888@cindex ARM RDI
17889
17890@table @code
17891@kindex target rdi
17892@item target rdi @var{dev}
17893ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
17894use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
17895monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
17896
17897@kindex target rdp
17898@item target rdp @var{dev}
17899ARM Demon monitor.
17900
17901@end table
17902
17903@value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
17904
17905@table @code
17906@item set arm disassembler
17907@kindex set arm
17908This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
17909@code{"std"} style is the standard style.
17910
17911@item show arm disassembler
17912@kindex show arm
17913Show the current disassembly style.
17914
17915@item set arm apcs32
17916@cindex ARM 32-bit mode
17917This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
17918
17919@item show arm apcs32
17920Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
17921
17922@item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
17923This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
17924argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
17925
17926@table @code
17927@item auto
17928Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
17929@item softfpa
17930Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
17931processors.
17932@item fpa
17933GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
17934@item softvfp
17935Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
17936@item vfp
17937VFP co-processor.
17938@end table
17939
17940@item show arm fpu
17941Show the current type of the FPU.
17942
17943@item set arm abi
17944This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
17945
17946@item show arm abi
17947Show the currently used ABI.
17948
17949@item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17950@value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
17951whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
17952@value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
17953available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
17954use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
17955register).
17956
17957@item show arm fallback-mode
17958Show the current fallback instruction mode.
17959
17960@item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17961This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
17962instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
17963causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
17964of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
17965
17966@item show arm force-mode
17967Show the current forced instruction mode.
17968
17969@item set debug arm
17970Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
17971target support subsystem.
17972
17973@item show debug arm
17974Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
17975@end table
17976
17977The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
17978using the RDI interface:
17979
17980@table @code
17981@item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17982@kindex rdilogfile
17983@cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
17984Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
17985With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
17986no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
17987@file{rdi.log}.
17988
17989@item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
17990@kindex rdilogenable
17991Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
17992enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
17993no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
17994ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
17995are logged to a file.
17996
17997@item set rdiromatzero
17998@kindex set rdiromatzero
17999@cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
18000Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
18001vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
18002(the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
18003effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
18004
18005@item show rdiromatzero
18006@kindex show rdiromatzero
18007Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
18008
18009@item set rdiheartbeat
18010@kindex set rdiheartbeat
18011@cindex RDI heartbeat
18012Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
18013turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
18014well as the Angel monitor.
18015
18016@item show rdiheartbeat
18017@kindex show rdiheartbeat
18018Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
18019@end table
18020
18021@table @code
18022@item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
18023The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
18024
18025@table @code
18026@item --swi-support=@var{type}
18027Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
18028@var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
18029The default value is @code{all}.
18030
18031@table @code
18032@item none
18033@item demon
18034@item angel
18035@item redboot
18036@item all
18037@end table
18038@end table
18039@end table
18040
18041@node M32R/D
18042@subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
18043
18044@table @code
18045@kindex target m32r
18046@item target m32r @var{dev}
18047Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
18048
18049@kindex target m32rsdi
18050@item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
18051Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
18052@end table
18053
18054The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
18055
18056@table @code
18057@item set download-path @var{path}
18058@kindex set download-path
18059@cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
18060Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18061
18062@item show download-path
18063@kindex show download-path
18064Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
18065
18066@item set board-address @var{addr}
18067@kindex set board-address
18068@cindex M32-EVA target board address
18069Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
18070
18071@item show board-address
18072@kindex show board-address
18073Show the current IP address of the target board.
18074
18075@item set server-address @var{addr}
18076@kindex set server-address
18077@cindex download server address (M32R)
18078Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
18079host machine.
18080
18081@item show server-address
18082@kindex show server-address
18083Display the IP address of the download server.
18084
18085@item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18086@kindex upload@r{, M32R}
18087Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
18088upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
18089executable file is uploaded.
18090
18091@item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18092@kindex tload@r{, M32R}
18093Test the @code{upload} command.
18094@end table
18095
18096The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
18097
18098@table @code
18099@item sdireset
18100@kindex sdireset
18101@cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
18102This command resets the SDI connection.
18103
18104@item sdistatus
18105@kindex sdistatus
18106This command shows the SDI connection status.
18107
18108@item debug_chaos
18109@kindex debug_chaos
18110@cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
18111Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
18112
18113@item use_debug_dma
18114@kindex use_debug_dma
18115Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
18116
18117@item use_mon_code
18118@kindex use_mon_code
18119Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
18120
18121@item use_ib_break
18122@kindex use_ib_break
18123Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
18124
18125@item use_dbt_break
18126@kindex use_dbt_break
18127Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
18128@end table
18129
18130@node M68K
18131@subsection M68k
18132
18133The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
18134target command for the following ROM monitor.
18135
18136@table @code
18137
18138@kindex target dbug
18139@item target dbug @var{dev}
18140dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
18141
18142@end table
18143
18144@node MicroBlaze
18145@subsection MicroBlaze
18146@cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
18147@cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
18148
18149The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
18150FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
18151usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
18152Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
18153This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
18154the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
18155communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
18156presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
18157@code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
18158this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
18159commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
18160
18161Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
18162
18163@table @code
18164@item target remote :1234
18165Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
18166on the same system as @code{xmd}.
18167
18168@item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
18169Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
18170running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
18171
18172@item load
18173Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
18174
18175@item set debug microblaze @var{n}
18176Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
18177
18178@item show debug microblaze @var{n}
18179Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
18180@end table
18181
18182@node MIPS Embedded
18183@subsection MIPS Embedded
18184
18185@cindex MIPS boards
18186@value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
18187MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
18188you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
18189
18190@need 1000
18191Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
18192
18193@table @code
18194@item target mips @var{port}
18195@kindex target mips @var{port}
18196To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
18197name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
18198command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
18199the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
18200been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
18201download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
18202
18203For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
18204port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
18205debugger:
18206
18207@smallexample
18208host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
18209@value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
18210(@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
18211(@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
18212(@value{GDBP}) run
18213@end smallexample
18214
18215@item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
18216On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
18217connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
18218concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
18219@samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
18220
18221@item target pmon @var{port}
18222@kindex target pmon @var{port}
18223PMON ROM monitor.
18224
18225@item target ddb @var{port}
18226@kindex target ddb @var{port}
18227NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
18228
18229@item target lsi @var{port}
18230@kindex target lsi @var{port}
18231LSI variant of PMON.
18232
18233@kindex target r3900
18234@item target r3900 @var{dev}
18235Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
18236
18237@kindex target array
18238@item target array @var{dev}
18239Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
18240
18241@end table
18242
18243
18244@noindent
18245@value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
18246
18247@table @code
18248@item set mipsfpu double
18249@itemx set mipsfpu single
18250@itemx set mipsfpu none
18251@itemx set mipsfpu auto
18252@itemx show mipsfpu
18253@kindex set mipsfpu
18254@kindex show mipsfpu
18255@cindex MIPS remote floating point
18256@cindex floating point, MIPS remote
18257If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
18258coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
18259need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
18260file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
18261functions which return floating point values. It also allows
18262@value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
18263functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
18264with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
18265processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
18266double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
18267@samp{set mipsfpu double}.
18268
18269In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
18270floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
18271and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
18272
18273As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
18274@samp{show mipsfpu}.
18275
18276@item set timeout @var{seconds}
18277@itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
18278@itemx show timeout
18279@itemx show retransmit-timeout
18280@cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
18281@cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
18282@kindex set timeout
18283@kindex show timeout
18284@kindex set retransmit-timeout
18285@kindex show retransmit-timeout
18286You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
18287remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
18288default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
18289waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
18290retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
18291You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
18292retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
18293@value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
18294
18295The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
18296is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
18297forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
18298to run before stopping.
18299
18300@item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
18301@kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18302@cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
18303Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
18304it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
18305characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
18306
18307@item show syn-garbage-limit
18308@kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18309Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
18310trying to synchronize with the remote system.
18311
18312@item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
18313@kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18314@cindex remote monitor prompt
18315Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
18316remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
18317@table @asis
18318@item pmon target
18319@samp{PMON}
18320@item ddb target
18321@samp{NEC010}
18322@item lsi target
18323@samp{PMON>}
18324@end table
18325
18326@item show monitor-prompt
18327@kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18328Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
18329remote monitor.
18330
18331@item set monitor-warnings
18332@kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18333Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
18334has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
18335display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
18336PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
18337
18338@item show monitor-warnings
18339@kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18340Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
18341
18342@item pmon @var{command}
18343@kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
18344@cindex send PMON command
18345This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
18346monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
18347@end table
18348
18349@node OpenRISC 1000
18350@subsection OpenRISC 1000
18351@cindex OpenRISC 1000
18352
18353@cindex or1k boards
18354See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
18355about platform and commands.
18356
18357@table @code
18358
18359@kindex target jtag
18360@item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
18361
18362Connects to remote JTAG server.
18363JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
18364connected via parallel port to the board.
18365
18366Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
18367
18368@kindex or1ksim
18369@item or1ksim @var{command}
18370If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
18371Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
18372
18373@kindex info or1k spr
18374@item info or1k spr
18375Displays spr groups.
18376
18377@item info or1k spr @var{group}
18378@itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
18379Displays register names in selected group.
18380
18381@item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
18382@itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
18383@itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
18384@itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
18385Shows information about specified spr register.
18386
18387@kindex spr
18388@item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
18389@itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
18390@itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
18391@itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
18392Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
18393@end table
18394
18395Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
18396It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
18397program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
18398triggers can be set using:
18399@table @code
18400@item $LEA/$LDATA
18401Load effective address/data
18402@item $SEA/$SDATA
18403Store effective address/data
18404@item $AEA/$ADATA
18405Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
18406@item $FETCH
18407Fetch data
18408@end table
18409
18410When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
18411@code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
18412
18413@code{htrace} commands:
18414@cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
18415@table @code
18416@kindex hwatch
18417@item hwatch @var{conditional}
18418Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
18419or Data. For example:
18420
18421@code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18422
18423@code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18424
18425@kindex htrace
18426@item htrace info
18427Display information about current HW trace configuration.
18428
18429@item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
18430Set starting criteria for HW trace.
18431
18432@item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
18433Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
18434
18435@item htrace stop @var{conditional}
18436Set HW trace stopping criteria.
18437
18438@item htrace record [@var{data}]*
18439Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
18440triggered.
18441
18442@item htrace enable
18443@itemx htrace disable
18444Enables/disables the HW trace.
18445
18446@item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
18447Clears currently recorded trace data.
18448
18449If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
18450will be written there.
18451
18452@item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
18453Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
18454
18455@item htrace mode continuous
18456Set continuous trace mode.
18457
18458@item htrace mode suspend
18459Set suspend trace mode.
18460
18461@end table
18462
18463@node PowerPC Embedded
18464@subsection PowerPC Embedded
18465
18466@value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
18467
18468@table @code
18469@kindex set powerpc
18470@item set powerpc soft-float
18471@itemx show powerpc soft-float
18472Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
18473convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
18474on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18475
18476@item set powerpc vector-abi
18477@itemx show powerpc vector-abi
18478Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
18479arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
18480@samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
18481@samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
18482registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
18483based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18484
18485@kindex target dink32
18486@item target dink32 @var{dev}
18487DINK32 ROM monitor.
18488
18489@kindex target ppcbug
18490@item target ppcbug @var{dev}
18491@kindex target ppcbug1
18492@item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
18493PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
18494
18495@kindex target sds
18496@item target sds @var{dev}
18497SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
18498@end table
18499
18500@cindex SDS protocol
18501The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
18502by @value{GDBN}:
18503
18504@table @code
18505@item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
18506@kindex set sdstimeout
18507Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
18508default is 2 seconds.
18509
18510@item show sdstimeout
18511@kindex show sdstimeout
18512Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
18513
18514@item sds @var{command}
18515@kindex sds@r{, a command}
18516Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
18517@end table
18518
18519
18520@node PA
18521@subsection HP PA Embedded
18522
18523@table @code
18524
18525@kindex target op50n
18526@item target op50n @var{dev}
18527OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
18528
18529@kindex target w89k
18530@item target w89k @var{dev}
18531W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
18532
18533@end table
18534
18535@node Sparclet
18536@subsection Tsqware Sparclet
18537
18538@cindex Sparclet
18539
18540@value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
18541Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
18542@value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18543both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
18544@code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
18545
18546@table @code
18547@item remotetimeout @var{args}
18548@kindex remotetimeout
18549@value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
18550This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18551seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
18552@end table
18553
18554@cindex compiling, on Sparclet
18555When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
18556information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
18557load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
18558@samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
18559
18560@smallexample
18561sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
18562@end smallexample
18563
18564You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
18565
18566@smallexample
18567sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
18568@end smallexample
18569
18570@cindex running, on Sparclet
18571Once you have set
18572your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18573run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
18574(or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
18575
18576@value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18577
18578@smallexample
18579(gdbslet)
18580@end smallexample
18581
18582@menu
18583* Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
18584* Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
18585* Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
18586* Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
18587@end menu
18588
18589@node Sparclet File
18590@subsubsection Setting File to Debug
18591
18592The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
18593
18594@smallexample
18595(gdbslet) file prog
18596@end smallexample
18597
18598@need 1000
18599@value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
18600@value{GDBN} locates
18601the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
18602path.
18603If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
18604files will be searched as well.
18605@value{GDBN} locates
18606the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
18607path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
18608If it fails
18609to find a file, it displays a message such as:
18610
18611@smallexample
18612prog: No such file or directory.
18613@end smallexample
18614
18615When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
18616the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
18617@code{target} command again.
18618
18619@node Sparclet Connection
18620@subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
18621
18622The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
18623To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
18624
18625@smallexample
18626(gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
18627Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
18628main () at ../prog.c:3
18629@end smallexample
18630
18631@need 750
18632@value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18633
18634@smallexample
18635Connected to ttya.
18636@end smallexample
18637
18638@node Sparclet Download
18639@subsubsection Sparclet Download
18640
18641@cindex download to Sparclet
18642Once connected to the Sparclet target,
18643you can use the @value{GDBN}
18644@code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
18645The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
18646command.
18647Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
18648address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
18649offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
18650of each of the file's sections.
18651For instance, if the program
18652@file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
18653and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18654
18655@smallexample
18656(gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
18657Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
18658@end smallexample
18659
18660If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
18661to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
18662to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
18663
18664@node Sparclet Execution
18665@subsubsection Running and Debugging
18666
18667@cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
18668You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
18669commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
18670manual for the list of commands.
18671
18672@smallexample
18673(gdbslet) b main
18674Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
18675(gdbslet) run
18676Starting program: prog
18677Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
186783 char *symarg = 0;
18679(gdbslet) step
186804 char *execarg = "hello!";
18681(gdbslet)
18682@end smallexample
18683
18684@node Sparclite
18685@subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
18686
18687@table @code
18688
18689@kindex target sparclite
18690@item target sparclite @var{dev}
18691Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
18692You must use an additional command to debug the program.
18693For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
18694remote protocol.
18695
18696@end table
18697
18698@node Z8000
18699@subsection Zilog Z8000
18700
18701@cindex Z8000
18702@cindex simulator, Z8000
18703@cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
18704
18705When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
18706a Z8000 simulator.
18707
18708For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
18709unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
18710segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
18711appropriate by inspecting the object code.
18712
18713@table @code
18714@item target sim @var{args}
18715@kindex sim
18716@kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
18717Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
18718options, specify them via @var{args}.
18719@end table
18720
18721@noindent
18722After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
18723CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
18724@code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
18725to run your program, and so on.
18726
18727As well as making available all the usual machine registers
18728(@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
18729additional items of information as specially named registers:
18730
18731@table @code
18732
18733@item cycles
18734Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
18735
18736@item insts
18737Counts instructions run in the simulator.
18738
18739@item time
18740Execution time in 60ths of a second.
18741
18742@end table
18743
18744You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
18745conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
18746conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
18747simulated clock ticks.
18748
18749@node AVR
18750@subsection Atmel AVR
18751@cindex AVR
18752
18753When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
18754following AVR-specific commands:
18755
18756@table @code
18757@item info io_registers
18758@kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
18759@cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
18760This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
18761each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
18762@end table
18763
18764@node CRIS
18765@subsection CRIS
18766@cindex CRIS
18767
18768When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
18769following CRIS-specific commands:
18770
18771@table @code
18772@item set cris-version @var{ver}
18773@cindex CRIS version
18774Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
18775The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
18776case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
18777
18778@item show cris-version
18779Show the current CRIS version.
18780
18781@item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
18782@cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
18783Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
18784Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
18785@code{R59}.
18786
18787@item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
18788Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
18789
18790@item set cris-mode @var{mode}
18791@cindex CRIS mode
18792Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
18793debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
18794@samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
18795
18796@item show cris-mode
18797Show the current CRIS mode.
18798@end table
18799
18800@node Super-H
18801@subsection Renesas Super-H
18802@cindex Super-H
18803
18804For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
18805commands:
18806
18807@table @code
18808@item regs
18809@kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
18810Show the values of all Super-H registers.
18811
18812@item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
18813@kindex set sh calling-convention
18814Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
18815Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
18816With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
18817convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
18818that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
18819is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
18820is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
18821regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
18822default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
18823does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
18824
18825@item show sh calling-convention
18826@kindex show sh calling-convention
18827Show the current calling convention setting.
18828
18829@end table
18830
18831
18832@node Architectures
18833@section Architectures
18834
18835This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
18836all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
18837
18838@menu
18839* i386::
18840* A29K::
18841* Alpha::
18842* MIPS::
18843* HPPA:: HP PA architecture
18844* SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18845* PowerPC::
18846@end menu
18847
18848@node i386
18849@subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
18850
18851@table @code
18852@item set struct-convention @var{mode}
18853@kindex set struct-convention
18854@cindex struct return convention
18855@cindex struct/union returned in registers
18856Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
18857@code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
18858@var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
18859default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
18860are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
18861@code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
18862be returned in a register.
18863
18864@item show struct-convention
18865@kindex show struct-convention
18866Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
18867from functions.
18868@end table
18869
18870@node A29K
18871@subsection A29K
18872
18873@table @code
18874
18875@kindex set rstack_high_address
18876@cindex AMD 29K register stack
18877@cindex register stack, AMD29K
18878@item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
18879On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
18880@dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
18881extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
18882stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
18883memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
18884this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
18885the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
18886address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
18887hexadecimal.
18888
18889@kindex show rstack_high_address
18890@item show rstack_high_address
18891Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
18892processors.
18893
18894@end table
18895
18896@node Alpha
18897@subsection Alpha
18898
18899See the following section.
18900
18901@node MIPS
18902@subsection MIPS
18903
18904@cindex stack on Alpha
18905@cindex stack on MIPS
18906@cindex Alpha stack
18907@cindex MIPS stack
18908Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
18909sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
18910find the beginning of a function.
18911
18912@cindex response time, MIPS debugging
18913To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
18914@value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
18915you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
18916commands:
18917
18918@table @code
18919@cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
18920@item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
18921Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
18922search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
18923default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
18924larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
18925and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
18926this command when debugging a stripped executable.
18927
18928@item show heuristic-fence-post
18929Display the current limit.
18930@end table
18931
18932@noindent
18933These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
18934for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
18935
18936Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
18937programs:
18938
18939@table @code
18940@item set mips abi @var{arg}
18941@kindex set mips abi
18942@cindex set ABI for MIPS
18943Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
18944values of @var{arg} are:
18945
18946@table @samp
18947@item auto
18948The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
18949default).
18950@item o32
18951@item o64
18952@item n32
18953@item n64
18954@item eabi32
18955@item eabi64
18956@item auto
18957@end table
18958
18959@item show mips abi
18960@kindex show mips abi
18961Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
18962
18963@item set mipsfpu
18964@itemx show mipsfpu
18965@xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
18966
18967@item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
18968@kindex set mips mask-address
18969@cindex MIPS addresses, masking
18970This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
18971MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
18972@samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
18973setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
18974
18975@item show mips mask-address
18976@kindex show mips mask-address
18977Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
18978not.
18979
18980@item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18981@kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18982This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
18983transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
18984that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
18985and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
18986
18987@item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18988@kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18989Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
18990
18991@item set debug mips
18992@kindex set debug mips
18993This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
18994target code in @value{GDBN}.
18995
18996@item show debug mips
18997@kindex show debug mips
18998Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
18999@end table
19000
19001
19002@node HPPA
19003@subsection HPPA
19004@cindex HPPA support
19005
19006When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
19007following special commands:
19008
19009@table @code
19010@item set debug hppa
19011@kindex set debug hppa
19012This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
19013messages are to be displayed.
19014
19015@item show debug hppa
19016Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
19017
19018@item maint print unwind @var{address}
19019@kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
19020This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
19021given @var{address}.
19022
19023@end table
19024
19025
19026@node SPU
19027@subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19028@cindex Cell Broadband Engine
19029@cindex SPU
19030
19031When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
19032it provides the following special commands:
19033
19034@table @code
19035@item info spu event
19036@kindex info spu
19037Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
19038and pending event status.
19039
19040@item info spu signal
19041Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
19042signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
19043notification channels.
19044
19045@item info spu mailbox
19046Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
19047in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
19048SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
19049
19050@item info spu dma
19051Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19052DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19053and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19054
19055@item info spu proxydma
19056Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
19057Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
19058and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
19059
19060@end table
19061
19062When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
19063on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
19064special commands:
19065
19066@table @code
19067@item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
19068@kindex set spu
19069Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
19070will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
19071function. The default is @code{off}.
19072
19073@item show spu stop-on-load
19074@kindex show spu
19075Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
19076
19077@item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
19078Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
19079@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
19080cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
19081view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
19082does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
19083
19084@item show spu auto-flush-cache
19085Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
19086
19087@end table
19088
19089@node PowerPC
19090@subsection PowerPC
19091@cindex PowerPC architecture
19092
19093When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
19094pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
19095numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
19096in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
19097@code{f0} or @code{f2}.
19098
19099The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
19100by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
19101@code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
19102
19103For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
19104wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
19105
19106
19107@node Controlling GDB
19108@chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
19109
19110You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
19111@code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
19112data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
19113described here.
19114
19115@menu
19116* Prompt:: Prompt
19117* Editing:: Command editing
19118* Command History:: Command history
19119* Screen Size:: Screen size
19120* Numbers:: Numbers
19121* ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
19122* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
19123* Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
19124* Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
19125@end menu
19126
19127@node Prompt
19128@section Prompt
19129
19130@cindex prompt
19131
19132@value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
19133called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
19134can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
19135instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
19136the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
19137which one you are talking to.
19138
19139@emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
19140prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
19141or a prompt that does not.
19142
19143@table @code
19144@kindex set prompt
19145@item set prompt @var{newprompt}
19146Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
19147
19148@kindex show prompt
19149@item show prompt
19150Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
19151@end table
19152
19153@node Editing
19154@section Command Editing
19155@cindex readline
19156@cindex command line editing
19157
19158@value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
19159@sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
19160command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
19161or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
19162substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
19163debugging sessions.
19164
19165You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
19166command @code{set}.
19167
19168@table @code
19169@kindex set editing
19170@cindex editing
19171@item set editing
19172@itemx set editing on
19173Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
19174
19175@item set editing off
19176Disable command line editing.
19177
19178@kindex show editing
19179@item show editing
19180Show whether command line editing is enabled.
19181@end table
19182
19183@xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
19184interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
19185encouraged to read that chapter.
19186
19187@node Command History
19188@section Command History
19189@cindex command history
19190
19191@value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
19192debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
19193happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
19194history facility.
19195
19196@value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
19197package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
19198Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
19199
19200To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
19201the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
19202(@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
19203means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
19204affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
19205pressed on a line by itself.
19206
19207@cindex @code{server}, command prefix
19208The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
19209history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
19210use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
19211
19212Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
19213history.
19214
19215@table @code
19216@cindex history substitution
19217@cindex history file
19218@kindex set history filename
19219@cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
19220@item set history filename @var{fname}
19221Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
19222This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
19223list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
19224exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
19225the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
19226to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
19227@file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
19228is not set.
19229
19230@cindex save command history
19231@kindex set history save
19232@item set history save
19233@itemx set history save on
19234Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
19235@code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
19236
19237@item set history save off
19238Stop recording command history in a file.
19239
19240@cindex history size
19241@kindex set history size
19242@cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
19243@item set history size @var{size}
19244Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
19245This defaults to the value of the environment variable
19246@code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
19247@end table
19248
19249History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
19250@xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
19251
19252@cindex history expansion, turn on/off
19253Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
19254is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
19255@code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
19256follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
19257a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
19258history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
19259@kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
19260
19261The commands to control history expansion are:
19262
19263@table @code
19264@item set history expansion on
19265@itemx set history expansion
19266@kindex set history expansion
19267Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
19268
19269@item set history expansion off
19270Disable history expansion.
19271
19272@c @group
19273@kindex show history
19274@item show history
19275@itemx show history filename
19276@itemx show history save
19277@itemx show history size
19278@itemx show history expansion
19279These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
19280@code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
19281@c @end group
19282@end table
19283
19284@table @code
19285@kindex show commands
19286@cindex show last commands
19287@cindex display command history
19288@item show commands
19289Display the last ten commands in the command history.
19290
19291@item show commands @var{n}
19292Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
19293
19294@item show commands +
19295Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
19296@end table
19297
19298@node Screen Size
19299@section Screen Size
19300@cindex size of screen
19301@cindex pauses in output
19302
19303Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
19304information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
19305@value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
19306output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
19307to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
19308determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
19309printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
19310rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
19311
19312Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
19313driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
19314together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
19315@code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
19316you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
19317width} commands:
19318
19319@table @code
19320@kindex set height
19321@kindex set width
19322@kindex show width
19323@kindex show height
19324@item set height @var{lpp}
19325@itemx show height
19326@itemx set width @var{cpl}
19327@itemx show width
19328These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
19329a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
19330commands display the current settings.
19331
19332If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
19333output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
19334file or to an editor buffer.
19335
19336Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
19337from wrapping its output.
19338
19339@item set pagination on
19340@itemx set pagination off
19341@kindex set pagination
19342Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
19343pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
19344running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
19345Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
19346
19347@item show pagination
19348@kindex show pagination
19349Show the current pagination mode.
19350@end table
19351
19352@node Numbers
19353@section Numbers
19354@cindex number representation
19355@cindex entering numbers
19356
19357You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
19358@value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
19359@samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
19360begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
19361@samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
1936210; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
19363format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
19364both input and output with the commands described below.
19365
19366@table @code
19367@kindex set input-radix
19368@item set input-radix @var{base}
19369Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
19370for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19371specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
19372example, any of
19373
19374@smallexample
19375set input-radix 012
19376set input-radix 10.
19377set input-radix 0xa
19378@end smallexample
19379
19380@noindent
19381sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
19382leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
19383@samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
19384interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
19385@samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
19386change the radix.
19387
19388@kindex set output-radix
19389@item set output-radix @var{base}
19390Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
19391for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19392specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
19393
19394@kindex show input-radix
19395@item show input-radix
19396Display the current default base for numeric input.
19397
19398@kindex show output-radix
19399@item show output-radix
19400Display the current default base for numeric display.
19401
19402@item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
19403@itemx show radix
19404@kindex set radix
19405@kindex show radix
19406These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
19407of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
19408the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
19409default value of 10.
19410
19411@end table
19412
19413@node ABI
19414@section Configuring the Current ABI
19415
19416@value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
19417application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
19418conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
19419current ABI.
19420
19421@cindex OS ABI
19422@kindex set osabi
19423@kindex show osabi
19424
19425One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
19426system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
19427@value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
19428but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
19429One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
19430an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
19431not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
19432platform provides.
19433
19434@table @code
19435@item show osabi
19436Show the OS ABI currently in use.
19437
19438@item set osabi
19439With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
19440
19441@item set osabi @var{abi}
19442Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
19443@end table
19444
19445@cindex float promotion
19446
19447Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
19448function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
19449(i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
19450according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
19451(i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
19452@code{double} and then passed.
19453
19454Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
19455a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
19456as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
19457
19458@table @code
19459@kindex set coerce-float-to-double
19460@item set coerce-float-to-double
19461@itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
19462Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
19463to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
19464
19465@item set coerce-float-to-double off
19466Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
19467functions.
19468
19469@kindex show coerce-float-to-double
19470@item show coerce-float-to-double
19471Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
19472@end table
19473
19474@kindex set cp-abi
19475@kindex show cp-abi
19476@value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
19477objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
19478used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
19479programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
19480multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
19481program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
19482Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
19483before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
19484``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
19485use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
19486``auto''.
19487
19488@table @code
19489@item show cp-abi
19490Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
19491
19492@item set cp-abi
19493With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
19494
19495@item set cp-abi @var{abi}
19496@itemx set cp-abi auto
19497Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
19498@end table
19499
19500@node Messages/Warnings
19501@section Optional Warnings and Messages
19502
19503@cindex verbose operation
19504@cindex optional warnings
19505By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
19506running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
19507command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
19508internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
19509
19510Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
19511which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
19512see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
19513
19514@table @code
19515@kindex set verbose
19516@item set verbose on
19517Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19518
19519@item set verbose off
19520Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19521
19522@kindex show verbose
19523@item show verbose
19524Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
19525@end table
19526
19527By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
19528object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
19529find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
19530Symbol Files}).
19531
19532@table @code
19533
19534@kindex set complaints
19535@item set complaints @var{limit}
19536Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
19537unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
19538@var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
19539to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
19540
19541@kindex show complaints
19542@item show complaints
19543Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
19544
19545@end table
19546
19547@anchor{confirmation requests}
19548By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
19549lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
19550you try to run a program which is already running:
19551
19552@smallexample
19553(@value{GDBP}) run
19554The program being debugged has been started already.
19555Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
19556@end smallexample
19557
19558If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
19559commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
19560
19561@table @code
19562
19563@kindex set confirm
19564@cindex flinching
19565@cindex confirmation
19566@cindex stupid questions
19567@item set confirm off
19568Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
19569the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
19570automatically disables confirmation requests.
19571
19572@item set confirm on
19573Enables confirmation requests (the default).
19574
19575@kindex show confirm
19576@item show confirm
19577Displays state of confirmation requests.
19578
19579@end table
19580
19581@cindex command tracing
19582If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
19583useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
19584printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
19585quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
19586
19587@table @code
19588@kindex set trace-commands
19589@cindex command scripts, debugging
19590@item set trace-commands on
19591Enable command tracing.
19592@item set trace-commands off
19593Disable command tracing.
19594@item show trace-commands
19595Display the current state of command tracing.
19596@end table
19597
19598@node Debugging Output
19599@section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
19600@cindex optional debugging messages
19601
19602@value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
19603various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
19604interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
19605section documents those commands.
19606
19607@table @code
19608@kindex set exec-done-display
19609@item set exec-done-display
19610Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
19611completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
19612asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
19613@kindex show exec-done-display
19614@item show exec-done-display
19615Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
19616notification.
19617@kindex set debug
19618@cindex gdbarch debugging info
19619@cindex architecture debugging info
19620@item set debug arch
19621Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
19622@kindex show debug
19623@item show debug arch
19624Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
19625@item set debug aix-thread
19626@cindex AIX threads
19627Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
19628module.
19629@item show debug aix-thread
19630Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
19631@item set debug dwarf2-die
19632@cindex DWARF2 DIEs
19633Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
19634The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
19635A value of zero turns off the display.
19636@item show debug dwarf2-die
19637Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
19638@item set debug displaced
19639@cindex displaced stepping debugging info
19640Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
19641displaced stepping support. The default is off.
19642@item show debug displaced
19643Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
19644related to displaced stepping.
19645@item set debug event
19646@cindex event debugging info
19647Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
19648default is off.
19649@item show debug event
19650Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
19651info.
19652@item set debug expression
19653@cindex expression debugging info
19654Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
19655expression parsing. The default is off.
19656@item show debug expression
19657Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
19658@value{GDBN} expression parsing.
19659@item set debug frame
19660@cindex frame debugging info
19661Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
19662default is off.
19663@item show debug frame
19664Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
19665info.
19666@item set debug gnu-nat
19667@cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
19668Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
19669@item show debug gnu-nat
19670Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
19671@item set debug infrun
19672@cindex inferior debugging info
19673Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
19674The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
19675for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
19676@item show debug infrun
19677Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
19678@item set debug lin-lwp
19679@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
19680@cindex Linux lightweight processes
19681Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
19682@item show debug lin-lwp
19683Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
19684@item set debug lin-lwp-async
19685@cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
19686@cindex Linux lightweight processes
19687Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
19688@item show debug lin-lwp-async
19689Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
19690@item set debug observer
19691@cindex observer debugging info
19692Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
19693includes info such as the notification of observable events.
19694@item show debug observer
19695Displays the current state of observer debugging.
19696@item set debug overload
19697@cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
19698Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
19699info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
19700is off.
19701@item show debug overload
19702Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
19703debugging info.
19704@cindex expression parser, debugging info
19705@cindex debug expression parser
19706@item set debug parser
19707Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
19708Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
19709parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
19710details. The default is off.
19711@item show debug parser
19712Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
19713@cindex packets, reporting on stdout
19714@cindex serial connections, debugging
19715@cindex debug remote protocol
19716@cindex remote protocol debugging
19717@cindex display remote packets
19718@item set debug remote
19719Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
19720the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
19721@value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
19722@item show debug remote
19723Displays the state of display of remote packets.
19724@item set debug serial
19725Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
19726default is off.
19727@item show debug serial
19728Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
19729info.
19730@item set debug solib-frv
19731@cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
19732Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
19733@item show debug solib-frv
19734Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
19735messages.
19736@item set debug target
19737@cindex target debugging info
19738Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
19739includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
19740default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
19741value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
19742until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
19743@item show debug target
19744Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
19745info.
19746@item set debug timestamp
19747@cindex timestampping debugging info
19748Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
19749When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
19750message.
19751@item show debug timestamp
19752Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
19753debugging info.
19754@item set debugvarobj
19755@cindex variable object debugging info
19756Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
19757info. The default is off.
19758@item show debugvarobj
19759Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
19760debugging info.
19761@item set debug xml
19762@cindex XML parser debugging
19763Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
19764@item show debug xml
19765Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
19766@end table
19767
19768@node Other Misc Settings
19769@section Other Miscellaneous Settings
19770@cindex miscellaneous settings
19771
19772@table @code
19773@kindex set interactive-mode
19774@item set interactive-mode
19775If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate interactively.
19776If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate non-interactively,
19777If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} guesses which mode to use,
19778based on whether the debugger was started in a terminal or not.
19779
19780In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
19781correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
19782in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
19783inside a cygwin window.
19784
19785@kindex show interactive-mode
19786@item show interactive-mode
19787Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
19788@end table
19789
19790@node Extending GDB
19791@chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
19792@cindex extending GDB
19793
19794@value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
19795on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
19796Python scripting language.
19797
19798To facilitate the use of these extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
19799of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
19800can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
19801the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
19802are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19803@xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
19804
19805You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
19806setting:
19807
19808@table @code
19809@kindex set script-extension
19810@kindex show script-extension
19811@item set script-extension off
19812All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19813
19814@item set script-extension soft
19815The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19816extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
19817evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
19818the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
19819
19820@item set script-extension strict
19821The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19822extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
19823language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
19824
19825@item show script-extension
19826Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
19827
19828@end table
19829
19830@menu
19831* Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
19832* Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
19833@end menu
19834
19835@node Sequences
19836@section Canned Sequences of Commands
19837
19838Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
19839Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
19840commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
19841files.
19842
19843@menu
19844* Define:: How to define your own commands
19845* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
19846* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
19847* Output:: Commands for controlled output
19848@end menu
19849
19850@node Define
19851@subsection User-defined Commands
19852
19853@cindex user-defined command
19854@cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
19855A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
19856which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
19857@code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
19858separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
19859via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
19860
19861@smallexample
19862define adder
19863 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19864end
19865@end smallexample
19866
19867@noindent
19868To execute the command use:
19869
19870@smallexample
19871adder 1 2 3
19872@end smallexample
19873
19874@noindent
19875This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
19876its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
19877reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
19878functions calls.
19879
19880@cindex argument count in user-defined commands
19881@cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
19882In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
19883been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
19884
19885@smallexample
19886define adder
19887 if $argc == 2
19888 print $arg0 + $arg1
19889 end
19890 if $argc == 3
19891 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19892 end
19893end
19894@end smallexample
19895
19896@table @code
19897
19898@kindex define
19899@item define @var{commandname}
19900Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
19901by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
19902@var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
19903numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
19904prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
19905a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
19906
19907The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
19908which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
19909commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19910
19911@kindex document
19912@kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
19913@item document @var{commandname}
19914Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
19915accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
19916defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
19917reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
19918After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
19919@var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
19920
19921You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
19922documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
19923does not change the documentation.
19924
19925@kindex dont-repeat
19926@cindex don't repeat command
19927@item dont-repeat
19928Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
19929command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
19930(@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
19931
19932@kindex help user-defined
19933@item help user-defined
19934List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
19935(if any) for each.
19936
19937@kindex show user
19938@item show user
19939@itemx show user @var{commandname}
19940Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
19941not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
19942definitions for all user-defined commands.
19943
19944@cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
19945@kindex show max-user-call-depth
19946@kindex set max-user-call-depth
19947@item show max-user-call-depth
19948@itemx set max-user-call-depth
19949The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
19950levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
19951infinite recursion and aborts the command.
19952@end table
19953
19954In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
19955use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
19956
19957When user-defined commands are executed, the
19958commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
19959stops execution of the user-defined command.
19960
19961If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
19962without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
19963commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
19964messages when used in a user-defined command.
19965
19966@node Hooks
19967@subsection User-defined Command Hooks
19968@cindex command hooks
19969@cindex hooks, for commands
19970@cindex hooks, pre-command
19971
19972@kindex hook
19973You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
19974command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
19975command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
19976before that command.
19977
19978@cindex hooks, post-command
19979@kindex hookpost
19980A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
19981Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
19982@samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
19983that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
19984pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
19985
19986It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
19987occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
19988
19989@c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
19990@c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
19991
19992@kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
19993In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
19994(@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
19995execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
19996displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
19997
19998For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
19999single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
20000you could define:
20001
20002@smallexample
20003define hook-stop
20004handle SIGALRM nopass
20005end
20006
20007define hook-run
20008handle SIGALRM pass
20009end
20010
20011define hook-continue
20012handle SIGALRM pass
20013end
20014@end smallexample
20015
20016As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
20017command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
20018you could define:
20019
20020@smallexample
20021define hook-echo
20022echo <<<---
20023end
20024
20025define hookpost-echo
20026echo --->>>\n
20027end
20028
20029(@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
20030<<<---Hello World--->>>
20031(@value{GDBP})
20032
20033@end smallexample
20034
20035You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
20036not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
20037name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
20038@c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
20039@c or not?
20040You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
20041@code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
20042@samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
20043
20044If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
20045@value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
20046(before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
20047
20048If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
20049get a warning from the @code{define} command.
20050
20051@node Command Files
20052@subsection Command Files
20053
20054@cindex command files
20055@cindex scripting commands
20056A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
20057@value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
20058also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
20059does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
20060terminal.
20061
20062You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
20063command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
20064scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
20065using the @code{script-extension} setting.
20066@xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
20067
20068@table @code
20069@kindex source
20070@cindex execute commands from a file
20071@item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
20072Execute the command file @var{filename}.
20073@end table
20074
20075The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
20076unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
20077@emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
20078printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
20079execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
20080
20081@value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
20082If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
20083directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
20084(specified with the @samp{directory} command);
20085except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
20086is not relevant to scripts.
20087
20088If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
20089on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
20090The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
20091search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
20092and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
20093look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
20094The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
20095For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
20096the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
20097look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
20098For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
20099it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
20100@file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
20101will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
20102
20103If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
20104each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
20105@var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
20106
20107Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
20108without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
20109normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
20110when called from command files.
20111
20112@value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
20113mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
20114standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
20115not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
20116the next command.
20117
20118@smallexample
20119gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
20120@end smallexample
20121
20122(The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
20123will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
20124would be directed to @file{log}.
20125
20126Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
20127commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
20128complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
20129variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
20130built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
20131deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
20132complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
20133conditionally, etc.
20134
20135@table @code
20136@kindex if
20137@kindex else
20138@item if
20139@itemx else
20140This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
20141commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
20142expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
20143are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
20144There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
20145of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
20146end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
20147
20148@kindex while
20149@item while
20150This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
20151@code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
20152to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
20153line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
20154@dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
20155executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
20156
20157@kindex loop_break
20158@item loop_break
20159This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
20160Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
20161line.
20162
20163@kindex loop_continue
20164@item loop_continue
20165This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
20166in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
20167branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
20168the controlling expression.
20169
20170@kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
20171@item end
20172Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
20173@code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
20174@end table
20175
20176
20177@node Output
20178@subsection Commands for Controlled Output
20179
20180During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
20181@value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
20182explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
20183describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
20184want.
20185
20186@table @code
20187@kindex echo
20188@item echo @var{text}
20189@c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
20190@c because it is not in ANSI.
20191Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
20192@var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
20193newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
20194In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
20195by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
20196string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
20197trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
20198To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
20199@samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
20200
20201A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
20202the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
20203
20204@smallexample
20205echo This is some text\n\
20206which is continued\n\
20207onto several lines.\n
20208@end smallexample
20209
20210produces the same output as
20211
20212@smallexample
20213echo This is some text\n
20214echo which is continued\n
20215echo onto several lines.\n
20216@end smallexample
20217
20218@kindex output
20219@item output @var{expression}
20220Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
20221newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
20222value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
20223on expressions.
20224
20225@item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
20226Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
20227the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
20228Formats}, for more information.
20229
20230@kindex printf
20231@item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
20232Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
20233the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
20234@var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
20235which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
20236specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
20237executing the code below:
20238
20239@smallexample
20240printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
20241@end smallexample
20242
20243As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
20244are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
20245by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
20246evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
20247style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
20248printed.
20249
20250For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
20251
20252@smallexample
20253printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
20254@end smallexample
20255
20256@code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
20257specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
20258character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
20259
20260@itemize @bullet
20261@item
20262The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
20263
20264@item
20265The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
20266width.
20267
20268@item
20269The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
20270@code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
20271
20272@item
20273The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
20274supported.
20275
20276@item
20277The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
20278
20279@item
20280The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
20281@end itemize
20282
20283@noindent
20284Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
20285underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
20286the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
20287supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
20288
20289As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
20290sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
20291@samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
20292single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
20293supported.
20294
20295Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
20296(@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
20297together with a floating point specifier.
20298letters:
20299
20300@itemize @bullet
20301@item
20302@samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
20303
20304@item
20305@samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
20306
20307@item
20308@samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
20309@end itemize
20310
20311If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
20312support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
20313such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
20314
20315In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
20316available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
20317
20318Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
20319@smallexample
20320printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
20321@end smallexample
20322
20323@kindex eval
20324@item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
20325Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
20326the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
20327
20328@end table
20329
20330@node Python
20331@section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20332@cindex python scripting
20333@cindex scripting with python
20334
20335You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
20336Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
20337@value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
20338
20339@cindex python directory
20340Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
20341@file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
20342the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
20343is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
20344the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
20345
20346@menu
20347* Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
20348* Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
20349* Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
20350@end menu
20351
20352@node Python Commands
20353@subsection Python Commands
20354@cindex python commands
20355@cindex commands to access python
20356
20357@value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
20358and one related setting:
20359
20360@table @code
20361@kindex python
20362@item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
20363The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
20364
20365If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
20366argument as a Python command. For example:
20367
20368@smallexample
20369(@value{GDBP}) python print 23
2037023
20371@end smallexample
20372
20373If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
20374multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
20375script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
20376@code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
20377containing @code{end}. For example:
20378
20379@smallexample
20380(@value{GDBP}) python
20381Type python script
20382End with a line saying just "end".
20383>print 23
20384>end
2038523
20386@end smallexample
20387
20388@kindex maint set python print-stack
20389@item maint set python print-stack
20390By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
20391in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
20392python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
20393printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
20394disabled.
20395@end table
20396
20397It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
20398interpreter:
20399
20400@table @code
20401@item source @file{script-name}
20402The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
20403to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
20404the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
20405
20406@item python execfile ("script-name")
20407This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
20408and thus is always available.
20409@end table
20410
20411@node Python API
20412@subsection Python API
20413@cindex python api
20414@cindex programming in python
20415
20416@cindex python stdout
20417@cindex python pagination
20418At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
20419@code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
20420A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
20421output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
20422situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
20423
20424@menu
20425* Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
20426* Exception Handling::
20427* Values From Inferior::
20428* Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
20429* Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
20430* Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
20431* Disabling Pretty-Printers:: Disabling broken printers.
20432* Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
20433* Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
20434* Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
20435* Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
20436* Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
20437* Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
20438* Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
20439* Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20440* Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
20441* Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
20442* Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
20443* Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
20444* Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
20445@end menu
20446
20447@node Basic Python
20448@subsubsection Basic Python
20449
20450@cindex python functions
20451@cindex python module
20452@cindex gdb module
20453@value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
20454methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
20455@value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
20456use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
20457
20458@findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
20459@defvar PYTHONDIR
20460A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
20461@end defvar
20462
20463@findex gdb.execute
20464@defun execute command [from_tty] [to_string]
20465Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
20466If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
20467translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
20468
20469@var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
20470command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
20471It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
20472
20473By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
20474@value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
20475@code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
20476returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
20477return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
20478@value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
20479and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
20480@end defun
20481
20482@findex gdb.breakpoints
20483@defun breakpoints
20484Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
20485@xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
20486@end defun
20487
20488@findex gdb.parameter
20489@defun parameter parameter
20490Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
20491string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
20492spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
20493@samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
20494
20495If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
20496@code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
20497a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
20498@end defun
20499
20500@findex gdb.history
20501@defun history number
20502Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
20503History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
20504If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
20505and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
20506find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
20507return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
20508doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
20509raised.
20510
20511If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
20512@code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
20513@end defun
20514
20515@findex gdb.parse_and_eval
20516@defun parse_and_eval expression
20517Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
20518evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20519@var{expression} must be a string.
20520
20521This function can be useful when implementing a new command
20522(@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
20523command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
20524compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
20525convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20526@end defun
20527
20528@findex gdb.post_event
20529@defun post_event event
20530Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
20531@value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
20532some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
20533posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
20534were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
20535processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
20536
20537@value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
20538threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
20539functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
20540this. For example:
20541
20542@smallexample
20543(@value{GDBP}) python
20544>import threading
20545>
20546>class Writer():
20547> def __init__(self, message):
20548> self.message = message;
20549> def __call__(self):
20550> gdb.write(self.message)
20551>
20552>class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
20553> def run (self):
20554> gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
20555>
20556>class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
20557> def run (self):
20558> gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
20559>
20560>MyThread1().start()
20561>MyThread2().start()
20562>end
20563(@value{GDBP}) Hello World
20564@end smallexample
20565@end defun
20566
20567@findex gdb.write
20568@defun write string
20569Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
20570Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
20571call this function.
20572@end defun
20573
20574@findex gdb.flush
20575@defun flush
20576Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
20577@code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
20578function.
20579@end defun
20580
20581@findex gdb.target_charset
20582@defun target_charset
20583Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
20584Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
20585that @samp{auto} is never returned.
20586@end defun
20587
20588@findex gdb.target_wide_charset
20589@defun target_wide_charset
20590Return the name of the current target wide character set
20591(@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
20592@code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
20593never returned.
20594@end defun
20595
20596@findex gdb.solib_name
20597@defun solib_name address
20598Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
20599as a string, or @code{None}.
20600@end defun
20601
20602@findex gdb.decode_line
20603@defun decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
20604Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
20605current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
20606tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
20607holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
20608the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
20609either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
20610that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
20611objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
20612provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
20613@code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
20614@end defun
20615
20616@node Exception Handling
20617@subsubsection Exception Handling
20618@cindex python exceptions
20619@cindex exceptions, python
20620
20621When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
20622uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
20623@value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
20624@code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
20625terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
20626exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
20627backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
20628
20629@smallexample
20630(@value{GDBP}) python print foo
20631Traceback (most recent call last):
20632 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
20633NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
20634@end smallexample
20635
20636@value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
20637code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
20638interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
20639prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
20640exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
20641exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
20642@code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
20643message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
20644Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
20645traceback.
20646
20647@findex gdb.GdbError
20648When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
20649it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
20650traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
20651command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
20652to handle this case. Example:
20653
20654@smallexample
20655(gdb) python
20656>class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20657> """Greet the whole world."""
20658> def __init__ (self):
20659> super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20660> def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
20661> argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
20662> if len (argv) != 0:
20663> raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
20664> print "Hello, World!"
20665>HelloWorld ()
20666>end
20667(gdb) hello-world 42
20668hello-world takes no arguments
20669@end smallexample
20670
20671@node Values From Inferior
20672@subsubsection Values From Inferior
20673@cindex values from inferior, with Python
20674@cindex python, working with values from inferior
20675
20676@cindex @code{gdb.Value}
20677@value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
20678an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
20679for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
20680fetching values when necessary.
20681
20682Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
20683Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
20684an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
20685
20686@smallexample
20687bar = some_val + 2
20688@end smallexample
20689
20690@noindent
20691As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
20692whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
20693
20694Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
20695be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
20696@code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
20697can access its @code{foo} element with:
20698
20699@smallexample
20700bar = some_val['foo']
20701@end smallexample
20702
20703Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
20704
20705A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
20706inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
20707the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
20708by that prototype.
20709
20710For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
20711representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
20712execute this function, call it like so:
20713
20714@smallexample
20715result = some_val (10,20)
20716@end smallexample
20717
20718Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
20719@code{gdb.Value}.
20720
20721The following attributes are provided:
20722
20723@table @code
20724@defivar Value address
20725If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
20726@code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
20727this attribute holds @code{None}.
20728@end defivar
20729
20730@cindex optimized out value in Python
20731@defivar Value is_optimized_out
20732This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
20733this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
20734@end defivar
20735
20736@defivar Value type
20737The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
20738@code{gdb.Type} object.
20739@end defivar
20740@end table
20741
20742The following methods are provided:
20743
20744@table @code
20745@defmethod Value cast type
20746Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
20747casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
20748be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
20749reason, this method throws an exception.
20750@end defmethod
20751
20752@defmethod Value dereference
20753For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
20754whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
20755@code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
20756
20757@smallexample
20758int *foo;
20759@end smallexample
20760
20761@noindent
20762then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
20763@code{foo} points to like this:
20764
20765@smallexample
20766bar = foo.dereference ()
20767@end smallexample
20768
20769The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
20770value pointed to by @code{foo}.
20771@end defmethod
20772
20773@defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20774If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20775converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
20776throw an exception.
20777
20778Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
20779@code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
20780language.
20781
20782For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
20783array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
20784by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
20785argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
20786ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
20787
20788If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20789naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
20790@code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
20791the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
20792@code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
20793to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
20794@var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
20795(@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
20796will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
20797
20798The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
20799argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
20800
20801If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20802fetched and converted to the given length.
20803@end defmethod
20804
20805@defmethod Value lazy_string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20806If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20807converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
20808In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
20809
20810If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20811naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
20812@samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
20813@var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
20814recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
20815
20816When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
20817used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
20818@var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
20819@value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
20820the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
20821please see @ref{Character Sets}.
20822
20823If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20824fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
20825the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
20826and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
20827@end defmethod
20828@end table
20829
20830@node Types In Python
20831@subsubsection Types In Python
20832@cindex types in Python
20833@cindex Python, working with types
20834
20835@tindex gdb.Type
20836@value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
20837@code{gdb.Type}.
20838
20839The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
20840module:
20841
20842@findex gdb.lookup_type
20843@defun lookup_type name [block]
20844This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
20845type to look up. It must be a string.
20846
20847If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20848Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20849
20850Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
20851If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
20852@end defun
20853
20854An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
20855
20856@table @code
20857@defivar Type code
20858The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
20859@code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
20860@end defivar
20861
20862@defivar Type sizeof
20863The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
20864target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
20865unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
20866@end defivar
20867
20868@defivar Type tag
20869The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
20870@code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
20871languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
20872@code{None} is returned.
20873@end defivar
20874@end table
20875
20876The following methods are provided:
20877
20878@table @code
20879@defmethod Type fields
20880For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
20881types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
20882have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
20883field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
20884represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
20885into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
20886
20887Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
20888@table @code
20889@item bitpos
20890This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
20891C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
20892position of the field.
20893
20894@item name
20895The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
20896
20897@item artificial
20898This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
20899it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
20900always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
20901
20902@item is_base_class
20903This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
20904structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
20905if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
20906@code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
20907
20908@item bitsize
20909If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
20910non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
20911this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
20912
20913@item type
20914The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
20915but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
20916@end table
20917@end defmethod
20918
20919@defmethod Type const
20920Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20921@code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
20922@end defmethod
20923
20924@defmethod Type volatile
20925Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20926@code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
20927@end defmethod
20928
20929@defmethod Type unqualified
20930Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
20931variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
20932@code{volatile}.
20933@end defmethod
20934
20935@defmethod Type range
20936Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
20937low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
20938the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
20939@code{RuntimeError} exception.
20940@end defmethod
20941
20942@defmethod Type reference
20943Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
20944type.
20945@end defmethod
20946
20947@defmethod Type pointer
20948Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
20949type.
20950@end defmethod
20951
20952@defmethod Type strip_typedefs
20953Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
20954after removing all layers of typedefs.
20955@end defmethod
20956
20957@defmethod Type target
20958Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
20959of this type.
20960
20961For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
20962object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
20963the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
20964the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
20965the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
20966target type is the aliased type.
20967
20968If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
20969exception.
20970@end defmethod
20971
20972@defmethod Type template_argument n [block]
20973If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
20974return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
20975@var{n}th template argument.
20976
20977If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
20978exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
20979
20980If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20981Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20982@end defmethod
20983@end table
20984
20985
20986Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
20987into. The available type categories are represented by constants
20988defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20989
20990@table @code
20991@findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
20992@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
20993@item TYPE_CODE_PTR
20994The type is a pointer.
20995
20996@findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20997@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20998@item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20999The type is an array.
21000
21001@findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21002@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21003@item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
21004The type is a structure.
21005
21006@findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
21007@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
21008@item TYPE_CODE_UNION
21009The type is a union.
21010
21011@findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21012@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21013@item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
21014The type is an enum.
21015
21016@findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21017@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21018@item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
21019A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
21020
21021@findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21022@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21023@item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
21024The type is a function.
21025
21026@findex TYPE_CODE_INT
21027@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
21028@item TYPE_CODE_INT
21029The type is an integer type.
21030
21031@findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
21032@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
21033@item TYPE_CODE_FLT
21034A floating point type.
21035
21036@findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
21037@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
21038@item TYPE_CODE_VOID
21039The special type @code{void}.
21040
21041@findex TYPE_CODE_SET
21042@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
21043@item TYPE_CODE_SET
21044A Pascal set type.
21045
21046@findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21047@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21048@item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
21049A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
21050
21051@findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
21052@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
21053@item TYPE_CODE_STRING
21054A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
21055language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
21056
21057@findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21058@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21059@item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
21060A string of bits.
21061
21062@findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21063@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21064@item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
21065An unknown or erroneous type.
21066
21067@findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21068@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21069@item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
21070A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
21071
21072@findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21073@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21074@item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
21075A pointer-to-member-function.
21076
21077@findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21078@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21079@item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
21080A pointer-to-member.
21081
21082@findex TYPE_CODE_REF
21083@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
21084@item TYPE_CODE_REF
21085A reference type.
21086
21087@findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21088@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21089@item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
21090A character type.
21091
21092@findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21093@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21094@item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
21095A boolean type.
21096
21097@findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21098@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21099@item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
21100A complex float type.
21101
21102@findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21103@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21104@item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
21105A typedef to some other type.
21106
21107@findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21108@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21109@item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
21110A C@t{++} namespace.
21111
21112@findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21113@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21114@item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
21115A decimal floating point type.
21116
21117@findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21118@findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21119@item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
21120A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
21121convenience functions.
21122@end table
21123
21124@node Pretty Printing API
21125@subsubsection Pretty Printing API
21126
21127An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
21128
21129A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
21130specific interface, defined here.
21131
21132@defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
21133@value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
21134children of the pretty-printer's value.
21135
21136This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
21137protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
21138two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
21139second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
21140object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
21141
21142This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
21143as though the value has no children.
21144@end defop
21145
21146@defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
21147The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
21148formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
21149consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
21150printed.
21151
21152This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
21153string.
21154
21155Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
21156
21157@table @samp
21158@item array
21159Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
21160uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
21161@code{set print array}.
21162
21163@item map
21164Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
21165children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
21166values.
21167
21168@item string
21169Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
21170printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
21171kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
21172string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
21173adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
21174@code{set print elements}, and the like.
21175@end table
21176@end defop
21177
21178@defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
21179@value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
21180representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
21181
21182When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
21183then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
21184@code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
21185the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
21186depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
21187print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
21188the result of @code{children}.
21189
21190If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
21191
21192Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
21193then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
21194another pretty-printer.
21195
21196If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
21197@code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
21198the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
21199pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
21200strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
21201
21202Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
21203are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
21204
21205If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
21206@end defop
21207
21208@value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
21209default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
21210
21211@findex gdb.default_visualizer
21212@defun default_visualizer value
21213This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
21214pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
21215printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
21216@end defun
21217
21218@node Selecting Pretty-Printers
21219@subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
21220
21221The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
21222functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
21223as a pretty-printer.
21224Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
21225Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
21226attribute.
21227
21228A function on one of these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
21229argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
21230interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
21231cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
21232@code{None}.
21233
21234@value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
21235@code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
21236each enabled function (@pxref{Disabling Pretty-Printers})
21237in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile} until it receives
21238a pretty-printer object.
21239If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
21240searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
21241calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
21242After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
21243@code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
21244object is returned.
21245
21246The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
21247given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
21248and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
21249object is returned.
21250
21251Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
21252written:
21253
21254@smallexample
21255class StdStringPrinter:
21256 "Print a std::string"
21257
21258 def __init__ (self, val):
21259 self.val = val
21260
21261 def to_string (self):
21262 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
21263
21264 def display_hint (self):
21265 return 'string'
21266@end smallexample
21267
21268And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
21269example above might be written.
21270
21271@smallexample
21272def str_lookup_function (val):
21273
21274 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
21275 regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
21276 if lookup_tag == None:
21277 return None
21278 if regex.match (lookup_tag):
21279 return StdStringPrinter (val)
21280
21281 return None
21282@end smallexample
21283
21284The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
21285match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
21286printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
21287returns @code{None}.
21288
21289We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
21290package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
21291further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
21292This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
21293your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
21294different names.
21295
21296You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
21297can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
21298ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
21299printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
21300the current objfile.
21301
21302Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
21303inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
21304Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
21305@value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
21306Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
21307because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
21308printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
21309printers for the specific version of the library used by each
21310inferior.
21311
21312To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
21313this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
21314
21315@smallexample
21316def register_printers (objfile):
21317 objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
21318@end smallexample
21319
21320@noindent
21321And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
21322
21323@smallexample
21324import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
21325gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
21326@end smallexample
21327
21328@node Disabling Pretty-Printers
21329@subsubsection Disabling Pretty-Printers
21330@cindex disabling pretty-printers
21331
21332For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
21333For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
21334the pretty-printer is out of date.
21335
21336The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
21337@value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
21338printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
21339a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
21340with a broken printer.
21341
21342Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
21343attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
21344is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
21345the printer is enabled.
21346
21347@node Inferiors In Python
21348@subsubsection Inferiors In Python
21349@cindex inferiors in python
21350
21351@findex gdb.Inferior
21352Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
21353(@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
21354information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
21355via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
21356
21357The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21358module:
21359
21360@defun inferiors
21361Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
21362@end defun
21363
21364A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
21365
21366@table @code
21367@defivar Inferior num
21368ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
21369@end defivar
21370
21371@defivar Inferior pid
21372Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
21373system.
21374@end defivar
21375
21376@defivar Inferior was_attached
21377Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
21378started by @value{GDBN} itself.
21379@end defivar
21380@end table
21381
21382A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
21383
21384@table @code
21385@defmethod Inferior threads
21386This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
21387when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
21388return an empty tuple.
21389@end defmethod
21390
21391@findex gdb.read_memory
21392@defmethod Inferior read_memory address length
21393Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
21394@var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
21395or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
21396function.
21397@end defmethod
21398
21399@findex gdb.write_memory
21400@defmethod Inferior write_memory address buffer @r{[}length@r{]}
21401Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
21402@var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
21403which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
21404object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
21405determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
21406@end defmethod
21407
21408@findex gdb.search_memory
21409@defmethod Inferior search_memory address length pattern
21410Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
21411the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
21412@var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
21413which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
21414object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
21415containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
21416the pattern could not be found.
21417@end defmethod
21418@end table
21419
21420@node Threads In Python
21421@subsubsection Threads In Python
21422@cindex threads in python
21423
21424@findex gdb.InferiorThread
21425Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
21426controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
21427
21428The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21429module:
21430
21431@findex gdb.selected_thread
21432@defun selected_thread
21433This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
21434is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
21435@end defun
21436
21437A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
21438
21439@table @code
21440@defivar InferiorThread num
21441ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
21442@end defivar
21443
21444@defivar InferiorThread ptid
21445ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
21446tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
21447is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
21448Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
21449does not use that identifier.
21450@end defivar
21451@end table
21452
21453A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
21454
21455@table @code
21456@defmethod InferiorThread switch
21457This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
21458by this object.
21459@end defmethod
21460
21461@defmethod InferiorThread is_stopped
21462Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
21463@end defmethod
21464
21465@defmethod InferiorThread is_running
21466Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
21467@end defmethod
21468
21469@defmethod InferiorThread is_exited
21470Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
21471@end defmethod
21472@end table
21473
21474@node Commands In Python
21475@subsubsection Commands In Python
21476
21477@cindex commands in python
21478@cindex python commands
21479You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
21480command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
21481class, most commonly using a subclass.
21482
21483@defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
21484The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
21485with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
21486subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
21487
21488@var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
21489multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
21490commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
21491an exception is raised.
21492
21493There is no support for multi-line commands.
21494
21495@var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
21496defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
21497new command in the help system.
21498
21499@var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
21500one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
21501tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
21502given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
21503@code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
21504error will occur when completion is attempted.
21505
21506@var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
21507command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
21508registered.
21509
21510The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
21511documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
21512documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
21513not documented.'' is used.
21514@end defmethod
21515
21516@cindex don't repeat Python command
21517@defmethod Command dont_repeat
21518By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
21519blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
21520behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
21521to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
21522@end defmethod
21523
21524@defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
21525This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
21526
21527@var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
21528leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
21529
21530@var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
21531command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
21532that the command came from elsewhere.
21533
21534If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
21535@code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
21536
21537@findex gdb.string_to_argv
21538To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
21539@code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
21540@value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
21541It is recommended to use this for consistency.
21542Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
21543Example:
21544
21545@smallexample
21546print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
21547['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
21548@end smallexample
21549
21550@end defmethod
21551
21552@cindex completion of Python commands
21553@defmethod Command complete text word
21554This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
21555completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
21556this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
21557(@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
21558complete}).
21559
21560The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
21561holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
21562@var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
21563using a word-breaking heuristic.
21564
21565The @code{complete} method can return several values:
21566@itemize @bullet
21567@item
21568If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
21569used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
21570contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
21571allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
21572string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
21573sequence are ignored.
21574
21575@item
21576If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
21577below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
21578function is invoked, and its result is used.
21579
21580@item
21581All other results are treated as though there were no available
21582completions.
21583@end itemize
21584@end defmethod
21585
21586When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
21587some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
21588commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
21589listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
21590command. The available classifications are represented by constants
21591defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21592
21593@table @code
21594@findex COMMAND_NONE
21595@findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
21596@item COMMAND_NONE
21597The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
21598this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
21599
21600@findex COMMAND_RUNNING
21601@findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
21602@item COMMAND_RUNNING
21603The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
21604@code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
21605Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21606commands in this category.
21607
21608@findex COMMAND_DATA
21609@findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
21610@item COMMAND_DATA
21611The command is related to data or variables. For example,
21612@code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
21613@kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
21614in this category.
21615
21616@findex COMMAND_STACK
21617@findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
21618@item COMMAND_STACK
21619The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
21620@code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
21621category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
21622list of commands in this category.
21623
21624@findex COMMAND_FILES
21625@findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
21626@item COMMAND_FILES
21627This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
21628@code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
21629Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21630commands in this category.
21631
21632@findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
21633@findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
21634@item COMMAND_SUPPORT
21635This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
21636things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
21637but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
21638@code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
21639@kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21640commands in this category.
21641
21642@findex COMMAND_STATUS
21643@findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
21644@item COMMAND_STATUS
21645The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
21646state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
21647and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
21648@value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
21649
21650@findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21651@findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21652@item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21653The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
21654@code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
21655breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
21656this category.
21657
21658@findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21659@findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21660@item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21661The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
21662@code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
21663@kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21664commands in this category.
21665
21666@findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
21667@findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
21668@item COMMAND_OBSCURE
21669The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
21670general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
21671@code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
21672obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
21673category.
21674
21675@findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21676@findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21677@item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21678The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
21679@code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
21680Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21681commands in this category.
21682@end table
21683
21684A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
21685specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
21686from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
21687constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21688
21689@table @code
21690@findex COMPLETE_NONE
21691@findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
21692@item COMPLETE_NONE
21693This constant means that no completion should be done.
21694
21695@findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
21696@findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
21697@item COMPLETE_FILENAME
21698This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
21699
21700@findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
21701@findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
21702@item COMPLETE_LOCATION
21703This constant means that location completion should be done.
21704@xref{Specify Location}.
21705
21706@findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
21707@findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
21708@item COMPLETE_COMMAND
21709This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
21710command names.
21711
21712@findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21713@findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21714@item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21715This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
21716as the source.
21717@end table
21718
21719The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
21720implemented in Python:
21721
21722@smallexample
21723class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21724 """Greet the whole world."""
21725
21726 def __init__ (self):
21727 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21728
21729 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
21730 print "Hello, World!"
21731
21732HelloWorld ()
21733@end smallexample
21734
21735The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
21736registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
21737Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
21738@code{gdb} module explicitly.
21739
21740@node Parameters In Python
21741@subsubsection Parameters In Python
21742
21743@cindex parameters in python
21744@cindex python parameters
21745@tindex gdb.Parameter
21746@tindex Parameter
21747You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
21748parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
21749class.
21750
21751Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
21752@code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
21753
21754There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
21755@value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
21756@code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
21757behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
21758can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
21759
21760@defmethod Parameter __init__ name @var{command-class} @var{parameter-class} @r{[}@var{enum-sequence}@r{]}
21761The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
21762parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
21763from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
21764
21765@var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
21766of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
21767parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
21768@code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
21769@code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
21770parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
21771@value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
21772
21773If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
21774can be found, an exception is raised.
21775
21776@var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
21777(@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
21778categorize the new parameter in the help system.
21779
21780@var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
21781defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
21782parameter; this information is used for input validation and
21783completion.
21784
21785If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
21786@var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
21787represent the possible values for the parameter.
21788
21789If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
21790of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
21791
21792The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
21793documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
21794there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
21795@end defmethod
21796
21797@defivar Parameter set_doc
21798If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
21799the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
21800examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
21801have no effect.
21802@end defivar
21803
21804@defivar Parameter show_doc
21805If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
21806the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
21807examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
21808have no effect.
21809@end defivar
21810
21811@defivar Parameter value
21812The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
21813parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
21814attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
21815@end defivar
21816
21817
21818When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
21819available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
21820module:
21821
21822@table @code
21823@findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
21824@findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
21825@item PARAM_BOOLEAN
21826The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
21827and @code{False} are the only valid values.
21828
21829@findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21830@findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21831@item PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21832The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
21833Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
21834@samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
21835
21836@findex PARAM_UINTEGER
21837@findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
21838@item PARAM_UINTEGER
21839The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
21840interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
21841
21842@findex PARAM_INTEGER
21843@findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
21844@item PARAM_INTEGER
21845The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
21846to mean ``unlimited''.
21847
21848@findex PARAM_STRING
21849@findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
21850@item PARAM_STRING
21851The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
21852sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
21853translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
21854host charset.
21855
21856@findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21857@findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21858@item PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21859The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
21860passed through untranslated.
21861
21862@findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21863@findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21864@item PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21865The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
21866
21867@findex PARAM_FILENAME
21868@findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
21869@item PARAM_FILENAME
21870The value is a filename. This is just like
21871@code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
21872
21873@findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
21874@findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
21875@item PARAM_ZINTEGER
21876The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
21877is interpreted as itself.
21878
21879@findex PARAM_ENUM
21880@findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
21881@item PARAM_ENUM
21882The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
21883constants provided when the parameter is created.
21884@end table
21885
21886@node Functions In Python
21887@subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
21888
21889@cindex writing convenience functions
21890@cindex convenience functions in python
21891@cindex python convenience functions
21892@tindex gdb.Function
21893@tindex Function
21894You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
21895in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
21896class @code{gdb.Function}.
21897
21898@defmethod Function __init__ name
21899The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
21900@value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
21901a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
21902variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
21903the given @var{name}.
21904
21905The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
21906string for the new class.
21907@end defmethod
21908
21909@defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
21910When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
21911to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
21912@code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
21913predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
21914available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
21915standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
21916function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
21917
21918The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
21919expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
21920to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
21921@end defmethod
21922
21923The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
21924be implemented in Python:
21925
21926@smallexample
21927class Greet (gdb.Function):
21928 """Return string to greet someone.
21929Takes a name as argument."""
21930
21931 def __init__ (self):
21932 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
21933
21934 def invoke (self, name):
21935 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
21936
21937Greet ()
21938@end smallexample
21939
21940The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
21941registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
21942Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
21943@code{gdb} module explicitly.
21944
21945@node Progspaces In Python
21946@subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
21947
21948@cindex progspaces in python
21949@tindex gdb.Progspace
21950@tindex Progspace
21951A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
21952of an address space.
21953It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
21954@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21955@xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
21956about program spaces.
21957
21958The following progspace-related functions are available in the
21959@code{gdb} module:
21960
21961@findex gdb.current_progspace
21962@defun current_progspace
21963This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
21964@xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
21965@end defun
21966
21967@findex gdb.progspaces
21968@defun progspaces
21969Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
21970@end defun
21971
21972Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
21973class.
21974
21975@defivar Progspace filename
21976The file name of the progspace as a string.
21977@end defivar
21978
21979@defivar Progspace pretty_printers
21980The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
21981used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
21982function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
21983search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
21984which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
21985information.
21986@end defivar
21987
21988@node Objfiles In Python
21989@subsubsection Objfiles In Python
21990
21991@cindex objfiles in python
21992@tindex gdb.Objfile
21993@tindex Objfile
21994@value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
21995symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
21996executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
21997separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
21998@value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
21999
22000The following objfile-related functions are available in the
22001@code{gdb} module:
22002
22003@findex gdb.current_objfile
22004@defun current_objfile
22005When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
22006sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
22007function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
22008this function returns @code{None}.
22009@end defun
22010
22011@findex gdb.objfiles
22012@defun objfiles
22013Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
22014@xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22015@end defun
22016
22017Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
22018class.
22019
22020@defivar Objfile filename
22021The file name of the objfile as a string.
22022@end defivar
22023
22024@defivar Objfile pretty_printers
22025The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
22026used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
22027function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
22028search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
22029which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
22030information.
22031@end defivar
22032
22033@node Frames In Python
22034@subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22035
22036@cindex frames in python
22037When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
22038stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
22039represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
22040while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
22041to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
22042exception.
22043
22044Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
22045operator, like:
22046
22047@smallexample
22048(@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
22049True
22050@end smallexample
22051
22052The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
22053
22054@findex gdb.selected_frame
22055@defun selected_frame
22056Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
22057@end defun
22058
22059@defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
22060Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
22061frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
22062@code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
22063@end defun
22064
22065A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
22066
22067@table @code
22068@defmethod Frame is_valid
22069Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
22070A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
22071exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
22072an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
22073@end defmethod
22074
22075@defmethod Frame name
22076Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
22077obtained.
22078@end defmethod
22079
22080@defmethod Frame type
22081Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
22082@code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
22083or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
22084@end defmethod
22085
22086@defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
22087Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
22088more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
22089@code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
22090function to a string.
22091@end defmethod
22092
22093@defmethod Frame pc
22094Returns the frame's resume address.
22095@end defmethod
22096
22097@defmethod Frame block
22098Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
22099@end defmethod
22100
22101@defmethod Frame function
22102Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
22103@xref{Symbols In Python}.
22104@end defmethod
22105
22106@defmethod Frame older
22107Return the frame that called this frame.
22108@end defmethod
22109
22110@defmethod Frame newer
22111Return the frame called by this frame.
22112@end defmethod
22113
22114@defmethod Frame find_sal
22115Return the frame's symtab and line object.
22116@xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
22117@end defmethod
22118
22119@defmethod Frame read_var variable @r{[}block@r{]}
22120Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
22121argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
22122block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
22123determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
22124must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
22125@code{gdb.Block} object.
22126@end defmethod
22127
22128@defmethod Frame select
22129Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
22130Stack}.
22131@end defmethod
22132@end table
22133
22134@node Blocks In Python
22135@subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22136
22137@cindex blocks in python
22138@tindex gdb.Block
22139
22140Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
22141stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
22142are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
22143Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
22144frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
22145detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
22146stack.
22147
22148The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22149module:
22150
22151@findex gdb.block_for_pc
22152@defun block_for_pc pc
22153Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
22154block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
22155will return @code{None}.
22156@end defun
22157
22158A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
22159
22160@table @code
22161@defivar Block start
22162The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
22163@end defivar
22164
22165@defivar Block end
22166The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
22167@end defivar
22168
22169@defivar Block function
22170The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
22171block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
22172attribute is not writable.
22173@end defivar
22174
22175@defivar Block superblock
22176The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
22177this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22178@end defivar
22179@end table
22180
22181@node Symbols In Python
22182@subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
22183
22184@cindex symbols in python
22185@tindex gdb.Symbol
22186
22187@value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
22188entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
22189Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
22190@code{gdb.Symbol} object.
22191
22192The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22193module:
22194
22195@findex gdb.lookup_symbol
22196@defun lookup_symbol name [block] [domain]
22197This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
22198restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
22199arguments.
22200
22201@var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
22202optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
22203in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
22204@code{gdb.Block} object. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
22205the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
22206domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
22207in this chapter.
22208@end defun
22209
22210A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
22211
22212@table @code
22213@defivar Symbol symtab
22214The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
22215represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
22216Python}. This attribute is not writable.
22217@end defivar
22218
22219@defivar Symbol name
22220The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
22221@end defivar
22222
22223@defivar Symbol linkage_name
22224The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
22225This attribute is not writable.
22226@end defivar
22227
22228@defivar Symbol print_name
22229The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
22230@code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
22231asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
22232@end defivar
22233
22234@defivar Symbol addr_class
22235The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
22236of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
22237@code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
22238@end defivar
22239
22240@defivar Symbol is_argument
22241@code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
22242@end defivar
22243
22244@defivar Symbol is_constant
22245@code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
22246@end defivar
22247
22248@defivar Symbol is_function
22249@code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
22250@end defivar
22251
22252@defivar Symbol is_variable
22253@code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
22254@end defivar
22255@end table
22256
22257The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
22258as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
22259
22260@table @code
22261@findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22262@findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22263@item SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
22264This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
22265following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
22266in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
22267@findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22268@findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22269@item SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
22270This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
22271type values.
22272@findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22273@findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22274@item SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
22275This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
22276@findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22277@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22278@item SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
22279This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
22280@findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22281@findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22282@item SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
22283This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
22284contains everything minus functions and types.
22285@findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
22286@findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
22287@item SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
22288This domain contains all functions.
22289@findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22290@findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22291@item SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
22292This domain contains all types.
22293@end table
22294
22295The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
22296as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
22297
22298@table @code
22299@findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22300@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22301@item SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
22302If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
22303the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
22304@findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22305@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22306@item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
22307Value is constant int.
22308@findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22309@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22310@item SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
22311Value is at a fixed address.
22312@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22313@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22314@item SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
22315Value is in a register.
22316@findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22317@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22318@item SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
22319Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
22320symbol inside the frame's argument list.
22321@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22322@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22323@item SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
22324Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
22325@code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
22326offset, not the value itself.
22327@findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22328@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22329@item SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
22330Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
22331the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
22332itself.
22333@findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22334@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22335@item SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
22336Value is a local variable.
22337@findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22338@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22339@item SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
22340Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
22341have this class.
22342@findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22343@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22344@item SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
22345Value is a block.
22346@findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22347@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22348@item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
22349Value is a byte-sequence.
22350@findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22351@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22352@item SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
22353Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
22354determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
22355referenced.
22356@findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22357@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22358@item SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
22359The value does not actually exist in the program.
22360@findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22361@findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22362@item SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
22363The value's address is a computed location.
22364@end table
22365
22366@node Symbol Tables In Python
22367@subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
22368
22369@cindex symbol tables in python
22370@tindex gdb.Symtab
22371@tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
22372
22373Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
22374is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
22375@code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
22376from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
22377@xref{Frames In Python}.
22378
22379For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
22380@ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
22381
22382A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
22383
22384@table @code
22385@defivar Symtab_and_line symtab
22386The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
22387This attribute is not writable.
22388@end defivar
22389
22390@defivar Symtab_and_line pc
22391Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
22392writable.
22393@end defivar
22394
22395@defivar Symtab_and_line line
22396Indicates the current line number for this object. This
22397attribute is not writable.
22398@end defivar
22399@end table
22400
22401A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
22402
22403@table @code
22404@defivar Symtab filename
22405The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
22406@end defivar
22407
22408@defivar Symtab objfile
22409The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
22410This attribute is not writable.
22411@end defivar
22412@end table
22413
22414The following methods are provided:
22415
22416@table @code
22417@defmethod Symtab fullname
22418Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
22419@end defmethod
22420@end table
22421
22422@node Breakpoints In Python
22423@subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
22424
22425@cindex breakpoints in python
22426@tindex gdb.Breakpoint
22427
22428Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
22429class.
22430
22431@defmethod Breakpoint __init__ spec @r{[}type@r{]} @r{[}wp_class@r{]}
22432Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
22433location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
22434watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
22435@code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
22436command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
22437from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
22438either: @code{BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
22439defaults to @code{BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{wp_class}
22440argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
22441defined as @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not
22442provided, it is assumed to be a @var{WP_WRITE} class.
22443@end defmethod
22444
22445The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
22446@code{gdb} module:
22447
22448@table @code
22449@findex WP_READ
22450@findex gdb.WP_READ
22451@item WP_READ
22452Read only watchpoint.
22453
22454@findex WP_WRITE
22455@findex gdb.WP_WRITE
22456@item WP_WRITE
22457Write only watchpoint.
22458
22459@findex WP_ACCESS
22460@findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
22461@item WP_ACCESS
22462Read/Write watchpoint.
22463@end table
22464
22465@defmethod Breakpoint is_valid
22466Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
22467@code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
22468if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
22469exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
22470watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
22471inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
22472@end defmethod
22473
22474@defivar Breakpoint enabled
22475This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
22476@code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
22477@end defivar
22478
22479@defivar Breakpoint silent
22480This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
22481@code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
22482
22483Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
22484first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
22485@code{silent} attribute.
22486@end defivar
22487
22488@defivar Breakpoint thread
22489If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
22490id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
22491@code{None}. This attribute is writable.
22492@end defivar
22493
22494@defivar Breakpoint task
22495If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
22496id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
22497language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
22498is writable.
22499@end defivar
22500
22501@defivar Breakpoint ignore_count
22502This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
22503This attribute is writable.
22504@end defivar
22505
22506@defivar Breakpoint number
22507This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
22508the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
22509@end defivar
22510
22511@defivar Breakpoint type
22512This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
22513determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
22514writable.
22515@end defivar
22516
22517The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
22518module:
22519
22520@table @code
22521@findex BP_BREAKPOINT
22522@findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
22523@item BP_BREAKPOINT
22524Normal code breakpoint.
22525
22526@findex BP_WATCHPOINT
22527@findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
22528@item BP_WATCHPOINT
22529Watchpoint breakpoint.
22530
22531@findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22532@findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22533@item BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22534Hardware assisted watchpoint.
22535
22536@findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22537@findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22538@item BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22539Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
22540
22541@findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22542@findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22543@item BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22544Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
22545@end table
22546
22547@defivar Breakpoint hit_count
22548This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
22549This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
22550@end defivar
22551
22552@defivar Breakpoint location
22553This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
22554the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
22555(that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
22556attribute is not writable.
22557@end defivar
22558
22559@defivar Breakpoint expression
22560This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
22561the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
22562expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
22563is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22564@end defivar
22565
22566@defivar Breakpoint condition
22567This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
22568the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
22569value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
22570@end defivar
22571
22572@defivar Breakpoint commands
22573This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
22574there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
22575commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
22576attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22577@end defivar
22578
22579@node Lazy Strings In Python
22580@subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
22581
22582@cindex lazy strings in python
22583@tindex gdb.LazyString
22584
22585A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
22586encoded until it is needed.
22587
22588A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
22589@code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
22590that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
22591to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
22592difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
22593a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
22594differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
22595retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
22596wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
22597
22598A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
22599
22600@defmethod LazyString value
22601Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
22602will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
22603retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
22604@code{gdb.LazyString}.
22605@end defmethod
22606
22607@defivar LazyString address
22608This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
22609writable.
22610@end defivar
22611
22612@defivar LazyString length
22613This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
22614length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
22615first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
22616@end defivar
22617
22618@defivar LazyString encoding
22619This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
22620when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
22621set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
22622most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
22623is not writable.
22624@end defivar
22625
22626@defivar LazyString type
22627This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
22628type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
22629resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
22630@code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
22631writable.
22632@end defivar
22633
22634@node Auto-loading
22635@subsection Auto-loading
22636@cindex auto-loading, Python
22637
22638When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
22639command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
22640@value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
22641@file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
22642
22643@menu
22644* objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
22645* .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22646* Which flavor to choose?::
22647@end menu
22648
22649The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
22650debugging commands and scripts.
22651
22652Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled.
22653
22654@table @code
22655@kindex maint set python auto-load
22656@item maint set python auto-load [yes|no]
22657Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
22658
22659@kindex maint show python auto-load
22660@item maint show python auto-load
22661Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
22662@end table
22663
22664When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
22665@dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
22666function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
22667registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
22668
22669@node objfile-gdb.py file
22670@subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
22671@cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
22672
22673When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
22674a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
22675where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
22676that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
22677@code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
22678readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
22679
22680If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
22681@code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
22682then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
22683directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
22684
22685Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
22686a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
22687@var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
22688@code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
22689is the object file's real name, as described above.
22690
22691@value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
22692@value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
22693@var{objfile} is opened.
22694So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
22695is evaluated more than once.
22696
22697@node .debug_gdb_scripts section
22698@subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22699@cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22700
22701For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
22702when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
22703it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
22704If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
22705
22706@value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
22707current directory and then along the source search path
22708(@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
22709except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
22710directory is not relevant to scripts.
22711
22712Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
22713for example, this GCC macro:
22714
22715@example
22716/* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remote duplicates. */
22717#define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
22718 asm("\
22719.pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
22720.byte 1\n\
22721.asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
22722.popsection \n\
22723");
22724@end example
22725
22726@noindent
22727Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
22728
22729@example
22730DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
22731@end example
22732
22733The script name may include directories if desired.
22734
22735If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
22736using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
22737
22738@node Which flavor to choose?
22739@subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
22740
22741Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
22742be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
22743
22744Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
22745
22746@itemize @bullet
22747@item
22748Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
22749
22750@item
22751Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
22752
22753Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
22754in the source search path.
22755For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
22756isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
22757
22758@item
22759Doesn't require source code additions.
22760@end itemize
22761
22762Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
22763
22764@itemize @bullet
22765@item
22766Works with static linking.
22767
22768Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
22769trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
22770objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
22771scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
22772
22773@item
22774Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
22775
22776Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
22777shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
22778
22779@item
22780Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
22781
22782In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
22783libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
22784@file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
22785cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
22786@code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
22787top of the source tree to the source search path.
22788@end itemize
22789
22790@node Interpreters
22791@chapter Command Interpreters
22792@cindex command interpreters
22793
22794@value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
22795infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
22796between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
22797
22798@value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
22799interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
22800and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
22801describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
22802
22803By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
22804However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
22805interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
22806startup options. Defined interpreters include:
22807
22808@table @code
22809@item console
22810@cindex console interpreter
22811The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
22812used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
22813@value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
22814
22815@item mi
22816@cindex mi interpreter
22817The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
22818by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
22819or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
22820Interface}.
22821
22822@item mi2
22823@cindex mi2 interpreter
22824The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
22825
22826@item mi1
22827@cindex mi1 interpreter
22828The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
22829
22830@end table
22831
22832@cindex invoke another interpreter
22833The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
22834switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
22835precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
22836enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
22837@value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
22838the IDE inoperable!
22839
22840@kindex interpreter-exec
22841Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
22842commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
22843command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
22844@code{interpreter-exec} command:
22845
22846@smallexample
22847interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
22848@end smallexample
22849
22850@sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
22851@value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
22852
22853@node TUI
22854@chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
22855@cindex TUI
22856@cindex Text User Interface
22857
22858@menu
22859* TUI Overview:: TUI overview
22860* TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
22861* TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
22862* TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
22863* TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
22864@end menu
22865
22866The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
22867interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
22868file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
22869commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
22870on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
22871is available.
22872
22873@pindex @value{GDBTUI}
22874The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
22875either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
22876You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
22877using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
22878@xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
22879
22880@node TUI Overview
22881@section TUI Overview
22882
22883In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
22884
22885@table @emph
22886@item command
22887This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
22888prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
22889managed using readline.
22890
22891@item source
22892The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
22893line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
22894
22895@item assembly
22896The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
22897
22898@item register
22899This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
22900when their values change.
22901@end table
22902
22903The source and assembly windows show the current program position
22904by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
22905Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
22906indicates the breakpoint type:
22907
22908@table @code
22909@item B
22910Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
22911
22912@item b
22913Breakpoint which was never hit.
22914
22915@item H
22916Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
22917
22918@item h
22919Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
22920@end table
22921
22922The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
22923
22924@table @code
22925@item +
22926Breakpoint is enabled.
22927
22928@item -
22929Breakpoint is disabled.
22930@end table
22931
22932The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
22933thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
22934changes.
22935
22936These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
22937window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
22938layouts:
22939
22940@itemize @bullet
22941@item
22942source only,
22943
22944@item
22945assembly only,
22946
22947@item
22948source and assembly,
22949
22950@item
22951source and registers, or
22952
22953@item
22954assembly and registers.
22955@end itemize
22956
22957A status line above the command window shows the following information:
22958
22959@table @emph
22960@item target
22961Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
22962(@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
22963
22964@item process
22965Gives the current process or thread number.
22966When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
22967
22968@item function
22969Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
22970The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
22971When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
22972the string @code{??} is displayed.
22973
22974@item line
22975Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
22976When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
22977
22978@item pc
22979Indicates the current program counter address.
22980@end table
22981
22982@node TUI Keys
22983@section TUI Key Bindings
22984@cindex TUI key bindings
22985
22986The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
22987(@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
22988are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
22989
22990@table @kbd
22991@kindex C-x C-a
22992@item C-x C-a
22993@kindex C-x a
22994@itemx C-x a
22995@kindex C-x A
22996@itemx C-x A
22997Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
22998the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
22999its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
23000the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
23001The screen is then refreshed.
23002
23003@kindex C-x 1
23004@item C-x 1
23005Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
23006either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
23007is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
23008
23009Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
23010
23011@kindex C-x 2
23012@item C-x 2
23013Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
23014layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
23015When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
23016previous layout and the new one.
23017
23018Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
23019
23020@kindex C-x o
23021@item C-x o
23022Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
23023(like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
23024gives the focus to the next TUI window.
23025
23026Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
23027
23028@kindex C-x s
23029@item C-x s
23030Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
23031keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
23032@end table
23033
23034The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
23035
23036@table @asis
23037@kindex PgUp
23038@item @key{PgUp}
23039Scroll the active window one page up.
23040
23041@kindex PgDn
23042@item @key{PgDn}
23043Scroll the active window one page down.
23044
23045@kindex Up
23046@item @key{Up}
23047Scroll the active window one line up.
23048
23049@kindex Down
23050@item @key{Down}
23051Scroll the active window one line down.
23052
23053@kindex Left
23054@item @key{Left}
23055Scroll the active window one column left.
23056
23057@kindex Right
23058@item @key{Right}
23059Scroll the active window one column right.
23060
23061@kindex C-L
23062@item @kbd{C-L}
23063Refresh the screen.
23064@end table
23065
23066Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
23067are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
23068window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
23069other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
23070and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
23071
23072@node TUI Single Key Mode
23073@section TUI Single Key Mode
23074@cindex TUI single key mode
23075
23076The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
23077frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
23078switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
23079
23080@table @kbd
23081@kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23082@item c
23083continue
23084
23085@kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23086@item d
23087down
23088
23089@kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23090@item f
23091finish
23092
23093@kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23094@item n
23095next
23096
23097@kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23098@item q
23099exit the SingleKey mode.
23100
23101@kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23102@item r
23103run
23104
23105@kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23106@item s
23107step
23108
23109@kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23110@item u
23111up
23112
23113@kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23114@item v
23115info locals
23116
23117@kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
23118@item w
23119where
23120@end table
23121
23122Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
23123The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
23124it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
23125with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
23126SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
23127this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
23128
23129
23130@node TUI Commands
23131@section TUI-specific Commands
23132@cindex TUI commands
23133
23134The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
23135These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
23136the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
23137of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
23138
23139Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
23140terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
23141interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
23142these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
23143possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
23144
23145@table @code
23146@item info win
23147@kindex info win
23148List and give the size of all displayed windows.
23149
23150@item layout next
23151@kindex layout
23152Display the next layout.
23153
23154@item layout prev
23155Display the previous layout.
23156
23157@item layout src
23158Display the source window only.
23159
23160@item layout asm
23161Display the assembly window only.
23162
23163@item layout split
23164Display the source and assembly window.
23165
23166@item layout regs
23167Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
23168
23169@item focus next
23170@kindex focus
23171Make the next window active for scrolling.
23172
23173@item focus prev
23174Make the previous window active for scrolling.
23175
23176@item focus src
23177Make the source window active for scrolling.
23178
23179@item focus asm
23180Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
23181
23182@item focus regs
23183Make the register window active for scrolling.
23184
23185@item focus cmd
23186Make the command window active for scrolling.
23187
23188@item refresh
23189@kindex refresh
23190Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
23191
23192@item tui reg float
23193@kindex tui reg
23194Show the floating point registers in the register window.
23195
23196@item tui reg general
23197Show the general registers in the register window.
23198
23199@item tui reg next
23200Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
23201their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
23202following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
23203@code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
23204
23205@item tui reg system
23206Show the system registers in the register window.
23207
23208@item update
23209@kindex update
23210Update the source window and the current execution point.
23211
23212@item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
23213@itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
23214@kindex winheight
23215Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
23216lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
23217decrease it.
23218
23219@item tabset @var{nchars}
23220@kindex tabset
23221Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
23222@end table
23223
23224@node TUI Configuration
23225@section TUI Configuration Variables
23226@cindex TUI configuration variables
23227
23228Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
23229
23230@table @code
23231@item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
23232@kindex set tui border-kind
23233Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
23234The possible values are the following:
23235@table @code
23236@item space
23237Use a space character to draw the border.
23238
23239@item ascii
23240Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
23241
23242@item acs
23243Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
23244drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
23245@end table
23246
23247@item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
23248@kindex set tui border-mode
23249@itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
23250@kindex set tui active-border-mode
23251Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
23252or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
23253@table @code
23254@item normal
23255Use normal attributes to display the border.
23256
23257@item standout
23258Use standout mode.
23259
23260@item reverse
23261Use reverse video mode.
23262
23263@item half
23264Use half bright mode.
23265
23266@item half-standout
23267Use half bright and standout mode.
23268
23269@item bold
23270Use extra bright or bold mode.
23271
23272@item bold-standout
23273Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
23274@end table
23275@end table
23276
23277@node Emacs
23278@chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
23279
23280@cindex Emacs
23281@cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
23282A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
23283edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
23284@value{GDBN}.
23285
23286To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
23287executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
23288@value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
23289created Emacs buffer.
23290@c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
23291
23292Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
23293things:
23294
23295@itemize @bullet
23296@item
23297All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
23298the GUD buffer.
23299
23300This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
23301and output done by the program you are debugging.
23302
23303This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
23304commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
23305in this way.
23306
23307All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
23308with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
23309way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
23310stop.
23311
23312@item
23313@value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
23314
23315Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
23316source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
23317left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
23318source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
23319and the source.
23320
23321Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
23322usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
23323@end itemize
23324
23325We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
23326a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
23327that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
23328@xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
23329
23330If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
23331gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
23332your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
23333sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
23334with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
23335program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
23336some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
23337@value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
23338buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
23339
23340The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
23341line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
23342that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
23343,Commands to Specify Files}.
23344
23345By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
23346need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
23347keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
23348customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
23349one you want.
23350
23351In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
23352addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
23353
23354@table @kbd
23355@item C-h m
23356Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
23357
23358@item C-c C-s
23359Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
23360update the display window to show the current file and location.
23361
23362@item C-c C-n
23363Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
23364calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
23365to show the current file and location.
23366
23367@item C-c C-i
23368Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
23369display window accordingly.
23370
23371@item C-c C-f
23372Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
23373@code{finish} command.
23374
23375@item C-c C-r
23376Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
23377command.
23378
23379@item C-c <
23380Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
23381(@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
23382like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
23383
23384@item C-c >
23385Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
23386@value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
23387@end table
23388
23389In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
23390tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
23391
23392In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
23393separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
23394Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
23395become the current frame and display the associated source in the
23396source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
23397selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
23398speedbar displays watch expressions.
23399
23400If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
23401it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
23402request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
23403the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
23404frame.
23405
23406The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
23407which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
23408the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
23409communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
23410delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
23411to correspond properly with the code.
23412
23413A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
23414given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
23415Emacs Manual}).
23416
23417@c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
23418@c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
23419@ignore
23420@kindex Emacs Epoch environment
23421@kindex Epoch
23422@kindex inspect
23423
23424Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
23425called the @code{epoch}
23426environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
23427@code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
23428each value is printed in its own window.
23429@end ignore
23430
23431
23432@node GDB/MI
23433@chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
23434
23435@unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
23436
23437@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
23438@sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
23439@value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
23440@option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
23441is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
23442use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
23443
23444This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
23445in the form of a reference manual.
23446
23447Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
23448features described below are incomplete and subject to change
23449(@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
23450
23451@unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
23452
23453@cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
23454This chapter uses the following notation:
23455
23456@itemize @bullet
23457@item
23458@code{|} separates two alternatives.
23459
23460@item
23461@code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
23462it may or may not be given.
23463
23464@item
23465@code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
23466may repeat zero or more times.
23467
23468@item
23469@code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
23470may repeat one or more times.
23471
23472@item
23473@code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
23474@end itemize
23475
23476@ignore
23477@heading Dependencies
23478@end ignore
23479
23480@menu
23481* GDB/MI General Design::
23482* GDB/MI Command Syntax::
23483* GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
23484* GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
23485* GDB/MI Output Records::
23486* GDB/MI Simple Examples::
23487* GDB/MI Command Description Format::
23488* GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
23489* GDB/MI Program Context::
23490* GDB/MI Thread Commands::
23491* GDB/MI Program Execution::
23492* GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
23493* GDB/MI Variable Objects::
23494* GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
23495* GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
23496* GDB/MI Symbol Query::
23497* GDB/MI File Commands::
23498@ignore
23499* GDB/MI Kod Commands::
23500* GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
23501* GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
23502@end ignore
23503* GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
23504* GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
23505* GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
23506@end menu
23507
23508@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23509@node GDB/MI General Design
23510@section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
23511@cindex GDB/MI General Design
23512
23513Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
23514parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
23515and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
23516indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
23517For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
23518requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
23519response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
23520Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
23521target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
23522a command and reported as part of that command response.
23523
23524The important examples of notifications are:
23525@itemize @bullet
23526
23527@item
23528Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
23529target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
23530be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
23531commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
23532different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
23533happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
23534command itself was successfully executed.
23535
23536@item
23537Console output, and status notifications. Console output
23538notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
23539diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
23540report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
23541this information in command response would mean no output is produced
23542until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
23543
23544@item
23545General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
23546the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
23547a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
23548be included in command response, using notification allows for more
23549orthogonal frontend design.
23550
23551@end itemize
23552
23553There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
23554@value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
23555the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
23556processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
23557we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
23558the user interface.
23559
23560
23561@menu
23562* Context management::
23563* Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
23564* Thread groups::
23565@end menu
23566
23567@node Context management
23568@subsection Context management
23569
23570In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
23571done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
23572Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
23573be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
23574and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
23575because a command line user would not want to specify that information
23576explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
23577@value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
23578to what thread and frame are the current ones.
23579
23580In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
23581useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
23582itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
23583each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
23584want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
23585increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
23586frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
23587should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
23588make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
23589@samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
23590for thread and frame to operate on.
23591
23592Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
23593a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
23594operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
23595current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
23596it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
23597another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
23598the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
23599one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
23600change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
23601No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
23602
23603Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
23604frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
23605right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
23606simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
23607before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
23608to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
23609if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
23610thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
23611optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
23612sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
23613selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
23614change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
23615problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
23616all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
23617right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
23618@samp{--frame} options.
23619
23620@node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
23621@subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
23622
23623On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
23624even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
23625command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
23626specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
23627@code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
23628either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
23629frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
23630find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
23631@code{-list-target-features} command.
23632
23633Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
23634many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
23635running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
23636when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
23637it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
23638are running.
23639
23640When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
23641target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
23642some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
23643stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
23644modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
23645that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
23646@code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
23647context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
23648stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
23649@samp{--thread} option).
23650
23651Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
23652highly target dependent. However, the two commands
23653@code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
23654to find the state of a thread, will always work.
23655
23656@node Thread groups
23657@subsection Thread groups
23658@value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
23659On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
23660hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
23661processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
23662mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
23663
23664The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
23665target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
23666accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
23667thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
23668neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
23669current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
23670that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
23671into processes.
23672
23673To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
23674hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
23675@dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
23676thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
23677and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
23678command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
23679thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
23680debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
23681to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
23682the members of specific thread group.
23683
23684To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
23685wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
23686introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
23687@value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
23688@code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
23689groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
23690In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
23691after attaching to that thread group.
23692
23693Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
23694Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
23695type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
23696such thread groups.
23697
23698@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23699@node GDB/MI Command Syntax
23700@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
23701
23702@menu
23703* GDB/MI Input Syntax::
23704* GDB/MI Output Syntax::
23705@end menu
23706
23707@node GDB/MI Input Syntax
23708@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
23709
23710@cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
23711@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
23712@table @code
23713@item @var{command} @expansion{}
23714@code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
23715
23716@item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
23717@code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
23718@var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23719
23720@item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
23721@code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
23722@code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
23723
23724@item @var{token} @expansion{}
23725"any sequence of digits"
23726
23727@item @var{option} @expansion{}
23728@code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
23729
23730@item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
23731@code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
23732
23733@item @var{operation} @expansion{}
23734@emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
23735
23736@item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
23737@emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
23738"-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
23739
23740@item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
23741@code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
23742
23743@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
23744@code{CR | CR-LF}
23745@end table
23746
23747@noindent
23748Notes:
23749
23750@itemize @bullet
23751@item
23752The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
23753output is described below.
23754
23755@item
23756The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
23757finishes.
23758
23759@item
23760Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
23761list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
23762followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
23763parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
23764@samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
23765@end itemize
23766
23767Pragmatics:
23768
23769@itemize @bullet
23770@item
23771We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
23772
23773@item
23774We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
23775@end itemize
23776
23777@node GDB/MI Output Syntax
23778@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
23779
23780@cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
23781@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
23782The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
23783followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
23784is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
23785terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
23786
23787If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
23788corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
23789@var{token}.
23790
23791@table @code
23792@item @var{output} @expansion{}
23793@code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
23794
23795@item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
23796@code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
23797
23798@item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
23799@code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
23800
23801@item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
23802@code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
23803
23804@item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
23805@code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
23806
23807@item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
23808@code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
23809
23810@item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
23811@code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
23812
23813@item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
23814@code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
23815
23816@item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
23817@code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
23818
23819@item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
23820@code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
23821depending on the needs---this is still in development).
23822
23823@item @var{result} @expansion{}
23824@code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
23825
23826@item @var{variable} @expansion{}
23827@code{ @var{string} }
23828
23829@item @var{value} @expansion{}
23830@code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
23831
23832@item @var{const} @expansion{}
23833@code{@var{c-string}}
23834
23835@item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
23836@code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
23837
23838@item @var{list} @expansion{}
23839@code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
23840@var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
23841
23842@item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
23843@code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
23844
23845@item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
23846@code{"~" @var{c-string}}
23847
23848@item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
23849@code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
23850
23851@item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
23852@code{"&" @var{c-string}}
23853
23854@item @var{nl} @expansion{}
23855@code{CR | CR-LF}
23856
23857@item @var{token} @expansion{}
23858@emph{any sequence of digits}.
23859@end table
23860
23861@noindent
23862Notes:
23863
23864@itemize @bullet
23865@item
23866All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
23867
23868@item
23869The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
23870for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
23871may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
23872output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
23873all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
23874target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
23875prior command.
23876
23877@item
23878@cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23879@var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
23880progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
23881prefixed by @samp{+}.
23882
23883@item
23884@cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23885@var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
23886(stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
23887@samp{*}.
23888
23889@item
23890@cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23891@var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
23892client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
23893output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
23894
23895@item
23896@cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23897@var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
23898console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
23899output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
23900
23901@item
23902@cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23903@var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
23904All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
23905
23906@item
23907@cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23908@var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
23909instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
23910the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
23911
23912@item
23913@cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23914New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
23915@var{values}.
23916
23917
23918@end itemize
23919
23920@xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
23921details about the various output records.
23922
23923@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23924@node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
23925@section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
23926
23927@cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
23928@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
23929
23930For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
23931but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
23932that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
23933command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
23934@code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
23935@samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
23936
23937This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
23938recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
23939(@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
23940
23941@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23942@node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
23943@section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
23944@cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
23945
23946The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
23947program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
23948
23949Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
23950by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
23951to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
23952section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
23953might change.
23954
23955Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
23956for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
23957list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
23958parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
23959
23960@itemize @bullet
23961@item
23962New MI commands may be added.
23963
23964@item
23965New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
23966
23967@item
23968The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
23969@code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
23970
23971@c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
23972@c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
23973
23974@c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
23975@c resolve inconsistencies.
23976@end itemize
23977
23978If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
23979will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
23980output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
23981@value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
23982responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
23983
23984@c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
23985@c version?
23986
23987The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
23988end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
23989follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
23990@email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
23991@cindex mailing lists
23992
23993@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23994@node GDB/MI Output Records
23995@section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
23996
23997@menu
23998* GDB/MI Result Records::
23999* GDB/MI Stream Records::
24000* GDB/MI Async Records::
24001* GDB/MI Frame Information::
24002* GDB/MI Thread Information::
24003@end menu
24004
24005@node GDB/MI Result Records
24006@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
24007
24008@cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24009@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
24010In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
24011@sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
24012
24013@table @code
24014@findex ^done
24015@item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
24016The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
24017values.
24018
24019@item "^running"
24020@findex ^running
24021This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
24022was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
24023target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
24024all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
24025identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
24026which threads are resumed.
24027
24028@item "^connected"
24029@findex ^connected
24030@value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
24031
24032@item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
24033@findex ^error
24034The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
24035error message.
24036
24037@item "^exit"
24038@findex ^exit
24039@value{GDBN} has terminated.
24040
24041@end table
24042
24043@node GDB/MI Stream Records
24044@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
24045
24046@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
24047@cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24048@value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
24049target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
24050funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
24051
24052Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
24053identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
24054Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
24055@code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
24056line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
24057
24058@table @code
24059@item "~" @var{string-output}
24060The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
24061CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
24062
24063@item "@@" @var{string-output}
24064The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
24065target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
24066asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
24067
24068@item "&" @var{string-output}
24069The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
24070internals.
24071@end table
24072
24073@node GDB/MI Async Records
24074@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
24075
24076@cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
24077@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
24078@dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
24079additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
24080consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
24081target activity (e.g., target stopped).
24082
24083The following is the list of possible async records:
24084
24085@table @code
24086
24087@item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
24088The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
24089specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
24090are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
24091running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
24092The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
24093only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
24094several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
24095all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
24096be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
24097
24098@item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
24099The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
24100following values:
24101
24102@table @code
24103@item breakpoint-hit
24104A breakpoint was reached.
24105@item watchpoint-trigger
24106A watchpoint was triggered.
24107@item read-watchpoint-trigger
24108A read watchpoint was triggered.
24109@item access-watchpoint-trigger
24110An access watchpoint was triggered.
24111@item function-finished
24112An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
24113@item location-reached
24114An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
24115@item watchpoint-scope
24116A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
24117@item end-stepping-range
24118An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
24119similar CLI command was accomplished.
24120@item exited-signalled
24121The inferior exited because of a signal.
24122@item exited
24123The inferior exited.
24124@item exited-normally
24125The inferior exited normally.
24126@item signal-received
24127A signal was received by the inferior.
24128@end table
24129
24130The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
24131-- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
24132mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
24133stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
24134If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
24135value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
24136field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
24137always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
24138several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
24139processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
24140if such information is not available.
24141
24142@item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
24143@itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
24144A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
24145contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
24146group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
24147process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
24148cannot be used in any way.
24149
24150@item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
24151A thread group became associated with a running program,
24152either because the program was just started or the thread group
24153was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
24154@value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
24155contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
24156
24157@itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
24158A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
24159either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
24160from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
24161thread group.
24162
24163@item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
24164@itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
24165A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
24166contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
24167field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
24168
24169@item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
24170Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
24171command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
24172command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
24173to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
24174invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
24175@code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
24176
24177We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
24178highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
24179that thread.
24180
24181@item =library-loaded,...
24182Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
24183notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
24184@var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
24185opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
24186@var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
24187library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
24188debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
24189@var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
24190library are loaded. The @var{thread-group} field, if present,
24191specifies the id of the thread group in whose context the library was loaded.
24192If the field is absent, it means the library was loaded in the context
24193of all present thread groups.
24194
24195@item =library-unloaded,...
24196Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
24197has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
24198the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
24199The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
24200thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
24201absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
24202thread groups.
24203
24204@end table
24205
24206@node GDB/MI Frame Information
24207@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
24208
24209Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
24210frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
24211fields:
24212
24213@table @code
24214@item level
24215The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
24216zero. This field is always present.
24217
24218@item func
24219The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
24220be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
24221
24222@item addr
24223The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
24224
24225@item file
24226The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
24227address. This field may be absent.
24228
24229@item line
24230The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
24231may be absent.
24232
24233@item from
24234The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
24235corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
24236
24237@end table
24238
24239@node GDB/MI Thread Information
24240@subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
24241
24242Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
24243uses a tuple with the following fields:
24244
24245@table @code
24246@item id
24247The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
24248always present.
24249
24250@item target-id
24251Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
24252
24253@item details
24254Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
24255It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
24256frontend. This field is optional.
24257
24258@item state
24259Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
24260thread is presently running. This field is always present.
24261
24262@item core
24263The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
24264thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
24265@end table
24266
24267
24268@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24269@node GDB/MI Simple Examples
24270@section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
24271@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
24272
24273This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
24274the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
24275following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
24276the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
24277
24278Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
24279readability, they don't appear in the real output.
24280
24281@subheading Setting a Breakpoint
24282
24283Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
24284information of the breakpoint.
24285
24286@smallexample
24287-> -break-insert main
24288<- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
24289 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
24290 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
24291<- (gdb)
24292@end smallexample
24293
24294@subheading Program Execution
24295
24296Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
24297reason that execution stopped.
24298
24299@smallexample
24300-> -exec-run
24301<- ^running
24302<- (gdb)
24303<- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
24304 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
24305 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
24306 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
24307<- (gdb)
24308-> -exec-continue
24309<- ^running
24310<- (gdb)
24311<- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
24312<- (gdb)
24313@end smallexample
24314
24315@subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
24316
24317Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
24318
24319@smallexample
24320-> (gdb)
24321<- -gdb-exit
24322<- ^exit
24323@end smallexample
24324
24325Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
24326take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
24327performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
24328or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
24329@value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
24330fails to exit in reasonable time.
24331
24332@subheading A Bad Command
24333
24334Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
24335
24336@smallexample
24337-> -rubbish
24338<- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
24339<- (gdb)
24340@end smallexample
24341
24342
24343@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24344@node GDB/MI Command Description Format
24345@section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
24346
24347The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
24348commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
24349
24350@subheading Motivation
24351
24352The motivation for this collection of commands.
24353
24354@subheading Introduction
24355
24356A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
24357
24358@subheading Commands
24359
24360For each command in the block, the following is described:
24361
24362@subsubheading Synopsis
24363
24364@smallexample
24365 -command @var{args}@dots{}
24366@end smallexample
24367
24368@subsubheading Result
24369
24370@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24371
24372The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
24373
24374@subsubheading Example
24375
24376Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
24377not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
24378
24379
24380@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24381@node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
24382@section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
24383
24384@cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
24385@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
24386This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
24387breakpoints.
24388
24389@subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
24390@findex -break-after
24391
24392@subsubheading Synopsis
24393
24394@smallexample
24395 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
24396@end smallexample
24397
24398The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
24399hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
24400the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
24401@samp{-break-list} command below.
24402
24403@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24404
24405The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
24406
24407@subsubheading Example
24408
24409@smallexample
24410(gdb)
24411-break-insert main
24412^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
24413enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
24414fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
24415(gdb)
24416-break-after 1 3
24417~
24418^done
24419(gdb)
24420-break-list
24421^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24422hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24423@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24424@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24425@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24426@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24427@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24428body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24429addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24430line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
24431(gdb)
24432@end smallexample
24433
24434@ignore
24435@subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
24436@findex -break-catch
24437@end ignore
24438
24439@subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
24440@findex -break-commands
24441
24442@subsubheading Synopsis
24443
24444@smallexample
24445 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
24446@end smallexample
24447
24448Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
24449@var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
24450are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
24451commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
24452functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
24453some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
24454
24455@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24456
24457The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
24458
24459@subsubheading Example
24460
24461@smallexample
24462(gdb)
24463-break-insert main
24464^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
24465enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
24466fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
24467(gdb)
24468-break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
24469^done
24470(gdb)
24471@end smallexample
24472
24473@subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
24474@findex -break-condition
24475
24476@subsubheading Synopsis
24477
24478@smallexample
24479 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
24480@end smallexample
24481
24482Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
24483@var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
24484@samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
24485command below).
24486
24487@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24488
24489The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
24490
24491@subsubheading Example
24492
24493@smallexample
24494(gdb)
24495-break-condition 1 1
24496^done
24497(gdb)
24498-break-list
24499^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24500hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24501@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24502@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24503@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24504@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24505@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24506body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24507addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24508line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
24509(gdb)
24510@end smallexample
24511
24512@subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
24513@findex -break-delete
24514
24515@subsubheading Synopsis
24516
24517@smallexample
24518 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24519@end smallexample
24520
24521Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
24522list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
24523
24524@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24525
24526The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
24527
24528@subsubheading Example
24529
24530@smallexample
24531(gdb)
24532-break-delete 1
24533^done
24534(gdb)
24535-break-list
24536^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
24537hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24538@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24539@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24540@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24541@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24542@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24543body=[]@}
24544(gdb)
24545@end smallexample
24546
24547@subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
24548@findex -break-disable
24549
24550@subsubheading Synopsis
24551
24552@smallexample
24553 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24554@end smallexample
24555
24556Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
24557break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
24558
24559@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24560
24561The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
24562
24563@subsubheading Example
24564
24565@smallexample
24566(gdb)
24567-break-disable 2
24568^done
24569(gdb)
24570-break-list
24571^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24572hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24573@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24574@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24575@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24576@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24577@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24578body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
24579addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24580line="5",times="0"@}]@}
24581(gdb)
24582@end smallexample
24583
24584@subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
24585@findex -break-enable
24586
24587@subsubheading Synopsis
24588
24589@smallexample
24590 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24591@end smallexample
24592
24593Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
24594
24595@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24596
24597The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
24598
24599@subsubheading Example
24600
24601@smallexample
24602(gdb)
24603-break-enable 2
24604^done
24605(gdb)
24606-break-list
24607^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24608hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24609@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24610@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24611@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24612@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24613@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24614body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24615addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24616line="5",times="0"@}]@}
24617(gdb)
24618@end smallexample
24619
24620@subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
24621@findex -break-info
24622
24623@subsubheading Synopsis
24624
24625@smallexample
24626 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
24627@end smallexample
24628
24629@c REDUNDANT???
24630Get information about a single breakpoint.
24631
24632@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24633
24634The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
24635
24636@subsubheading Example
24637N.A.
24638
24639@subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
24640@findex -break-insert
24641
24642@subsubheading Synopsis
24643
24644@smallexample
24645 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
24646 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
24647 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
24648@end smallexample
24649
24650@noindent
24651If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
24652
24653@itemize @bullet
24654@item function
24655@c @item +offset
24656@c @item -offset
24657@c @item linenum
24658@item filename:linenum
24659@item filename:function
24660@item *address
24661@end itemize
24662
24663The possible optional parameters of this command are:
24664
24665@table @samp
24666@item -t
24667Insert a temporary breakpoint.
24668@item -h
24669Insert a hardware breakpoint.
24670@item -c @var{condition}
24671Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
24672@item -i @var{ignore-count}
24673Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
24674@item -f
24675If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
24676refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
24677breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
24678an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
24679cannot be parsed.
24680@item -d
24681Create a disabled breakpoint.
24682@item -a
24683Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
24684is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
24685@end table
24686
24687@subsubheading Result
24688
24689The result is in the form:
24690
24691@smallexample
24692^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
24693enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
24694fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
24695times="@var{times}"@}
24696@end smallexample
24697
24698@noindent
24699where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
24700@var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
24701inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
24702this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
24703and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
24704(always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
24705which use the same output).
24706
24707Note: this format is open to change.
24708@c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
24709
24710@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24711
24712The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
24713@samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
24714
24715@subsubheading Example
24716
24717@smallexample
24718(gdb)
24719-break-insert main
24720^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
24721fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
24722(gdb)
24723-break-insert -t foo
24724^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
24725fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
24726(gdb)
24727-break-list
24728^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24729hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24730@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24731@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24732@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24733@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24734@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24735body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24736addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
24737fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
24738bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
24739addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
24740fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
24741(gdb)
24742-break-insert -r foo.*
24743~int foo(int, int);
24744^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
24745"fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
24746(gdb)
24747@end smallexample
24748
24749@subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
24750@findex -break-list
24751
24752@subsubheading Synopsis
24753
24754@smallexample
24755 -break-list
24756@end smallexample
24757
24758Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
24759
24760@table @samp
24761@item Number
24762number of the breakpoint
24763@item Type
24764type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
24765@item Disposition
24766should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
24767or @samp{nokeep}
24768@item Enabled
24769is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
24770@item Address
24771memory location at which the breakpoint is set
24772@item What
24773logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
24774name, line number
24775@item Times
24776number of times the breakpoint has been hit
24777@end table
24778
24779If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
24780@code{body} field is an empty list.
24781
24782@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24783
24784The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
24785
24786@subsubheading Example
24787
24788@smallexample
24789(gdb)
24790-break-list
24791^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24792hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24793@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24794@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24795@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24796@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24797@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24798body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24799addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
24800bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24801addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24802line="13",times="0"@}]@}
24803(gdb)
24804@end smallexample
24805
24806Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
24807
24808@smallexample
24809(gdb)
24810-break-list
24811^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
24812hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24813@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24814@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24815@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24816@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24817@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24818body=[]@}
24819(gdb)
24820@end smallexample
24821
24822@subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
24823@findex -break-passcount
24824
24825@subsubheading Synopsis
24826
24827@smallexample
24828 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
24829@end smallexample
24830
24831Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
24832@var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
24833is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
24834command @samp{passcount}.
24835
24836@subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
24837@findex -break-watch
24838
24839@subsubheading Synopsis
24840
24841@smallexample
24842 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
24843@end smallexample
24844
24845Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
24846@dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
24847read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
24848option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
24849trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
24850either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
24851i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
24852@xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
24853
24854Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
24855breakpoints inserted.
24856
24857@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24858
24859The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
24860@samp{rwatch}.
24861
24862@subsubheading Example
24863
24864Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
24865
24866@smallexample
24867(gdb)
24868-break-watch x
24869^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
24870(gdb)
24871-exec-continue
24872^running
24873(gdb)
24874*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
24875value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
24876frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
24877fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
24878(gdb)
24879@end smallexample
24880
24881Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
24882the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
24883for the watchpoint going out of scope.
24884
24885@smallexample
24886(gdb)
24887-break-watch C
24888^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
24889(gdb)
24890-exec-continue
24891^running
24892(gdb)
24893*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
24894wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
24895frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24896file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24897fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
24898(gdb)
24899-exec-continue
24900^running
24901(gdb)
24902*stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
24903frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
24904value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24905file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24906fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24907(gdb)
24908@end smallexample
24909
24910Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
24911execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
24912deleted.
24913
24914@smallexample
24915(gdb)
24916-break-watch C
24917^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
24918(gdb)
24919-break-list
24920^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24921hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24922@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24923@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24924@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24925@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24926@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24927body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24928addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24929file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24930fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
24931bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
24932enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
24933(gdb)
24934-exec-continue
24935^running
24936(gdb)
24937*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
24938value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
24939frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24940file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24941fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
24942(gdb)
24943-break-list
24944^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24945hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24946@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24947@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24948@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24949@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24950@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24951body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24952addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24953file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24954fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
24955bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
24956enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
24957(gdb)
24958-exec-continue
24959^running
24960^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
24961frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
24962value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24963file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24964fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24965(gdb)
24966-break-list
24967^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24968hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24969@{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24970@{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24971@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24972@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24973@{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24974body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24975addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24976file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24977fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
24978times="1"@}]@}
24979(gdb)
24980@end smallexample
24981
24982@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24983@node GDB/MI Program Context
24984@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
24985
24986@subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
24987@findex -exec-arguments
24988
24989
24990@subsubheading Synopsis
24991
24992@smallexample
24993 -exec-arguments @var{args}
24994@end smallexample
24995
24996Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
24997@samp{-exec-run}.
24998
24999@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25000
25001The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
25002
25003@subsubheading Example
25004
25005@smallexample
25006(gdb)
25007-exec-arguments -v word
25008^done
25009(gdb)
25010@end smallexample
25011
25012
25013@ignore
25014@subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
25015@findex -exec-show-arguments
25016
25017@subsubheading Synopsis
25018
25019@smallexample
25020 -exec-show-arguments
25021@end smallexample
25022
25023Print the arguments of the program.
25024
25025@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25026
25027The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
25028
25029@subsubheading Example
25030N.A.
25031@end ignore
25032
25033
25034@subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
25035@findex -environment-cd
25036
25037@subsubheading Synopsis
25038
25039@smallexample
25040 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
25041@end smallexample
25042
25043Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
25044
25045@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25046
25047The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
25048
25049@subsubheading Example
25050
25051@smallexample
25052(gdb)
25053-environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
25054^done
25055(gdb)
25056@end smallexample
25057
25058
25059@subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
25060@findex -environment-directory
25061
25062@subsubheading Synopsis
25063
25064@smallexample
25065 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
25066@end smallexample
25067
25068Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
25069If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
25070search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
25071@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
25072occurs as normal.
25073Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
25074multiple directories in a single command
25075results in the directories added to the beginning of the
25076search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
25077If blanks are needed as
25078part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
25079the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
25080by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
25081character must not be used
25082in any directory name.
25083If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
25084
25085@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25086
25087The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
25088
25089@subsubheading Example
25090
25091@smallexample
25092(gdb)
25093-environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
25094^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
25095(gdb)
25096-environment-directory ""
25097^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
25098(gdb)
25099-environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
25100^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
25101(gdb)
25102-environment-directory -r
25103^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
25104(gdb)
25105@end smallexample
25106
25107
25108@subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
25109@findex -environment-path
25110
25111@subsubheading Synopsis
25112
25113@smallexample
25114 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
25115@end smallexample
25116
25117Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
25118If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
25119search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
25120supplied in addition to the
25121@samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
25122occurs as normal.
25123Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
25124multiple directories in a single command
25125results in the directories added to the beginning of the
25126search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
25127If blanks are needed as
25128part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
25129the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
25130by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
25131character must not be used
25132in any directory name.
25133If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
25134
25135
25136@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25137
25138The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
25139
25140@subsubheading Example
25141
25142@smallexample
25143(gdb)
25144-environment-path
25145^done,path="/usr/bin"
25146(gdb)
25147-environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
25148^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
25149(gdb)
25150-environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
25151^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
25152(gdb)
25153@end smallexample
25154
25155
25156@subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
25157@findex -environment-pwd
25158
25159@subsubheading Synopsis
25160
25161@smallexample
25162 -environment-pwd
25163@end smallexample
25164
25165Show the current working directory.
25166
25167@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25168
25169The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
25170
25171@subsubheading Example
25172
25173@smallexample
25174(gdb)
25175-environment-pwd
25176^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
25177(gdb)
25178@end smallexample
25179
25180@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25181@node GDB/MI Thread Commands
25182@section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
25183
25184
25185@subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
25186@findex -thread-info
25187
25188@subsubheading Synopsis
25189
25190@smallexample
25191 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
25192@end smallexample
25193
25194Reports information about either a specific thread, if
25195the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
25196threads. When printing information about all threads,
25197also reports the current thread.
25198
25199@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25200
25201The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
25202about all threads.
25203
25204@subsubheading Example
25205
25206@smallexample
25207-thread-info
25208^done,threads=[
25209@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
25210 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
25211@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
25212 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
25213 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
25214current-thread-id="1"
25215(gdb)
25216@end smallexample
25217
25218The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
25219
25220@table @code
25221@item stopped
25222The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
25223threads.
25224
25225@item running
25226The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
25227threads.
25228
25229@end table
25230
25231@subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
25232@findex -thread-list-ids
25233
25234@subsubheading Synopsis
25235
25236@smallexample
25237 -thread-list-ids
25238@end smallexample
25239
25240Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
25241end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
25242
25243This command is retained for historical reasons, the
25244@code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
25245
25246@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25247
25248Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
25249
25250@subsubheading Example
25251
25252@smallexample
25253(gdb)
25254-thread-list-ids
25255^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
25256current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
25257(gdb)
25258@end smallexample
25259
25260
25261@subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
25262@findex -thread-select
25263
25264@subsubheading Synopsis
25265
25266@smallexample
25267 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
25268@end smallexample
25269
25270Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
25271current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
25272
25273This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
25274@samp{--thread} option to each command.
25275
25276@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25277
25278The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
25279
25280@subsubheading Example
25281
25282@smallexample
25283(gdb)
25284-exec-next
25285^running
25286(gdb)
25287*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
25288file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
25289(gdb)
25290-thread-list-ids
25291^done,
25292thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
25293number-of-threads="3"
25294(gdb)
25295-thread-select 3
25296^done,new-thread-id="3",
25297frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
25298args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
25299@{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
25300(gdb)
25301@end smallexample
25302
25303@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25304@node GDB/MI Program Execution
25305@section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
25306
25307These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
25308record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
25309asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
25310other cases.
25311
25312@subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
25313@findex -exec-continue
25314
25315@subsubheading Synopsis
25316
25317@smallexample
25318 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
25319@end smallexample
25320
25321Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
25322to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
25323@samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
25324it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
25325@itemize @bullet
25326@item
25327breakpoints or watchpoints
25328@item
25329signals or exceptions
25330@item
25331the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
25332@item
25333the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
25334@end itemize
25335In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
25336Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
25337value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
25338specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
25339ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
25340specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
25341
25342@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25343
25344The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
25345
25346@subsubheading Example
25347
25348@smallexample
25349-exec-continue
25350^running
25351(gdb)
25352@@Hello world
25353*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
25354func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
25355line="13"@}
25356(gdb)
25357@end smallexample
25358
25359
25360@subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
25361@findex -exec-finish
25362
25363@subsubheading Synopsis
25364
25365@smallexample
25366 -exec-finish [--reverse]
25367@end smallexample
25368
25369Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
25370function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
25371If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
25372execution of the inferior program until the point where current
25373function was called.
25374
25375@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25376
25377The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
25378
25379@subsubheading Example
25380
25381Function returning @code{void}.
25382
25383@smallexample
25384-exec-finish
25385^running
25386(gdb)
25387@@hello from foo
25388*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
25389file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
25390(gdb)
25391@end smallexample
25392
25393Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
25394@value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
25395value itself.
25396
25397@smallexample
25398-exec-finish
25399^running
25400(gdb)
25401*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
25402args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
25403file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25404gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
25405(gdb)
25406@end smallexample
25407
25408
25409@subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
25410@findex -exec-interrupt
25411
25412@subsubheading Synopsis
25413
25414@smallexample
25415 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
25416@end smallexample
25417
25418Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
25419associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
25420that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
25421appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
25422interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
25423
25424Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
25425asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
25426@samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
25427reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
25428
25429In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
25430All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
25431@samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
25432option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
25433
25434@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25435
25436The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
25437
25438@subsubheading Example
25439
25440@smallexample
25441(gdb)
25442111-exec-continue
25443111^running
25444
25445(gdb)
25446222-exec-interrupt
25447222^done
25448(gdb)
25449111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
25450frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25451fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
25452(gdb)
25453
25454(gdb)
25455-exec-interrupt
25456^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
25457(gdb)
25458@end smallexample
25459
25460@subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
25461@findex -exec-jump
25462
25463@subsubheading Synopsis
25464
25465@smallexample
25466 -exec-jump @var{location}
25467@end smallexample
25468
25469Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
25470parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
25471different forms of @var{location}.
25472
25473@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25474
25475The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
25476
25477@subsubheading Example
25478
25479@smallexample
25480-exec-jump foo.c:10
25481*running,thread-id="all"
25482^running
25483@end smallexample
25484
25485
25486@subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
25487@findex -exec-next
25488
25489@subsubheading Synopsis
25490
25491@smallexample
25492 -exec-next [--reverse]
25493@end smallexample
25494
25495Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
25496of the next source line is reached.
25497
25498If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
25499of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
25500source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
25501function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
25502source line where the function was called.
25503
25504
25505@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25506
25507The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
25508
25509@subsubheading Example
25510
25511@smallexample
25512-exec-next
25513^running
25514(gdb)
25515*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
25516(gdb)
25517@end smallexample
25518
25519
25520@subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
25521@findex -exec-next-instruction
25522
25523@subsubheading Synopsis
25524
25525@smallexample
25526 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
25527@end smallexample
25528
25529Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
25530call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
25531instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
25532printed as well.
25533
25534If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
25535of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
25536previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
25537it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
25538(from the current stack frame) is reached.
25539
25540@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25541
25542The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
25543
25544@subsubheading Example
25545
25546@smallexample
25547(gdb)
25548-exec-next-instruction
25549^running
25550
25551(gdb)
25552*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25553addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
25554(gdb)
25555@end smallexample
25556
25557
25558@subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
25559@findex -exec-return
25560
25561@subsubheading Synopsis
25562
25563@smallexample
25564 -exec-return
25565@end smallexample
25566
25567Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
25568Displays the new current frame.
25569
25570@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25571
25572The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
25573
25574@subsubheading Example
25575
25576@smallexample
25577(gdb)
25578200-break-insert callee4
25579200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
25580file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
25581(gdb)
25582000-exec-run
25583000^running
25584(gdb)
25585000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
25586frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25587file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25588fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
25589(gdb)
25590205-break-delete
25591205^done
25592(gdb)
25593111-exec-return
25594111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
25595args=[@{name="strarg",
25596value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25597file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25598fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25599(gdb)
25600@end smallexample
25601
25602
25603@subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
25604@findex -exec-run
25605
25606@subsubheading Synopsis
25607
25608@smallexample
25609 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
25610@end smallexample
25611
25612Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
25613executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
25614exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
25615the program has exited exceptionally.
25616
25617When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
25618@samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
25619group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
25620If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
25621
25622@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25623
25624The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
25625
25626@subsubheading Examples
25627
25628@smallexample
25629(gdb)
25630-break-insert main
25631^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
25632(gdb)
25633-exec-run
25634^running
25635(gdb)
25636*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
25637frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
25638fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
25639(gdb)
25640@end smallexample
25641
25642@noindent
25643Program exited normally:
25644
25645@smallexample
25646(gdb)
25647-exec-run
25648^running
25649(gdb)
25650x = 55
25651*stopped,reason="exited-normally"
25652(gdb)
25653@end smallexample
25654
25655@noindent
25656Program exited exceptionally:
25657
25658@smallexample
25659(gdb)
25660-exec-run
25661^running
25662(gdb)
25663x = 55
25664*stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
25665(gdb)
25666@end smallexample
25667
25668Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
25669@code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
25670
25671@smallexample
25672(gdb)
25673*stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
25674signal-meaning="Interrupt"
25675@end smallexample
25676
25677
25678@c @subheading -exec-signal
25679
25680
25681@subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
25682@findex -exec-step
25683
25684@subsubheading Synopsis
25685
25686@smallexample
25687 -exec-step [--reverse]
25688@end smallexample
25689
25690Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
25691of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
25692function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
25693function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
25694execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
25695previously executed source line.
25696
25697@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25698
25699The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
25700
25701@subsubheading Example
25702
25703Stepping into a function:
25704
25705@smallexample
25706-exec-step
25707^running
25708(gdb)
25709*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25710frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
25711@{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
25712fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
25713(gdb)
25714@end smallexample
25715
25716Regular stepping:
25717
25718@smallexample
25719-exec-step
25720^running
25721(gdb)
25722*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
25723(gdb)
25724@end smallexample
25725
25726
25727@subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
25728@findex -exec-step-instruction
25729
25730@subsubheading Synopsis
25731
25732@smallexample
25733 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
25734@end smallexample
25735
25736Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
25737@samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
25738inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
25739The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
25740whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
25741former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
25742as well.
25743
25744@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25745
25746The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
25747
25748@subsubheading Example
25749
25750@smallexample
25751(gdb)
25752-exec-step-instruction
25753^running
25754
25755(gdb)
25756*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25757frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25758fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
25759(gdb)
25760-exec-step-instruction
25761^running
25762
25763(gdb)
25764*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25765frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25766fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
25767(gdb)
25768@end smallexample
25769
25770
25771@subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
25772@findex -exec-until
25773
25774@subsubheading Synopsis
25775
25776@smallexample
25777 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
25778@end smallexample
25779
25780Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
25781argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
25782until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
25783reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
25784
25785@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25786
25787The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
25788
25789@subsubheading Example
25790
25791@smallexample
25792(gdb)
25793-exec-until recursive2.c:6
25794^running
25795(gdb)
25796x = 55
25797*stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
25798file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
25799(gdb)
25800@end smallexample
25801
25802@ignore
25803@subheading -file-clear
25804Is this going away????
25805@end ignore
25806
25807@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25808@node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
25809@section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
25810
25811
25812@subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
25813@findex -stack-info-frame
25814
25815@subsubheading Synopsis
25816
25817@smallexample
25818 -stack-info-frame
25819@end smallexample
25820
25821Get info on the selected frame.
25822
25823@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25824
25825The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
25826(without arguments).
25827
25828@subsubheading Example
25829
25830@smallexample
25831(gdb)
25832-stack-info-frame
25833^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
25834file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25835fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
25836(gdb)
25837@end smallexample
25838
25839@subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
25840@findex -stack-info-depth
25841
25842@subsubheading Synopsis
25843
25844@smallexample
25845 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
25846@end smallexample
25847
25848Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
25849is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
25850
25851@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25852
25853There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
25854
25855@subsubheading Example
25856
25857For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
25858
25859@smallexample
25860(gdb)
25861-stack-info-depth
25862^done,depth="12"
25863(gdb)
25864-stack-info-depth 4
25865^done,depth="4"
25866(gdb)
25867-stack-info-depth 12
25868^done,depth="12"
25869(gdb)
25870-stack-info-depth 11
25871^done,depth="11"
25872(gdb)
25873-stack-info-depth 13
25874^done,depth="12"
25875(gdb)
25876@end smallexample
25877
25878@subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
25879@findex -stack-list-arguments
25880
25881@subsubheading Synopsis
25882
25883@smallexample
25884 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
25885 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
25886@end smallexample
25887
25888Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
25889and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
25890@var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
25891call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
25892at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
25893larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
25894@var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
25895which case only existing frames will be returned.
25896
25897If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25898the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25899values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25900type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25901structures and unions.
25902
25903Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
25904deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
25905
25906@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25907
25908@value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
25909@samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
25910functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
25911
25912@subsubheading Example
25913
25914@smallexample
25915(gdb)
25916-stack-list-frames
25917^done,
25918stack=[
25919frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25920file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25921fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
25922frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
25923file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25924fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
25925frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
25926file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25927fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
25928frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
25929file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25930fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
25931frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
25932file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25933fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
25934(gdb)
25935-stack-list-arguments 0
25936^done,
25937stack-args=[
25938frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
25939frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
25940frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
25941frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
25942frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
25943(gdb)
25944-stack-list-arguments 1
25945^done,
25946stack-args=[
25947frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
25948frame=@{level="1",
25949 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
25950frame=@{level="2",args=[
25951@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25952@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
25953@{frame=@{level="3",args=[
25954@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25955@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
25956@{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
25957frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
25958(gdb)
25959-stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
25960^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
25961(gdb)
25962-stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
25963^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
25964args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25965@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
25966(gdb)
25967@end smallexample
25968
25969@c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
25970
25971
25972@subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
25973@findex -stack-list-frames
25974
25975@subsubheading Synopsis
25976
25977@smallexample
25978 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
25979@end smallexample
25980
25981List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
25982following info:
25983
25984@table @samp
25985@item @var{level}
25986The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
25987@item @var{addr}
25988The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
25989@item @var{func}
25990Function name.
25991@item @var{file}
25992File name of the source file where the function lives.
25993@item @var{line}
25994Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
25995@end table
25996
25997If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
25998whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
25999levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
26000are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
26001an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
26002frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
26003actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
26004
26005@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26006
26007The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
26008
26009@subsubheading Example
26010
26011Full stack backtrace:
26012
26013@smallexample
26014(gdb)
26015-stack-list-frames
26016^done,stack=
26017[frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
26018 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
26019frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26020 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26021frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26022 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26023frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26024 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26025frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26026 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26027frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26028 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26029frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26030 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26031frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26032 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26033frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26034 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26035frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26036 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26037frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26038 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26039frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
26040 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
26041(gdb)
26042@end smallexample
26043
26044Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
26045
26046@smallexample
26047(gdb)
26048-stack-list-frames 3 5
26049^done,stack=
26050[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26051 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26052frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26053 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
26054frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26055 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
26056(gdb)
26057@end smallexample
26058
26059Show a single frame:
26060
26061@smallexample
26062(gdb)
26063-stack-list-frames 3 3
26064^done,stack=
26065[frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
26066 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
26067(gdb)
26068@end smallexample
26069
26070
26071@subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
26072@findex -stack-list-locals
26073
26074@subsubheading Synopsis
26075
26076@smallexample
26077 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
26078@end smallexample
26079
26080Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
26081@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26082the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26083values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26084type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26085structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
26086display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
26087other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
26088more detail.
26089
26090This command is deprecated in favor of the
26091@samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
26092
26093@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26094
26095@samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
26096
26097@subsubheading Example
26098
26099@smallexample
26100(gdb)
26101-stack-list-locals 0
26102^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
26103(gdb)
26104-stack-list-locals --all-values
26105^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
26106 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
26107-stack-list-locals --simple-values
26108^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
26109 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
26110(gdb)
26111@end smallexample
26112
26113@subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
26114@findex -stack-list-variables
26115
26116@subsubheading Synopsis
26117
26118@smallexample
26119 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
26120@end smallexample
26121
26122Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
26123@var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
26124the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
26125values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
26126type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
26127structures and unions.
26128
26129@subsubheading Example
26130
26131@smallexample
26132(gdb)
26133-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
26134^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
26135(gdb)
26136@end smallexample
26137
26138
26139@subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
26140@findex -stack-select-frame
26141
26142@subsubheading Synopsis
26143
26144@smallexample
26145 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
26146@end smallexample
26147
26148Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
26149the stack.
26150
26151This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
26152option to every command.
26153
26154@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26155
26156The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
26157@samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
26158
26159@subsubheading Example
26160
26161@smallexample
26162(gdb)
26163-stack-select-frame 2
26164^done
26165(gdb)
26166@end smallexample
26167
26168@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26169@node GDB/MI Variable Objects
26170@section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
26171
26172@ignore
26173
26174@subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
26175
26176For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
26177expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
26178used by @code{Insight}.
26179
26180The two main reasons for that are:
26181
26182@enumerate 1
26183@item
26184It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
26185
26186@item
26187It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
26188now).
26189@end enumerate
26190
26191The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
26192slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
26193describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
26194hints about their use.
26195
26196@emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
26197expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
26198least, the following operations:
26199
26200@itemize @bullet
26201@item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
26202@item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
26203@item @code{-stack-list-locals}
26204@item @code{-stack-select-frame}
26205@end itemize
26206
26207@end ignore
26208
26209@subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
26210
26211@cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
26212
26213Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
26214changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
26215work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
26216simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
26217is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
26218frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
26219expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
26220expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
26221variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
26222operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
26223object, or to change display format.
26224
26225Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
26226that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
26227a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
26228element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
26229children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
26230leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
26231objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
26232is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
26233child will be created.
26234
26235For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
26236string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
26237obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
26238that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
26239contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
26240
26241A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
26242the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
26243variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
26244operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
26245be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
26246objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
26247real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
26248variables that frontend has created.
26249
26250The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
26251might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
26252and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
26253relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
26254to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
26255visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
26256called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
26257implicitly updated.
26258
26259Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
26260fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
26261object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
26262variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
26263variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
26264expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
26265frame. Consider this example:
26266
26267@smallexample
26268void do_work(...)
26269@{
26270 struct work_state state;
26271
26272 if (...)
26273 do_work(...);
26274@}
26275@end smallexample
26276
26277If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
26278this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
26279object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
26280@code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
26281object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
26282
26283If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
26284refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
26285thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
26286variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
26287thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
26288and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
26289
26290The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
26291access this functionality:
26292
26293@multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
26294@item @strong{Operation}
26295@tab @strong{Description}
26296
26297@item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
26298@tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
26299@item @code{-var-create}
26300@tab create a variable object
26301@item @code{-var-delete}
26302@tab delete the variable object and/or its children
26303@item @code{-var-set-format}
26304@tab set the display format of this variable
26305@item @code{-var-show-format}
26306@tab show the display format of this variable
26307@item @code{-var-info-num-children}
26308@tab tells how many children this object has
26309@item @code{-var-list-children}
26310@tab return a list of the object's children
26311@item @code{-var-info-type}
26312@tab show the type of this variable object
26313@item @code{-var-info-expression}
26314@tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
26315@item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
26316@tab print full expression that this variable object represents
26317@item @code{-var-show-attributes}
26318@tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
26319@item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
26320@tab get the value of this variable
26321@item @code{-var-assign}
26322@tab set the value of this variable
26323@item @code{-var-update}
26324@tab update the variable and its children
26325@item @code{-var-set-frozen}
26326@tab set frozeness attribute
26327@item @code{-var-set-update-range}
26328@tab set range of children to display on update
26329@end multitable
26330
26331In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
26332how it can be used.
26333
26334@subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
26335
26336@subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
26337@findex -enable-pretty-printing
26338
26339@smallexample
26340-enable-pretty-printing
26341@end smallexample
26342
26343@value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
26344MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
26345implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
26346request that this functionality be enabled.
26347
26348Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
26349
26350Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
26351this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
26352
26353This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
26354may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
26355
26356@subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
26357@findex -var-create
26358
26359@subsubheading Synopsis
26360
26361@smallexample
26362 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
26363 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
26364@end smallexample
26365
26366This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
26367a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
26368register.
26369
26370The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
26371referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
26372system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
26373unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
26374The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
26375
26376The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
26377specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
26378frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
26379object must be created.
26380
26381@var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
26382begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
26383
26384@itemize @bullet
26385@item
26386@samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
26387
26388@item
26389@samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
26390
26391@item
26392@samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
26393@end itemize
26394
26395@cindex dynamic varobj
26396A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
26397case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
26398have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
26399@code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
26400will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
26401compatibility for existing clients.
26402
26403@subsubheading Result
26404
26405This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
26406are:
26407
26408@table @samp
26409@item name
26410The name of the varobj.
26411
26412@item numchild
26413The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
26414reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
26415@samp{has_more} attribute.
26416
26417@item value
26418The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
26419aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
26420will not be interesting.
26421
26422@item type
26423The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
26424would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
26425
26426@item thread-id
26427If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
26428thread's identifier.
26429
26430@item has_more
26431For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
26432children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
26433
26434@item dynamic
26435This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
26436varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
26437then this attribute will not be present.
26438
26439@item displayhint
26440A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
26441value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
26442@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
26443@end table
26444
26445Typical output will look like this:
26446
26447@smallexample
26448 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
26449 has_more="@var{has_more}"
26450@end smallexample
26451
26452
26453@subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
26454@findex -var-delete
26455
26456@subsubheading Synopsis
26457
26458@smallexample
26459 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
26460@end smallexample
26461
26462Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
26463With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
26464
26465Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
26466
26467
26468@subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
26469@findex -var-set-format
26470
26471@subsubheading Synopsis
26472
26473@smallexample
26474 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
26475@end smallexample
26476
26477Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
26478@var{format-spec}.
26479
26480@anchor{-var-set-format}
26481The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
26482
26483@smallexample
26484 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
26485 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
26486@end smallexample
26487
26488The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
26489based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
26490for pointers, etc.).
26491
26492For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
26493variable itself, and the children are not affected.
26494
26495@subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
26496@findex -var-show-format
26497
26498@subsubheading Synopsis
26499
26500@smallexample
26501 -var-show-format @var{name}
26502@end smallexample
26503
26504Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
26505
26506@smallexample
26507 @var{format} @expansion{}
26508 @var{format-spec}
26509@end smallexample
26510
26511
26512@subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
26513@findex -var-info-num-children
26514
26515@subsubheading Synopsis
26516
26517@smallexample
26518 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
26519@end smallexample
26520
26521Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
26522
26523@smallexample
26524 numchild=@var{n}
26525@end smallexample
26526
26527Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
26528It will return the current number of children, but more children may
26529be available.
26530
26531
26532@subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
26533@findex -var-list-children
26534
26535@subsubheading Synopsis
26536
26537@smallexample
26538 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
26539@end smallexample
26540@anchor{-var-list-children}
26541
26542Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
26543create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
26544a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
26545@code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
26546@var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
26547values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
26548value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
26549and unions.
26550
26551@var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
26552to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
26553reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
26554at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
26555reported.
26556
26557If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
26558@code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
26559For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
26560intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
26561update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
26562front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
26563then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
26564different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
26565the visible items.
26566
26567For each child the following results are returned:
26568
26569@table @var
26570
26571@item name
26572Name of the variable object created for this child.
26573
26574@item exp
26575The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
26576For example this may be the name of a structure member.
26577
26578For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
26579expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
26580
26581For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
26582designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
26583@samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
26584type and value are not present.
26585
26586A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
26587pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
26588available at all with a dynamic varobj.
26589
26590@item numchild
26591Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
265920.
26593
26594@item type
26595The type of the child.
26596
26597@item value
26598If values were requested, this is the value.
26599
26600@item thread-id
26601If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
26602Otherwise this result is not present.
26603
26604@item frozen
26605If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
26606@end table
26607
26608The result may have its own attributes:
26609
26610@table @samp
26611@item displayhint
26612A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
26613value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
26614@code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
26615
26616@item has_more
26617This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
26618remaining after the end of the selected range.
26619@end table
26620
26621@subsubheading Example
26622
26623@smallexample
26624(gdb)
26625 -var-list-children n
26626 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
26627 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
26628(gdb)
26629 -var-list-children --all-values n
26630 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
26631 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
26632@end smallexample
26633
26634
26635@subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
26636@findex -var-info-type
26637
26638@subsubheading Synopsis
26639
26640@smallexample
26641 -var-info-type @var{name}
26642@end smallexample
26643
26644Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
26645returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
26646@value{GDBN} CLI:
26647
26648@smallexample
26649 type=@var{typename}
26650@end smallexample
26651
26652
26653@subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
26654@findex -var-info-expression
26655
26656@subsubheading Synopsis
26657
26658@smallexample
26659 -var-info-expression @var{name}
26660@end smallexample
26661
26662Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
26663variable object in user interface. The string is generally
26664not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
26665
26666For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
26667@code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
26668
26669@smallexample
26670(gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
26671^done,lang="C",exp="1"
26672@end smallexample
26673
26674@noindent
26675Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
26676
26677Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
26678includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
26679is of limited use.
26680
26681@subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
26682@findex -var-info-path-expression
26683
26684@subsubheading Synopsis
26685
26686@smallexample
26687 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
26688@end smallexample
26689
26690Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
26691context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
26692Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
26693result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
26694the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
26695watchpoint from a variable object.
26696
26697This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
26698and will give an error when invoked on one.
26699
26700For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
26701@code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
26702@code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
26703@code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
26704@code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
26705@smallexample
26706(gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
26707^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
26708@end smallexample
26709
26710@subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
26711@findex -var-show-attributes
26712
26713@subsubheading Synopsis
26714
26715@smallexample
26716 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
26717@end smallexample
26718
26719List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
26720
26721@smallexample
26722 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
26723@end smallexample
26724
26725@noindent
26726where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
26727
26728@subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
26729@findex -var-evaluate-expression
26730
26731@subsubheading Synopsis
26732
26733@smallexample
26734 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
26735@end smallexample
26736
26737Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
26738object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
26739can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
26740this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
26741(@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
26742the current display format will be used. The current display format
26743can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
26744
26745@smallexample
26746 value=@var{value}
26747@end smallexample
26748
26749Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
26750before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
26751
26752@subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
26753@findex -var-assign
26754
26755@subsubheading Synopsis
26756
26757@smallexample
26758 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
26759@end smallexample
26760
26761Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
26762by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
26763value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
26764subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
26765
26766@subsubheading Example
26767
26768@smallexample
26769(gdb)
26770-var-assign var1 3
26771^done,value="3"
26772(gdb)
26773-var-update *
26774^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
26775(gdb)
26776@end smallexample
26777
26778@subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
26779@findex -var-update
26780
26781@subsubheading Synopsis
26782
26783@smallexample
26784 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
26785@end smallexample
26786
26787Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
26788@var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
26789list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
26790be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
26791@code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
26792@code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
26793object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
26794for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
26795@var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
26796names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
26797as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
26798recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
26799number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
26800
26801With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
26802currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
26803diagnostic.
26804
26805If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
26806only the selected range of children will be reported.
26807
26808@code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
26809@samp{changelist}.
26810
26811Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
26812
26813@table @samp
26814@item name
26815The name of the varobj.
26816
26817@item value
26818If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
26819present and will hold the value of the varobj.
26820
26821@item in_scope
26822@anchor{-var-update}
26823This field is a string which may take one of three values:
26824
26825@table @code
26826@item "true"
26827The variable object's current value is valid.
26828
26829@item "false"
26830The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
26831hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
26832scope.
26833
26834@item "invalid"
26835The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
26836This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
26837either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
26838command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
26839objects.
26840@end table
26841
26842In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
26843be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
26844
26845@item type_changed
26846This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
26847changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
26848be @samp{false}.
26849
26850@item new_type
26851If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
26852hold the new type.
26853
26854@item new_num_children
26855For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
26856type changed, this will be the new number of children.
26857
26858The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
26859valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
26860@value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
26861instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
26862children which may be available.
26863
26864The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
26865number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
26866detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
26867only happen at the end of the update range).
26868
26869@item displayhint
26870The display hint, if any.
26871
26872@item has_more
26873This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
26874available outside the varobj's update range.
26875
26876@item dynamic
26877This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
26878varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
26879then this attribute will not be present.
26880
26881@item new_children
26882If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
26883update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
26884be listed in this attribute.
26885@end table
26886
26887@subsubheading Example
26888
26889@smallexample
26890(gdb)
26891-var-assign var1 3
26892^done,value="3"
26893(gdb)
26894-var-update --all-values var1
26895^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
26896type_changed="false"@}]
26897(gdb)
26898@end smallexample
26899
26900@subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
26901@findex -var-set-frozen
26902@anchor{-var-set-frozen}
26903
26904@subsubheading Synopsis
26905
26906@smallexample
26907 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
26908@end smallexample
26909
26910Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
26911@var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
26912frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
26913frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
26914implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
26915a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
26916@code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
26917values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
26918implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
26919Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
26920@code{-var-update} does.
26921
26922@subsubheading Example
26923
26924@smallexample
26925(gdb)
26926-var-set-frozen V 1
26927^done
26928(gdb)
26929@end smallexample
26930
26931@subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
26932@findex -var-set-update-range
26933@anchor{-var-set-update-range}
26934
26935@subsubheading Synopsis
26936
26937@smallexample
26938 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
26939@end smallexample
26940
26941Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
26942@code{-var-update}.
26943
26944@var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
26945@var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
26946children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
26947(zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
26948
26949@subsubheading Example
26950
26951@smallexample
26952(gdb)
26953-var-set-update-range V 1 2
26954^done
26955@end smallexample
26956
26957@subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
26958@findex -var-set-visualizer
26959@anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
26960
26961@subsubheading Synopsis
26962
26963@smallexample
26964 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
26965@end smallexample
26966
26967Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
26968
26969@var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
26970@samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
26971
26972If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
26973This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
26974single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
26975the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
26976Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
26977When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
26978pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
26979
26980The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
26981select a visualizer by following the built-in process
26982(@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
26983a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
26984
26985This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
26986command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
26987can be used to check this.
26988
26989@subsubheading Example
26990
26991Resetting the visualizer:
26992
26993@smallexample
26994(gdb)
26995-var-set-visualizer V None
26996^done
26997@end smallexample
26998
26999Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
27000
27001@smallexample
27002(gdb)
27003-var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
27004^done
27005@end smallexample
27006
27007Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
27008can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
27009
27010@smallexample
27011(gdb)
27012-var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
27013^done
27014@end smallexample
27015
27016@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27017@node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
27018@section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
27019
27020@cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
27021@cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
27022This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
27023examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
27024
27025@c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
27026@c @subheading -data-assign
27027@c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
27028@c @subsubheading GDB Command
27029@c set variable
27030@c @subsubheading Example
27031@c N.A.
27032
27033@subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
27034@findex -data-disassemble
27035
27036@subsubheading Synopsis
27037
27038@smallexample
27039 -data-disassemble
27040 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
27041 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
27042 -- @var{mode}
27043@end smallexample
27044
27045@noindent
27046Where:
27047
27048@table @samp
27049@item @var{start-addr}
27050is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
27051@item @var{end-addr}
27052is the end address
27053@item @var{filename}
27054is the name of the file to disassemble
27055@item @var{linenum}
27056is the line number to disassemble around
27057@item @var{lines}
27058is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
27059the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
27060specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
27061@var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
27062@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
27063displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
27064@var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
27065are displayed.
27066@item @var{mode}
27067is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
27068disassembly).
27069@end table
27070
27071@subsubheading Result
27072
27073The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
27074
27075@itemize @bullet
27076@item Address
27077@item Func-name
27078@item Offset
27079@item Instruction
27080@end itemize
27081
27082Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
27083directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
27084
27085@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27086
27087There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
27088
27089@subsubheading Example
27090
27091Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
27092
27093@smallexample
27094(gdb)
27095-data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
27096^done,
27097asm_insns=[
27098@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27099inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27100@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27101inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27102@{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
27103inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
27104@{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
27105inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27106@{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
27107inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
27108(gdb)
27109@end smallexample
27110
27111Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
27112@code{main}.
27113
27114@smallexample
27115-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
27116^done,asm_insns=[
27117@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27118inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
27119@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27120inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27121@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27122inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
27123[@dots{}]
27124@{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
27125@{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
27126(gdb)
27127@end smallexample
27128
27129Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
27130
27131@smallexample
27132(gdb)
27133-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
27134^done,asm_insns=[
27135@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27136inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
27137@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27138inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27139@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27140inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
27141(gdb)
27142@end smallexample
27143
27144Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
27145
27146@smallexample
27147(gdb)
27148-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
27149^done,asm_insns=[
27150src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
27151file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
27152 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
27153@{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
27154inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
27155src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
27156file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
27157 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
27158@{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
27159inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
27160@{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
27161inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
27162(gdb)
27163@end smallexample
27164
27165
27166@subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
27167@findex -data-evaluate-expression
27168
27169@subsubheading Synopsis
27170
27171@smallexample
27172 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
27173@end smallexample
27174
27175Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
27176inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
27177If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
27178
27179@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27180
27181The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
27182@samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
27183@samp{gdb_eval} command.
27184
27185@subsubheading Example
27186
27187In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
27188@dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
27189Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
27190output.
27191
27192@smallexample
27193211-data-evaluate-expression A
27194211^done,value="1"
27195(gdb)
27196311-data-evaluate-expression &A
27197311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
27198(gdb)
27199411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
27200411^done,value="4"
27201(gdb)
27202511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
27203511^done,value="4"
27204(gdb)
27205@end smallexample
27206
27207
27208@subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
27209@findex -data-list-changed-registers
27210
27211@subsubheading Synopsis
27212
27213@smallexample
27214 -data-list-changed-registers
27215@end smallexample
27216
27217Display a list of the registers that have changed.
27218
27219@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27220
27221@value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
27222has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
27223
27224@subsubheading Example
27225
27226On a PPC MBX board:
27227
27228@smallexample
27229(gdb)
27230-exec-continue
27231^running
27232
27233(gdb)
27234*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
27235func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
27236line="5"@}
27237(gdb)
27238-data-list-changed-registers
27239^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
27240"10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
27241"24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
27242(gdb)
27243@end smallexample
27244
27245
27246@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
27247@findex -data-list-register-names
27248
27249@subsubheading Synopsis
27250
27251@smallexample
27252 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
27253@end smallexample
27254
27255Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
27256are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
27257integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
27258names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
27259consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
27260include empty register names.
27261
27262@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27263
27264@value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
27265@samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
27266corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
27267
27268@subsubheading Example
27269
27270For the PPC MBX board:
27271@smallexample
27272(gdb)
27273-data-list-register-names
27274^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
27275"r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
27276"r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
27277"r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
27278"f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
27279"f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
27280"", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
27281(gdb)
27282-data-list-register-names 1 2 3
27283^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
27284(gdb)
27285@end smallexample
27286
27287@subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
27288@findex -data-list-register-values
27289
27290@subsubheading Synopsis
27291
27292@smallexample
27293 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
27294@end smallexample
27295
27296Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
27297which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
27298list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
27299numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
27300
27301Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
27302
27303@table @code
27304@item x
27305Hexadecimal
27306@item o
27307Octal
27308@item t
27309Binary
27310@item d
27311Decimal
27312@item r
27313Raw
27314@item N
27315Natural
27316@end table
27317
27318@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27319
27320The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
27321all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
27322
27323@subsubheading Example
27324
27325For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
27326don't appear in the actual output):
27327
27328@smallexample
27329(gdb)
27330-data-list-register-values r 64 65
27331^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
27332@{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
27333(gdb)
27334-data-list-register-values x
27335^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
27336@{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
27337@{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
27338@{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
27339@{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
27340@{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
27341@{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
27342@{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
27343@{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
27344@{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
27345@{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
27346@{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
27347@{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
27348@{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
27349@{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
27350@{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
27351@{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
27352@{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
27353@{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
27354@{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
27355@{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
27356@{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
27357@{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
27358@{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
27359@{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
27360@{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
27361@{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
27362@{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
27363@{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
27364@{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
27365@{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
27366@{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
27367@{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
27368@{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
27369@{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
27370@{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
27371(gdb)
27372@end smallexample
27373
27374
27375@subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
27376@findex -data-read-memory
27377
27378@subsubheading Synopsis
27379
27380@smallexample
27381 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
27382 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
27383 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
27384@end smallexample
27385
27386@noindent
27387where:
27388
27389@table @samp
27390@item @var{address}
27391An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
27392read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
27393quoted using the C convention.
27394
27395@item @var{word-format}
27396The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
27397same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
27398,Output Formats}).
27399
27400@item @var{word-size}
27401The size of each memory word in bytes.
27402
27403@item @var{nr-rows}
27404The number of rows in the output table.
27405
27406@item @var{nr-cols}
27407The number of columns in the output table.
27408
27409@item @var{aschar}
27410If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
27411value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
27412member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
27413characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
27414
27415@item @var{byte-offset}
27416An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
27417@end table
27418
27419This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
27420@var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
27421@code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
27422(returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
27423of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
27424using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
27425in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
27426@samp{addr}.
27427
27428The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
27429@samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
27430@samp{prev-page}.
27431
27432@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27433
27434The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
27435@samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
27436
27437@subsubheading Example
27438
27439Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
27440@code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
27441word. Display each word in hex.
27442
27443@smallexample
27444(gdb)
274459-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
274469^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
27447next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
27448prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
27449@{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
27450@{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
27451@{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
27452(gdb)
27453@end smallexample
27454
27455Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
27456display as a single word formatted in decimal.
27457
27458@smallexample
27459(gdb)
274605-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
274615^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
27462next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
27463next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
27464@{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
27465(gdb)
27466@end smallexample
27467
27468Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
27469as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
27470used as the non-printable character.
27471
27472@smallexample
27473(gdb)
274744-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
274754^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
27476next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
27477next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
27478@{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
27479@{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
27480@{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
27481@{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
27482@{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
27483@{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
27484@{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
27485@{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
27486(gdb)
27487@end smallexample
27488
27489@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27490@node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
27491@section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
27492
27493The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
27494tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
27495
27496@subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
27497@findex -trace-find
27498
27499@subsubheading Synopsis
27500
27501@smallexample
27502 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
27503@end smallexample
27504
27505Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
27506@var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
27507modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
27508
27509@table @samp
27510
27511@item none
27512No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
27513
27514@item frame-number
27515An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
27516that index.
27517
27518@item tracepoint-number
27519An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
27520trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
27521
27522@item pc
27523An address is required as parameter. Finds
27524next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
27525address.
27526
27527@item pc-inside-range
27528Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
27529frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
27530specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
27531
27532@item pc-outside-range
27533Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
27534next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
27535the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
27536
27537@item line
27538Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
27539Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
27540the specified location.
27541
27542@end table
27543
27544If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
27545have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
27546
27547@table @samp
27548@item found
27549This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
27550on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
27551
27552@item traceframe
27553The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
27554the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
27555
27556@item tracepoint
27557The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
27558the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
27559
27560@item frame
27561The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
27562frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
27563@xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
27564
27565@end table
27566
27567@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27568
27569The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
27570
27571@subheading -trace-define-variable
27572@findex -trace-define-variable
27573
27574@subsubheading Synopsis
27575
27576@smallexample
27577 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
27578@end smallexample
27579
27580Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
27581@var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
27582trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
27583with the @samp{$} character.
27584
27585@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27586
27587The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
27588
27589@subheading -trace-list-variables
27590@findex -trace-list-variables
27591
27592@subsubheading Synopsis
27593
27594@smallexample
27595 -trace-list-variables
27596@end smallexample
27597
27598Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
27599table has the following fields:
27600
27601@table @samp
27602@item name
27603The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
27604
27605@item initial
27606The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
27607field is always present.
27608
27609@item current
27610The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
27611signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
27612not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
27613presently running.
27614
27615@end table
27616
27617@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27618
27619The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
27620
27621@subsubheading Example
27622
27623@smallexample
27624(gdb)
27625-trace-list-variables
27626^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
27627hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
27628 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
27629 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
27630body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
27631 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
27632(gdb)
27633@end smallexample
27634
27635@subheading -trace-save
27636@findex -trace-save
27637
27638@subsubheading Synopsis
27639
27640@smallexample
27641 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
27642@end smallexample
27643
27644Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
27645@samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
27646in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
27647to perform the save.
27648
27649@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27650
27651The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
27652
27653
27654@subheading -trace-start
27655@findex -trace-start
27656
27657@subsubheading Synopsis
27658
27659@smallexample
27660 -trace-start
27661@end smallexample
27662
27663Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
27664have any fields.
27665
27666@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27667
27668The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
27669
27670@subheading -trace-status
27671@findex -trace-status
27672
27673@subsubheading Synopsis
27674
27675@smallexample
27676 -trace-status
27677@end smallexample
27678
27679Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
27680the following fields:
27681
27682@table @samp
27683
27684@item supported
27685May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
27686supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
27687@samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
27688of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
27689started. This field is always present.
27690
27691@item running
27692May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
27693tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
27694if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
27695
27696@item stop-reason
27697Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
27698may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
27699value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
27700the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
27701the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
27702tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
27703The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
27704tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
27705This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
27706
27707@item stopping-tracepoint
27708The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
27709present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
27710@samp{passcount}.
27711
27712@item frames
27713@itemx frames-created
27714The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
27715in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
27716during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
27717circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
27718
27719@item buffer-size
27720@itemx buffer-free
27721These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
27722remaining space. These fields are optional.
27723
27724@item circular
27725The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
27726trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
27727necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
27728and may fill up.
27729
27730@item disconnected
27731The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
27732tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
27733that the trace run will stop.
27734
27735@end table
27736
27737@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27738
27739The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
27740
27741@subheading -trace-stop
27742@findex -trace-stop
27743
27744@subsubheading Synopsis
27745
27746@smallexample
27747 -trace-stop
27748@end smallexample
27749
27750Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
27751fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
27752@samp{running} fields are not output.
27753
27754@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27755
27756The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
27757
27758
27759@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27760@node GDB/MI Symbol Query
27761@section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
27762
27763
27764@ignore
27765@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
27766@findex -symbol-info-address
27767
27768@subsubheading Synopsis
27769
27770@smallexample
27771 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
27772@end smallexample
27773
27774Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
27775
27776@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27777
27778The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
27779
27780@subsubheading Example
27781N.A.
27782
27783
27784@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
27785@findex -symbol-info-file
27786
27787@subsubheading Synopsis
27788
27789@smallexample
27790 -symbol-info-file
27791@end smallexample
27792
27793Show the file for the symbol.
27794
27795@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27796
27797There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
27798@samp{gdb_find_file}.
27799
27800@subsubheading Example
27801N.A.
27802
27803
27804@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
27805@findex -symbol-info-function
27806
27807@subsubheading Synopsis
27808
27809@smallexample
27810 -symbol-info-function
27811@end smallexample
27812
27813Show which function the symbol lives in.
27814
27815@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27816
27817@samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
27818
27819@subsubheading Example
27820N.A.
27821
27822
27823@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
27824@findex -symbol-info-line
27825
27826@subsubheading Synopsis
27827
27828@smallexample
27829 -symbol-info-line
27830@end smallexample
27831
27832Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
27833
27834@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27835
27836The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
27837@code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
27838
27839@subsubheading Example
27840N.A.
27841
27842
27843@subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
27844@findex -symbol-info-symbol
27845
27846@subsubheading Synopsis
27847
27848@smallexample
27849 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
27850@end smallexample
27851
27852Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
27853
27854@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27855
27856The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
27857
27858@subsubheading Example
27859N.A.
27860
27861
27862@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
27863@findex -symbol-list-functions
27864
27865@subsubheading Synopsis
27866
27867@smallexample
27868 -symbol-list-functions
27869@end smallexample
27870
27871List the functions in the executable.
27872
27873@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27874
27875@samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
27876@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27877
27878@subsubheading Example
27879N.A.
27880@end ignore
27881
27882
27883@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
27884@findex -symbol-list-lines
27885
27886@subsubheading Synopsis
27887
27888@smallexample
27889 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
27890@end smallexample
27891
27892Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
27893addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
27894ascending PC order.
27895
27896@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27897
27898There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
27899
27900@subsubheading Example
27901@smallexample
27902(gdb)
27903-symbol-list-lines basics.c
27904^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
27905(gdb)
27906@end smallexample
27907
27908
27909@ignore
27910@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
27911@findex -symbol-list-types
27912
27913@subsubheading Synopsis
27914
27915@smallexample
27916 -symbol-list-types
27917@end smallexample
27918
27919List all the type names.
27920
27921@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27922
27923The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
27924@samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27925
27926@subsubheading Example
27927N.A.
27928
27929
27930@subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
27931@findex -symbol-list-variables
27932
27933@subsubheading Synopsis
27934
27935@smallexample
27936 -symbol-list-variables
27937@end smallexample
27938
27939List all the global and static variable names.
27940
27941@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27942
27943@samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27944
27945@subsubheading Example
27946N.A.
27947
27948
27949@subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
27950@findex -symbol-locate
27951
27952@subsubheading Synopsis
27953
27954@smallexample
27955 -symbol-locate
27956@end smallexample
27957
27958@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27959
27960@samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
27961
27962@subsubheading Example
27963N.A.
27964
27965
27966@subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
27967@findex -symbol-type
27968
27969@subsubheading Synopsis
27970
27971@smallexample
27972 -symbol-type @var{variable}
27973@end smallexample
27974
27975Show type of @var{variable}.
27976
27977@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27978
27979The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
27980@samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
27981
27982@subsubheading Example
27983N.A.
27984@end ignore
27985
27986
27987@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27988@node GDB/MI File Commands
27989@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
27990
27991This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
27992and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
27993
27994@subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
27995@findex -file-exec-and-symbols
27996
27997@subsubheading Synopsis
27998
27999@smallexample
28000 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
28001@end smallexample
28002
28003Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
28004which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
28005command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
28006are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
28007error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
28008notification.
28009
28010@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28011
28012The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
28013
28014@subsubheading Example
28015
28016@smallexample
28017(gdb)
28018-file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28019^done
28020(gdb)
28021@end smallexample
28022
28023
28024@subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
28025@findex -file-exec-file
28026
28027@subsubheading Synopsis
28028
28029@smallexample
28030 -file-exec-file @var{file}
28031@end smallexample
28032
28033Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
28034@samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
28035from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
28036about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
28037notification.
28038
28039@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28040
28041The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
28042
28043@subsubheading Example
28044
28045@smallexample
28046(gdb)
28047-file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28048^done
28049(gdb)
28050@end smallexample
28051
28052
28053@ignore
28054@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
28055@findex -file-list-exec-sections
28056
28057@subsubheading Synopsis
28058
28059@smallexample
28060 -file-list-exec-sections
28061@end smallexample
28062
28063List the sections of the current executable file.
28064
28065@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28066
28067The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
28068information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
28069@samp{gdb_load_info}.
28070
28071@subsubheading Example
28072N.A.
28073@end ignore
28074
28075
28076@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
28077@findex -file-list-exec-source-file
28078
28079@subsubheading Synopsis
28080
28081@smallexample
28082 -file-list-exec-source-file
28083@end smallexample
28084
28085List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
28086to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
28087information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
28088whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
28089
28090@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28091
28092The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
28093
28094@subsubheading Example
28095
28096@smallexample
28097(gdb)
28098123-file-list-exec-source-file
28099123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
28100(gdb)
28101@end smallexample
28102
28103
28104@subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
28105@findex -file-list-exec-source-files
28106
28107@subsubheading Synopsis
28108
28109@smallexample
28110 -file-list-exec-source-files
28111@end smallexample
28112
28113List the source files for the current executable.
28114
28115It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
28116the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
28117
28118@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28119
28120The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
28121@code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
28122
28123@subsubheading Example
28124@smallexample
28125(gdb)
28126-file-list-exec-source-files
28127^done,files=[
28128@{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
28129@{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
28130@{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
28131(gdb)
28132@end smallexample
28133
28134@ignore
28135@subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
28136@findex -file-list-shared-libraries
28137
28138@subsubheading Synopsis
28139
28140@smallexample
28141 -file-list-shared-libraries
28142@end smallexample
28143
28144List the shared libraries in the program.
28145
28146@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28147
28148The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
28149
28150@subsubheading Example
28151N.A.
28152
28153
28154@subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
28155@findex -file-list-symbol-files
28156
28157@subsubheading Synopsis
28158
28159@smallexample
28160 -file-list-symbol-files
28161@end smallexample
28162
28163List symbol files.
28164
28165@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28166
28167The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
28168
28169@subsubheading Example
28170N.A.
28171@end ignore
28172
28173
28174@subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
28175@findex -file-symbol-file
28176
28177@subsubheading Synopsis
28178
28179@smallexample
28180 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
28181@end smallexample
28182
28183Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
28184used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
28185produced, except for a completion notification.
28186
28187@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28188
28189The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
28190
28191@subsubheading Example
28192
28193@smallexample
28194(gdb)
28195-file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
28196^done
28197(gdb)
28198@end smallexample
28199
28200@ignore
28201@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28202@node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
28203@section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
28204
28205The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
28206
28207@c @subheading -overlay-auto
28208
28209@c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
28210
28211@c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
28212
28213@c @subheading -overlay-map
28214
28215@c @subheading -overlay-off
28216
28217@c @subheading -overlay-on
28218
28219@c @subheading -overlay-unmap
28220
28221@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28222@node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
28223@section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
28224
28225Signal handling commands are not implemented.
28226
28227@c @subheading -signal-handle
28228
28229@c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
28230
28231@c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
28232@end ignore
28233
28234
28235@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28236@node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
28237@section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
28238
28239
28240@subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
28241@findex -target-attach
28242
28243@subsubheading Synopsis
28244
28245@smallexample
28246 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
28247@end smallexample
28248
28249Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
28250@value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
28251group, the id previously returned by
28252@samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
28253
28254@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28255
28256The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
28257
28258@subsubheading Example
28259@smallexample
28260(gdb)
28261-target-attach 34
28262=thread-created,id="1"
28263*stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
28264^done
28265(gdb)
28266@end smallexample
28267
28268@ignore
28269@subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
28270@findex -target-compare-sections
28271
28272@subsubheading Synopsis
28273
28274@smallexample
28275 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
28276@end smallexample
28277
28278Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
28279Without the argument, all sections are compared.
28280
28281@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28282
28283The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
28284
28285@subsubheading Example
28286N.A.
28287@end ignore
28288
28289
28290@subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
28291@findex -target-detach
28292
28293@subsubheading Synopsis
28294
28295@smallexample
28296 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
28297@end smallexample
28298
28299Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
28300If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
28301the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
28302
28303@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28304
28305The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
28306
28307@subsubheading Example
28308
28309@smallexample
28310(gdb)
28311-target-detach
28312^done
28313(gdb)
28314@end smallexample
28315
28316
28317@subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
28318@findex -target-disconnect
28319
28320@subsubheading Synopsis
28321
28322@smallexample
28323 -target-disconnect
28324@end smallexample
28325
28326Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
28327generally not resumed.
28328
28329@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28330
28331The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
28332
28333@subsubheading Example
28334
28335@smallexample
28336(gdb)
28337-target-disconnect
28338^done
28339(gdb)
28340@end smallexample
28341
28342
28343@subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
28344@findex -target-download
28345
28346@subsubheading Synopsis
28347
28348@smallexample
28349 -target-download
28350@end smallexample
28351
28352Loads the executable onto the remote target.
28353It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
28354
28355@table @samp
28356@item section
28357The name of the section.
28358@item section-sent
28359The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
28360@item section-size
28361The size of the section.
28362@item total-sent
28363The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
28364@item total-size
28365The size of the overall executable to download.
28366@end table
28367
28368@noindent
28369Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
28370@sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
28371
28372In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
28373downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
28374
28375@table @samp
28376@item section
28377The name of the section.
28378@item section-size
28379The size of the section.
28380@item total-size
28381The size of the overall executable to download.
28382@end table
28383
28384@noindent
28385At the end, a summary is printed.
28386
28387@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28388
28389The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
28390
28391@subsubheading Example
28392
28393Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
28394have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
28395
28396@smallexample
28397(gdb)
28398-target-download
28399+download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
28400+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
28401total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
28402+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
28403total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
28404+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
28405total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
28406+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
28407total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
28408+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
28409total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
28410+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
28411total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
28412+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
28413total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
28414+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
28415total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
28416+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
28417total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
28418+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
28419total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
28420+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
28421total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
28422+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
28423total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
28424+download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
28425total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
28426+download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
28427+download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
28428+download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
28429+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
28430total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
28431+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
28432total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
28433+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
28434total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
28435+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
28436total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
28437+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
28438total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
28439+download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
28440total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
28441^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
28442write-rate="429"
28443(gdb)
28444@end smallexample
28445
28446
28447@ignore
28448@subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
28449@findex -target-exec-status
28450
28451@subsubheading Synopsis
28452
28453@smallexample
28454 -target-exec-status
28455@end smallexample
28456
28457Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
28458not, for instance).
28459
28460@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28461
28462There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
28463
28464@subsubheading Example
28465N.A.
28466
28467
28468@subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
28469@findex -target-list-available-targets
28470
28471@subsubheading Synopsis
28472
28473@smallexample
28474 -target-list-available-targets
28475@end smallexample
28476
28477List the possible targets to connect to.
28478
28479@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28480
28481The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
28482
28483@subsubheading Example
28484N.A.
28485
28486
28487@subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
28488@findex -target-list-current-targets
28489
28490@subsubheading Synopsis
28491
28492@smallexample
28493 -target-list-current-targets
28494@end smallexample
28495
28496Describe the current target.
28497
28498@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28499
28500The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
28501other things).
28502
28503@subsubheading Example
28504N.A.
28505
28506
28507@subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
28508@findex -target-list-parameters
28509
28510@subsubheading Synopsis
28511
28512@smallexample
28513 -target-list-parameters
28514@end smallexample
28515
28516@c ????
28517@end ignore
28518
28519@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28520
28521No equivalent.
28522
28523@subsubheading Example
28524N.A.
28525
28526
28527@subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
28528@findex -target-select
28529
28530@subsubheading Synopsis
28531
28532@smallexample
28533 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
28534@end smallexample
28535
28536Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
28537
28538@table @samp
28539@item @var{type}
28540The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
28541@item @var{parameters}
28542Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
28543Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
28544@end table
28545
28546The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
28547which the target program is, in the following form:
28548
28549@smallexample
28550^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
28551 args=[@var{arg list}]
28552@end smallexample
28553
28554@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28555
28556The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
28557
28558@subsubheading Example
28559
28560@smallexample
28561(gdb)
28562-target-select remote /dev/ttya
28563^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
28564(gdb)
28565@end smallexample
28566
28567@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28568@node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
28569@section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
28570
28571
28572@subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
28573@findex -target-file-put
28574
28575@subsubheading Synopsis
28576
28577@smallexample
28578 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
28579@end smallexample
28580
28581Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
28582@value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
28583
28584@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28585
28586The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
28587
28588@subsubheading Example
28589
28590@smallexample
28591(gdb)
28592-target-file-put localfile remotefile
28593^done
28594(gdb)
28595@end smallexample
28596
28597
28598@subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
28599@findex -target-file-get
28600
28601@subsubheading Synopsis
28602
28603@smallexample
28604 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
28605@end smallexample
28606
28607Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
28608on the host system.
28609
28610@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28611
28612The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
28613
28614@subsubheading Example
28615
28616@smallexample
28617(gdb)
28618-target-file-get remotefile localfile
28619^done
28620(gdb)
28621@end smallexample
28622
28623
28624@subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
28625@findex -target-file-delete
28626
28627@subsubheading Synopsis
28628
28629@smallexample
28630 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
28631@end smallexample
28632
28633Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
28634
28635@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28636
28637The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
28638
28639@subsubheading Example
28640
28641@smallexample
28642(gdb)
28643-target-file-delete remotefile
28644^done
28645(gdb)
28646@end smallexample
28647
28648
28649@c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28650@node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
28651@section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
28652
28653@c @subheading -gdb-complete
28654
28655@subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
28656@findex -gdb-exit
28657
28658@subsubheading Synopsis
28659
28660@smallexample
28661 -gdb-exit
28662@end smallexample
28663
28664Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
28665
28666@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28667
28668Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
28669
28670@subsubheading Example
28671
28672@smallexample
28673(gdb)
28674-gdb-exit
28675^exit
28676@end smallexample
28677
28678
28679@ignore
28680@subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
28681@findex -exec-abort
28682
28683@subsubheading Synopsis
28684
28685@smallexample
28686 -exec-abort
28687@end smallexample
28688
28689Kill the inferior running program.
28690
28691@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28692
28693The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
28694
28695@subsubheading Example
28696N.A.
28697@end ignore
28698
28699
28700@subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
28701@findex -gdb-set
28702
28703@subsubheading Synopsis
28704
28705@smallexample
28706 -gdb-set
28707@end smallexample
28708
28709Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
28710@c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
28711
28712@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28713
28714The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
28715
28716@subsubheading Example
28717
28718@smallexample
28719(gdb)
28720-gdb-set $foo=3
28721^done
28722(gdb)
28723@end smallexample
28724
28725
28726@subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
28727@findex -gdb-show
28728
28729@subsubheading Synopsis
28730
28731@smallexample
28732 -gdb-show
28733@end smallexample
28734
28735Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
28736
28737@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28738
28739The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
28740
28741@subsubheading Example
28742
28743@smallexample
28744(gdb)
28745-gdb-show annotate
28746^done,value="0"
28747(gdb)
28748@end smallexample
28749
28750@c @subheading -gdb-source
28751
28752
28753@subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
28754@findex -gdb-version
28755
28756@subsubheading Synopsis
28757
28758@smallexample
28759 -gdb-version
28760@end smallexample
28761
28762Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
28763
28764@subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28765
28766The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
28767default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
28768
28769@subsubheading Example
28770
28771@c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
28772@c box in TeX.
28773@smallexample
28774(gdb)
28775-gdb-version
28776~GNU gdb 5.2.1
28777~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
28778~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
28779~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
28780~ certain conditions.
28781~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
28782~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
28783~ details.
28784~This GDB was configured as
28785 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
28786^done
28787(gdb)
28788@end smallexample
28789
28790@subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
28791@findex -list-features
28792
28793Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
28794this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
28795or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
28796important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
28797of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
28798startup.
28799
28800The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
28801available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
28802have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
28803is given below.
28804
28805Example output:
28806
28807@smallexample
28808(gdb) -list-features
28809^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
28810@end smallexample
28811
28812The current list of features is:
28813
28814@table @samp
28815@item frozen-varobjs
28816Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
28817as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
28818of @code{-varobj-create}.
28819@item pending-breakpoints
28820Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
28821@item python
28822Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
28823pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
28824@samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
28825@item thread-info
28826Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
28827
28828@end table
28829
28830@subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
28831@findex -list-target-features
28832
28833Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
28834target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
28835unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
28836features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
28837a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
28838@code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
28839may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
28840Example output:
28841
28842@smallexample
28843(gdb) -list-features
28844^done,result=["async"]
28845@end smallexample
28846
28847The current list of features is:
28848
28849@table @samp
28850@item async
28851Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
28852execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
28853while the target is running.
28854
28855@end table
28856
28857@subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
28858@findex -list-thread-groups
28859
28860@subheading Synopsis
28861
28862@smallexample
28863-list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
28864@end smallexample
28865
28866Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
28867group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
28868When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
28869thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
28870top-level thread groups.
28871
28872Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
28873With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
28874available on the target.
28875
28876The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
28877a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
28878as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
28879Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
28880each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
28881requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
28882are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
28883of the @samp{group} result is described below.
28884
28885To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
28886together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
28887and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
28888permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
28889will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
28890@samp{threads} field.
28891
28892In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
28893the following caveats:
28894
28895@itemize @bullet
28896@item
28897When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
28898be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
28899anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
28900
28901@item
28902When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
28903be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
28904be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
28905not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
28906The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
28907is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
28908
28909@end itemize
28910
28911The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
28912have the following fields:
28913
28914@table @code
28915@item id
28916Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
28917The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
28918convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
28919
28920@item type
28921The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
28922valid type.
28923
28924@item pid
28925The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
28926for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
28927
28928@item num_children
28929The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
28930absent for an available thread group.
28931
28932@item threads
28933This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
28934thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
28935specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
28936
28937@item cores
28938This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
28939thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
28940such information is not available.
28941
28942@item executable
28943The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
28944The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
28945and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
28946
28947@end table
28948
28949@subheading Example
28950
28951@smallexample
28952@value{GDBP}
28953-list-thread-groups
28954^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
28955-list-thread-groups 17
28956^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28957 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
28958@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28959 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28960 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
28961-list-thread-groups --available
28962^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
28963-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
28964 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
28965 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
28966 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
28967-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
28968^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
28969 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
28970 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
28971@end smallexample
28972
28973
28974@subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
28975@findex -add-inferior
28976
28977@subheading Synopsis
28978
28979@smallexample
28980-add-inferior
28981@end smallexample
28982
28983Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
28984inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
28985be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
28986(@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
28987field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
28988thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
28989
28990@subheading Example
28991
28992@smallexample
28993@value{GDBP}
28994-add-inferior
28995^done,thread-group="i3"
28996@end smallexample
28997
28998@subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
28999@findex -interpreter-exec
29000
29001@subheading Synopsis
29002
29003@smallexample
29004-interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
29005@end smallexample
29006@anchor{-interpreter-exec}
29007
29008Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
29009
29010@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29011
29012The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
29013
29014@subheading Example
29015
29016@smallexample
29017(gdb)
29018-interpreter-exec console "break main"
29019&"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
29020&"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
29021~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
29022^done
29023(gdb)
29024@end smallexample
29025
29026@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
29027@findex -inferior-tty-set
29028
29029@subheading Synopsis
29030
29031@smallexample
29032-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29033@end smallexample
29034
29035Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
29036
29037@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29038
29039The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
29040
29041@subheading Example
29042
29043@smallexample
29044(gdb)
29045-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29046^done
29047(gdb)
29048@end smallexample
29049
29050@subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
29051@findex -inferior-tty-show
29052
29053@subheading Synopsis
29054
29055@smallexample
29056-inferior-tty-show
29057@end smallexample
29058
29059Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
29060
29061@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29062
29063The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
29064
29065@subheading Example
29066
29067@smallexample
29068(gdb)
29069-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
29070^done
29071(gdb)
29072-inferior-tty-show
29073^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
29074(gdb)
29075@end smallexample
29076
29077@subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
29078@findex -enable-timings
29079
29080@subheading Synopsis
29081
29082@smallexample
29083-enable-timings [yes | no]
29084@end smallexample
29085
29086Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
29087command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
29088developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
29089equivalent to @samp{yes}.
29090
29091@subheading @value{GDBN} Command
29092
29093No equivalent.
29094
29095@subheading Example
29096
29097@smallexample
29098(gdb)
29099-enable-timings
29100^done
29101(gdb)
29102-break-insert main
29103^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29104addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29105fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
29106time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
29107(gdb)
29108-enable-timings no
29109^done
29110(gdb)
29111-exec-run
29112^running
29113(gdb)
29114*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29115frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
29116@{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
29117fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
29118(gdb)
29119@end smallexample
29120
29121@node Annotations
29122@chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
29123
29124This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
29125designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
29126similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
29127relatively high level.
29128
29129The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
29130(@pxref{GDB/MI}).
29131
29132@ignore
29133This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
29134@end ignore
29135
29136@menu
29137* Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
29138* Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
29139* Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
29140* Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
29141* Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
29142* Annotations for Running::
29143 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
29144* Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
29145@end menu
29146
29147@node Annotations Overview
29148@section What is an Annotation?
29149@cindex annotations
29150
29151Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
29152characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
29153information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
29154is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
29155information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
29156additional information, and a newline. The additional information
29157cannot contain newline characters.
29158
29159Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
29160characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
29161no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
29162@samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
29163annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
29164means those three characters as output.
29165
29166The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
29167@option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
29168how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
29169values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
29170is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
29171subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
29172for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
29173been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
29174Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
29175
29176@table @code
29177@kindex set annotate
29178@item set annotate @var{level}
29179The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
29180annotations to the specified @var{level}.
29181
29182@item show annotate
29183@kindex show annotate
29184Show the current annotation level.
29185@end table
29186
29187This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
29188
29189A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
29190
29191@smallexample
29192$ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
29193GNU gdb 6.0
29194Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
29195GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
29196and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
29197under certain conditions.
29198Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
29199There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
29200for details.
29201This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
29202
29203^Z^Zpre-prompt
29204(@value{GDBP})
29205^Z^Zprompt
29206@kbd{quit}
29207
29208^Z^Zpost-prompt
29209$
29210@end smallexample
29211
29212Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
29213@value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
29214denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
29215output from @value{GDBN}.
29216
29217@node Server Prefix
29218@section The Server Prefix
29219@cindex server prefix
29220
29221If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
29222the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
29223command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
29224means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
29225a transparent manner.
29226
29227The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
29228the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
29229value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
29230@code{print} command.
29231
29232Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
29233(@pxref{confirmation requests}).
29234
29235@node Prompting
29236@section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
29237
29238@cindex annotations for prompts
29239When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
29240to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
29241over, etc.
29242
29243Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
29244input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
29245denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
29246annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
29247annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
29248associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
29249features the following annotations:
29250
29251@smallexample
29252^Z^Zpre-prompt
29253^Z^Zprompt
29254^Z^Zpost-prompt
29255@end smallexample
29256
29257The input types are
29258
29259@table @code
29260@findex pre-prompt annotation
29261@findex prompt annotation
29262@findex post-prompt annotation
29263@item prompt
29264When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
29265
29266@findex pre-commands annotation
29267@findex commands annotation
29268@findex post-commands annotation
29269@item commands
29270When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
29271command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
29272
29273@findex pre-overload-choice annotation
29274@findex overload-choice annotation
29275@findex post-overload-choice annotation
29276@item overload-choice
29277When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
29278
29279@findex pre-query annotation
29280@findex query annotation
29281@findex post-query annotation
29282@item query
29283When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
29284
29285@findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
29286@findex prompt-for-continue annotation
29287@findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
29288@item prompt-for-continue
29289When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
29290expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
29291prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
29292presence of annotations.
29293@end table
29294
29295@node Errors
29296@section Errors
29297@cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
29298
29299@findex quit annotation
29300@smallexample
29301^Z^Zquit
29302@end smallexample
29303
29304This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
29305
29306@findex error annotation
29307@smallexample
29308^Z^Zerror
29309@end smallexample
29310
29311This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
29312
29313Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
29314in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
29315@code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
29316cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
29317cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
29318does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
29319to the top level.
29320
29321@findex error-begin annotation
29322A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
29323
29324@smallexample
29325^Z^Zerror-begin
29326@end smallexample
29327
29328Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
29329message.
29330
29331Warning messages are not yet annotated.
29332@c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
29333@c range_error(), and possibly other places.
29334
29335@node Invalidation
29336@section Invalidation Notices
29337
29338@cindex annotations for invalidation messages
29339The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
29340changed.
29341
29342@table @code
29343@findex frames-invalid annotation
29344@item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
29345
29346The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
29347have changed.
29348
29349@findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
29350@item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
29351
29352The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
29353deleted a breakpoint.
29354@end table
29355
29356@node Annotations for Running
29357@section Running the Program
29358@cindex annotations for running programs
29359
29360@findex starting annotation
29361@findex stopping annotation
29362When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
29363@code{step} or @code{continue},
29364
29365@smallexample
29366^Z^Zstarting
29367@end smallexample
29368
29369is output. When the program stops,
29370
29371@smallexample
29372^Z^Zstopped
29373@end smallexample
29374
29375is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
29376annotations describe how the program stopped.
29377
29378@table @code
29379@findex exited annotation
29380@item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
29381The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
29382successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
29383
29384@findex signalled annotation
29385@findex signal-name annotation
29386@findex signal-name-end annotation
29387@findex signal-string annotation
29388@findex signal-string-end annotation
29389@item ^Z^Zsignalled
29390The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
29391annotation continues:
29392
29393@smallexample
29394@var{intro-text}
29395^Z^Zsignal-name
29396@var{name}
29397^Z^Zsignal-name-end
29398@var{middle-text}
29399^Z^Zsignal-string
29400@var{string}
29401^Z^Zsignal-string-end
29402@var{end-text}
29403@end smallexample
29404
29405@noindent
29406where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
29407@code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
29408as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
29409@var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
29410user's benefit and have no particular format.
29411
29412@findex signal annotation
29413@item ^Z^Zsignal
29414The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
29415just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
29416terminated with it.
29417
29418@findex breakpoint annotation
29419@item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
29420The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
29421
29422@findex watchpoint annotation
29423@item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
29424The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
29425@end table
29426
29427@node Source Annotations
29428@section Displaying Source
29429@cindex annotations for source display
29430
29431@findex source annotation
29432The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
29433
29434@smallexample
29435^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
29436@end smallexample
29437
29438where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
29439file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
29440first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
29441within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
29442debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
29443@var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
29444line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
29445@var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
29446source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
29447followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
29448depend on the language).
29449
29450@node JIT Interface
29451@chapter JIT Compilation Interface
29452@cindex just-in-time compilation
29453@cindex JIT compilation interface
29454
29455This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
29456interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
29457executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
29458performance while maintaining platform independence.
29459
29460Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
29461portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
29462object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
29463and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
29464@value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
29465symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
29466
29467If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
29468it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
29469you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
29470of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
29471LLVM JIT.
29472
29473Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
29474JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
29475variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
29476attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
29477find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
29478out about additional code.
29479
29480@menu
29481* Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
29482* Registering Code:: Steps to register code
29483* Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
29484@end menu
29485
29486@node Declarations
29487@section JIT Declarations
29488
29489These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
29490implement the interface:
29491
29492@smallexample
29493typedef enum
29494@{
29495 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
29496 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
29497 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
29498@} jit_actions_t;
29499
29500struct jit_code_entry
29501@{
29502 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
29503 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
29504 const char *symfile_addr;
29505 uint64_t symfile_size;
29506@};
29507
29508struct jit_descriptor
29509@{
29510 uint32_t version;
29511 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
29512 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
29513 uint32_t action_flag;
29514 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
29515 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
29516@};
29517
29518/* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
29519void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
29520
29521/* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
29522 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
29523struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
29524@end smallexample
29525
29526If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
29527modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
29528a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
29529
29530@node Registering Code
29531@section Registering Code
29532
29533To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
29534
29535@itemize @bullet
29536@item
29537Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
29538information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
29539
29540@item
29541Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
29542file.
29543
29544@item
29545Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
29546
29547@item
29548Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
29549
29550@item
29551Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
29552@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
29553@end itemize
29554
29555When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
29556@code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
29557new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
29558@value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
29559
29560@node Unregistering Code
29561@section Unregistering Code
29562
29563If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
29564
29565@itemize @bullet
29566@item
29567Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
29568
29569@item
29570Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
29571
29572@item
29573Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
29574@code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
29575@end itemize
29576
29577If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
29578and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
29579
29580@node GDB Bugs
29581@chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
29582@cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
29583@cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
29584
29585Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
29586
29587Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
29588may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
29589the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
29590reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
29591
29592In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
29593information that enables us to fix the bug.
29594
29595@menu
29596* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
29597* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
29598@end menu
29599
29600@node Bug Criteria
29601@section Have You Found a Bug?
29602@cindex bug criteria
29603
29604If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
29605
29606@itemize @bullet
29607@cindex fatal signal
29608@cindex debugger crash
29609@cindex crash of debugger
29610@item
29611If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
29612@value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
29613
29614@cindex error on valid input
29615@item
29616If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
29617bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
29618somewhere in the connection to the target.)
29619
29620@cindex invalid input
29621@item
29622If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
29623that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
29624``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
29625for traditional practice''.
29626
29627@item
29628If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
29629for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
29630@end itemize
29631
29632@node Bug Reporting
29633@section How to Report Bugs
29634@cindex bug reports
29635@cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
29636
29637A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
29638If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
29639contact that organization first.
29640
29641You can find contact information for many support companies and
29642individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
29643distribution.
29644@c should add a web page ref...
29645
29646@ifset BUGURL
29647@ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
29648In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
29649@value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
29650@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
29651page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
29652be used.
29653
29654@strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
29655@samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
29656not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
29657@samp{bug-gdb}.
29658
29659The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
29660serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
29661the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
29662newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
29663problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
29664path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
29665we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
29666bug reports to the mailing list.
29667@end ifset
29668@ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
29669In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
29670@value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
29671@end ifclear
29672@end ifset
29673
29674The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
29675@strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
29676fact or leave it out, state it!
29677
29678Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
29679problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
29680assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
29681Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
29682stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
29683name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
29684of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
29685the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
29686easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
29687
29688Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
29689bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
29690you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
29691self-contained.
29692
29693Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
29694bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
29695@emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
29696bugs properly.
29697
29698To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
29699
29700@itemize @bullet
29701@item
29702The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
29703with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
29704version}.
29705
29706Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
29707the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
29708
29709@item
29710The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
29711version number.
29712
29713@item
29714What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
29715``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
29716
29717@item
29718What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
29719debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
29720C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
29721to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
29722those compilers.
29723
29724@item
29725The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
29726observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
29727you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
29728Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
29729
29730If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
29731and then we might not encounter the bug.
29732
29733@item
29734A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
29735reproduce the bug.
29736
29737@item
29738A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
29739incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
29740
29741Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
29742will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
29743not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
29744a chance to make a mistake.
29745
29746Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
29747say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
29748copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
29749the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
29750crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
29751ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
29752us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
29753to draw any conclusion from our observations.
29754
29755@pindex script
29756@cindex recording a session script
29757To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
29758such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
29759Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
29760include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
29761
29762Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
29763inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
29764
29765@item
29766If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
29767diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
29768it by context, not by line number.
29769
29770The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
29771sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
29772
29773@end itemize
29774
29775Here are some things that are not necessary:
29776
29777@itemize @bullet
29778@item
29779A description of the envelope of the bug.
29780
29781Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
29782which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
29783changes will not affect it.
29784
29785This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
29786will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
29787with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
29788We recommend that you save your time for something else.
29789
29790Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
29791of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
29792output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
29793less time, and so on.
29794
29795However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
29796report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
29797
29798@item
29799A patch for the bug.
29800
29801A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
29802the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
29803a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
29804to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
29805
29806Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
29807construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
29808through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
29809to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
29810
29811And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
29812patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
29813help us to understand.
29814
29815@item
29816A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
29817
29818Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
29819things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
29820@end itemize
29821
29822@c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
29823@c and consists of the two following files:
29824@c rluser.texinfo
29825@c inc-hist.texinfo
29826@c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
29827@c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
29828@include rluser.texi
29829@include inc-hist.texinfo
29830
29831
29832@node Formatting Documentation
29833@appendix Formatting Documentation
29834
29835@cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
29836@cindex reference card
29837The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
29838for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
29839subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
29840@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
29841release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
29842you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
29843
29844The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
29845can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
29846
29847@smallexample
29848make refcard.dvi
29849@end smallexample
29850
29851The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
29852mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
29853that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
29854high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
29855your @sc{dvi} output program.
29856
29857@cindex documentation
29858
29859All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
29860distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
29861a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
29862on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
29863formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
29864and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
29865
29866@value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
29867version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
29868file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
29869subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
29870necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
29871but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
29872Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
29873@sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
29874
29875If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
29876Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
29877@code{makeinfo}.
29878
29879If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
29880@value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
29881version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
29882
29883@smallexample
29884cd gdb
29885make gdb.info
29886@end smallexample
29887
29888If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
29889a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
29890Texinfo definitions file.
29891
29892@TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
29893produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
29894document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
29895has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
29896command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
29897(for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
29898require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
29899
29900@TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
29901@file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
29902written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
29903typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
29904and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
29905directory.
29906
29907If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
29908typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
29909subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
29910@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
29911
29912@smallexample
29913make gdb.dvi
29914@end smallexample
29915
29916Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
29917
29918@node Installing GDB
29919@appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
29920@cindex installation
29921
29922@menu
29923* Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
29924* Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
29925* Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
29926* Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
29927* Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
29928* System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
29929@end menu
29930
29931@node Requirements
29932@section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
29933@cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
29934
29935Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
29936Other packages will be used only if they are found.
29937
29938@heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
29939@table @asis
29940@item ISO C90 compiler
29941@value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
29942working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
29943
29944@end table
29945
29946@heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
29947@table @asis
29948@item Expat
29949@anchor{Expat}
29950@value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
29951included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
29952can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
29953The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
29954standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
29955use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
29956
29957Expat is used for:
29958
29959@itemize @bullet
29960@item
29961Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
29962@item
29963Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
29964@item
29965Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
29966@item
29967MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
29968@end itemize
29969
29970@item zlib
29971@cindex compressed debug sections
29972@value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
29973compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
29974of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
29975is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
29976information in such binaries.
29977
29978The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
29979distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
29980@url{http://zlib.net}.
29981
29982@item iconv
29983@value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
29984Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
29985on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
29986other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
29987
29988On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
29989have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
29990@option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
29991
29992@value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
29993arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
29994in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
29995if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
29996implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
29997by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
29998Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
29999Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
30000@end table
30001
30002@node Running Configure
30003@section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
30004@cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
30005@value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
30006of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
30007build the @code{gdb} program.
30008@iftex
30009@c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
30010@footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
30011look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
30012installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
30013@end iftex
30014
30015The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
30016@value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
30017appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
30018
30019For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
30020@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
30021
30022@table @code
30023@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
30024script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
30025
30026@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
30027the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
30028
30029@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
30030source for the Binary File Descriptor library
30031
30032@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
30033@sc{gnu} include files
30034
30035@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
30036source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
30037
30038@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
30039source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
30040
30041@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
30042source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
30043
30044@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
30045source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
30046
30047@item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
30048source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
30049@end table
30050
30051The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
30052from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
30053this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
30054
30055First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
30056if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
30057identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
30058argument.
30059
30060For example:
30061
30062@smallexample
30063cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
30064./configure @var{host}
30065make
30066@end smallexample
30067
30068@noindent
30069where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
30070@samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
30071(You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
30072correct value by examining your system.)
30073
30074Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
30075@file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
30076libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
30077binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
30078
30079@need 750
30080@file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
30081system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
30082shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
30083
30084@smallexample
30085sh configure @var{host}
30086@end smallexample
30087
30088If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
30089directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
30090@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
30091@file{configure}
30092creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
30093you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
30094
30095You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
30096source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
30097@file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
30098that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
30099if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
30100of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
30101configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
30102directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
30103about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
30104
30105You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
30106However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
30107the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
30108that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
30109let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
30110
30111@node Separate Objdir
30112@section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
30113
30114If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
30115you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
30116host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
30117allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
30118rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
30119handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
30120@code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
30121program specified there.
30122
30123To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
30124with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
30125(You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
30126itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
30127would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
30128the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
30129
30130For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
30131separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
30132
30133@smallexample
30134@group
30135cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
30136mkdir ../gdb-sun4
30137cd ../gdb-sun4
30138../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
30139make
30140@end group
30141@end smallexample
30142
30143When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
30144directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
30145(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
30146the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
30147directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
30148@file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
30149
30150Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
30151instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
30152like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
30153one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
30154build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
30155
30156One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
30157directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
30158@value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
30159programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
30160You specify a cross-debugging target by
30161giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
30162
30163When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
30164it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
30165called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
30166
30167The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
30168directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
30169directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
30170directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
30171will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
30172
30173When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
30174directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
30175if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
30176with each other.
30177
30178@node Config Names
30179@section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
30180
30181The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
30182script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
30183aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
30184of information in the following pattern:
30185
30186@smallexample
30187@var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
30188@end smallexample
30189
30190For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
30191or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
30192option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
30193
30194The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
30195any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
30196aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
30197@code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
30198script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
30199abbreviations---for example:
30200
30201@smallexample
30202% sh config.sub i386-linux
30203i386-pc-linux-gnu
30204% sh config.sub alpha-linux
30205alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
30206% sh config.sub hp9k700
30207hppa1.1-hp-hpux
30208% sh config.sub sun4
30209sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
30210% sh config.sub sun3
30211m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
30212% sh config.sub i986v
30213Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
30214@end smallexample
30215
30216@noindent
30217@code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
30218directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
30219
30220@node Configure Options
30221@section @file{configure} Options
30222
30223Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
30224are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
30225several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
30226Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
30227
30228@smallexample
30229configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
30230 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
30231 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
30232 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
30233 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
30234 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
30235 @var{host}
30236@end smallexample
30237
30238@noindent
30239You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
30240@samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
30241@samp{--}.
30242
30243@table @code
30244@item --help
30245Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
30246
30247@item --prefix=@var{dir}
30248Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
30249@file{@var{dir}}.
30250
30251@item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
30252Configure the source to install programs under directory
30253@file{@var{dir}}.
30254
30255@c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
30256@need 2000
30257@item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
30258@strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
30259@code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
30260Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
30261@value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
30262build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
30263directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
30264the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
30265directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
30266the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
30267@var{dirname}.
30268
30269@item --norecursion
30270Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
30271propagate configuration to subdirectories.
30272
30273@item --target=@var{target}
30274Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
30275@var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
30276programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
30277
30278There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
30279
30280@item @var{host} @dots{}
30281Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
30282
30283There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
30284@end table
30285
30286There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
30287needed for special purposes only.
30288
30289@node System-wide configuration
30290@section System-wide configuration and settings
30291@cindex system-wide init file
30292
30293@value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
30294this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
30295@value{GDBN} does during startup}).
30296
30297Here is the corresponding configure option:
30298
30299@table @code
30300@item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
30301Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
30302@var{file}.
30303@end table
30304
30305If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
30306it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
30307
30308@itemize @bullet
30309@item
30310If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
30311it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
30312are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
30313if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
30314init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
30315@file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
30316
30317@item
30318By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
30319it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
30320@option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
30321then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
30322wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
30323@end itemize
30324
30325@node Maintenance Commands
30326@appendix Maintenance Commands
30327@cindex maintenance commands
30328@cindex internal commands
30329
30330In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
30331includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
30332that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
30333provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
30334messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
30335
30336@table @code
30337@kindex maint agent
30338@kindex maint agent-eval
30339@item maint agent @var{expression}
30340@itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
30341Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
30342This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
30343(@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
30344expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
30345@samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
30346to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
30347globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
30348of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
30349the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
30350addition and return the sum.
30351
30352@kindex maint info breakpoints
30353@item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
30354Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
30355breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
30356internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
30357breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
30358is shown:
30359
30360@table @code
30361@item breakpoint
30362Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
30363
30364@item watchpoint
30365Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
30366
30367@item longjmp
30368Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
30369@code{longjmp} calls.
30370
30371@item longjmp resume
30372Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
30373
30374@item until
30375Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
30376
30377@item finish
30378Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
30379
30380@item shlib events
30381Shared library events.
30382
30383@end table
30384
30385@kindex set displaced-stepping
30386@kindex show displaced-stepping
30387@cindex displaced stepping support
30388@cindex out-of-line single-stepping
30389@item set displaced-stepping
30390@itemx show displaced-stepping
30391Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
30392if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
30393over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
30394an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
30395breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
30396
30397@table @code
30398@item set displaced-stepping on
30399If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
30400displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
30401
30402@item set displaced-stepping off
30403@value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
30404even if such is supported by the target architecture.
30405
30406@cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
30407@item set displaced-stepping auto
30408This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
30409only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
30410architecture supports displaced stepping.
30411@end table
30412
30413@kindex maint check-symtabs
30414@item maint check-symtabs
30415Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
30416
30417@kindex maint cplus first_component
30418@item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
30419Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
30420
30421@kindex maint cplus namespace
30422@item maint cplus namespace
30423Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
30424
30425@kindex maint demangle
30426@item maint demangle @var{name}
30427Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
30428
30429@kindex maint deprecate
30430@kindex maint undeprecate
30431@cindex deprecated commands
30432@item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
30433@itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
30434Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
30435cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
30436argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
30437favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
30438the replacement as part of the warning.
30439
30440@kindex maint dump-me
30441@item maint dump-me
30442@cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
30443Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
30444This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
30445with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
30446
30447@kindex maint internal-error
30448@kindex maint internal-warning
30449@item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
30450@itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
30451Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
30452or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
30453or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
30454internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
30455either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
30456@value{GDBN} session.
30457
30458These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
30459used as the text of the error or warning message.
30460
30461Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
30462
30463@smallexample
30464(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
30465@dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
30466A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
30467debugging may prove unreliable.
30468Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
30469Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
30470(@value{GDBP})
30471@end smallexample
30472
30473@cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
30474@cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
30475
30476@kindex maint set internal-error
30477@kindex maint show internal-error
30478@kindex maint set internal-warning
30479@kindex maint show internal-warning
30480@item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
30481@itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
30482@itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
30483@itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
30484When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
30485gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
30486core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
30487override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
30488described in the table below.
30489
30490@table @samp
30491@item quit
30492You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
30493quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
30494
30495@item corefile
30496You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
30497create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
30498@end table
30499
30500@kindex maint packet
30501@item maint packet @var{text}
30502If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
30503then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
30504displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
30505@samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
30506checksum.
30507
30508@kindex maint print architecture
30509@item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30510Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
30511@var{file} names the file where the output goes.
30512
30513@kindex maint print c-tdesc
30514@item maint print c-tdesc
30515Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
30516a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
30517when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
30518
30519@kindex maint print dummy-frames
30520@item maint print dummy-frames
30521Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
30522
30523@smallexample
30524(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
30525@dots{}
30526(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
30527Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
3052858 return (a + b);
30529The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
30530@dots{}
30531(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
305320x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
30533 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
30534 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
30535(@value{GDBP})
30536@end smallexample
30537
30538Takes an optional file parameter.
30539
30540@kindex maint print registers
30541@kindex maint print raw-registers
30542@kindex maint print cooked-registers
30543@kindex maint print register-groups
30544@item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30545@itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30546@itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30547@itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30548Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
30549
30550The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
30551the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
30552includes the (cooked) value of all registers, including registers which
30553aren't available on the target nor visible to user; and the
30554command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
30555register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
30556@value{GDBN} Internals}.
30557
30558These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
30559write the information.
30560
30561@kindex maint print reggroups
30562@item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30563Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
30564optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
30565information.
30566
30567The register groups info looks like this:
30568
30569@smallexample
30570(@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
30571 Group Type
30572 general user
30573 float user
30574 all user
30575 vector user
30576 system user
30577 save internal
30578 restore internal
30579@end smallexample
30580
30581@kindex flushregs
30582@item flushregs
30583This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
30584
30585@kindex maint print objfiles
30586@cindex info for known object files
30587@item maint print objfiles
30588Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
30589command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
30590and symtabs.
30591
30592@kindex maint print section-scripts
30593@cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
30594@item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
30595Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
30596If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
30597matching @var{regexp}.
30598For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
30599and the full path if known.
30600@xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
30601
30602@kindex maint print statistics
30603@cindex bcache statistics
30604@item maint print statistics
30605This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
30606about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
30607statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
30608of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
30609defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
30610the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
30611used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
30612sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
30613average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
30614savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
30615lengths.
30616
30617@kindex maint print target-stack
30618@cindex target stack description
30619@item maint print target-stack
30620A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
30621kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
30622so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
30623In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
30624until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
30625address.
30626
30627This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
30628the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
30629
30630@kindex maint print type
30631@cindex type chain of a data type
30632@item maint print type @var{expr}
30633Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
30634can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
30635that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
30636a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
30637data structures, including its flags and contained types.
30638
30639@kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
30640@kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
30641@item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
30642@item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
30643Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
30644information.
30645
30646The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
30647describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
30648@code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
30649expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
30650too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
30651always see the disassembly form.
30652
30653Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
30654
30655@smallexample
30656(gdb) info addr argc
30657Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
30658 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
30659@end smallexample
30660
30661For more information on these expressions, see
30662@uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
30663
30664@kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
30665@kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
30666@item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
30667@itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
30668Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
30669
30670@cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
30671In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
30672produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
30673reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
30674This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
30675cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
30676compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
30677memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
30678slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
30679
30680@kindex maint set profile
30681@kindex maint show profile
30682@cindex profiling GDB
30683@item maint set profile
30684@itemx maint show profile
30685Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
30686
30687Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
30688command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
30689collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
30690exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
30691if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
30692(often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
30693data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
30694
30695Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
30696compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
30697
30698@kindex maint set show-debug-regs
30699@kindex maint show show-debug-regs
30700@cindex hardware debug registers
30701@item maint set show-debug-regs
30702@itemx maint show show-debug-regs
30703Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
30704registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
30705enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
30706removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
30707triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
30708
30709@kindex maint set show-all-tib
30710@kindex maint show show-all-tib
30711@item maint set show-all-tib
30712@itemx maint show show-all-tib
30713Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
30714at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
30715command.
30716
30717@kindex maint space
30718@cindex memory used by commands
30719@item maint space
30720Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
30721nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
30722took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
30723by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
30724switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
30725
30726@kindex maint time
30727@cindex time of command execution
30728@item maint time
30729Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
30730set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
30731took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
30732The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
30733there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
30734by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
30735it's not possibly currently
30736This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
30737@option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
30738
30739@kindex maint translate-address
30740@item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
30741Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
30742@var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
30743@value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
30744the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
30745the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
30746command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
30747
30748If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
30749is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
30750executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
30751
30752@end table
30753
30754The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
30755@value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
30756
30757@table @code
30758@item set watchdog @var{nsec}
30759@kindex set watchdog
30760@cindex watchdog timer
30761@cindex timeout for commands
30762Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
30763target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
30764reports and error and the command is aborted.
30765
30766@item show watchdog
30767Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
30768@end table
30769
30770@node Remote Protocol
30771@appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
30772
30773@menu
30774* Overview::
30775* Packets::
30776* Stop Reply Packets::
30777* General Query Packets::
30778* Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
30779* Tracepoint Packets::
30780* Host I/O Packets::
30781* Interrupts::
30782* Notification Packets::
30783* Remote Non-Stop::
30784* Packet Acknowledgment::
30785* Examples::
30786* File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
30787* Library List Format::
30788* Memory Map Format::
30789* Thread List Format::
30790@end menu
30791
30792@node Overview
30793@section Overview
30794
30795There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
30796protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
30797machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
30798recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
30799
30800In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
30801transmitted and received data, respectively.
30802
30803@cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
30804@cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
30805@cindex remote serial protocol
30806All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
30807and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
30808@var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
30809@samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
30810@samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
30811
30812@smallexample
30813@code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30814@end smallexample
30815@noindent
30816
30817@cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
30818@noindent
30819The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
30820characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
30821eight bit unsigned checksum).
30822
30823Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
30824specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
30825
30826@smallexample
30827@code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30828@end smallexample
30829
30830@cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
30831@noindent
30832That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
30833has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
30834since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
30835
30836When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
30837response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
30838the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
30839retransmission):
30840
30841@smallexample
30842-> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30843<- @code{+}
30844@end smallexample
30845@noindent
30846
30847The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
30848once a connection is established.
30849@xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
30850
30851The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
30852debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
30853the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
30854when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
30855threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
30856behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
30857execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
30858
30859@var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
30860exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
30861exceptions).
30862
30863@cindex remote protocol, field separator
30864Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
30865@samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
30866@sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
30867
30868Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
30869@samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
30870would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
30871
30872@cindex remote protocol, binary data
30873@anchor{Binary Data}
30874Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
30875digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
30876protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
30877Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
30878connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
30879binary data.
30880
30881The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
30882as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
30883character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
30884For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
30885bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
30886@code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
30887@samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
30888must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
30889is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
30890(described next).
30891
30892Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
30893Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
30894instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
30895repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
30896binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
30897@code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
30898produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
30899code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
30900encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
30901@samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
30902after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
309033}} more times.
30904
30905The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
30906greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
30907seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
30908five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
30909@samp{0*"00}.
30910
30911The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
30912error number. That number is not well defined.
30913
30914@cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
30915For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
30916(@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
30917protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
30918on that response.
30919
30920A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
30921@samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
30922optional.
30923
30924@node Packets
30925@section Packets
30926
30927The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
30928@var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
30929@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
30930I/O extension of the remote protocol.
30931
30932Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
30933syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
30934include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
30935part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
30936separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
30937@var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
30938bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
30939@var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
30940@samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
30941@var{baz}.
30942
30943@cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
30944@anchor{thread-id syntax}
30945Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
30946a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
30947interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
30948can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
30949pick any thread.
30950
30951In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
30952which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
30953process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
30954The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
30955format described above: a positive number with target-specific
30956interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
30957to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
30958indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
30959@samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
30960error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
30961@samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
30962for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
30963ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
30964
30965The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
30966@value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
30967feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
30968more information.
30969
30970Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
30971letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
30972
30973Here are the packet descriptions.
30974
30975@table @samp
30976
30977@item !
30978@cindex @samp{!} packet
30979@anchor{extended mode}
30980Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
30981persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
30982debugged.
30983
30984Reply:
30985@table @samp
30986@item OK
30987The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
30988@end table
30989
30990@item ?
30991@cindex @samp{?} packet
30992Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
30993step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
30994target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
30995
30996Reply:
30997@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30998
30999@item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
31000@cindex @samp{A} packet
31001Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
31002specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
31003@var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
31004
31005Reply:
31006@table @samp
31007@item OK
31008The arguments were set.
31009@item E @var{NN}
31010An error occurred.
31011@end table
31012
31013@item b @var{baud}
31014@cindex @samp{b} packet
31015(Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
31016Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
31017
31018JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
31019received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
31020problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
31021
31022Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
31023it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
31024some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
31025switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
31026of view, nothing actually happened.}
31027
31028@item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
31029@cindex @samp{B} packet
31030Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
31031breakpoint at @var{addr}.
31032
31033Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
31034(@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
31035
31036@cindex @samp{bc} packet
31037@anchor{bc}
31038@item bc
31039Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
31040@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31041
31042Reply:
31043@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31044
31045@cindex @samp{bs} packet
31046@anchor{bs}
31047@item bs
31048Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
31049@xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31050
31051Reply:
31052@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31053
31054@item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
31055@cindex @samp{c} packet
31056Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
31057resume at current address.
31058
31059Reply:
31060@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31061
31062@item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
31063@cindex @samp{C} packet
31064Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
31065@samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
31066
31067Reply:
31068@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31069
31070@item d
31071@cindex @samp{d} packet
31072Toggle debug flag.
31073
31074Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
31075(@pxref{General Query Packets}).
31076
31077@item D
31078@itemx D;@var{pid}
31079@cindex @samp{D} packet
31080The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
31081remote system. It is sent to the remote target
31082before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
31083
31084The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
31085protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
31086detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
31087big-endian hex string.
31088
31089Reply:
31090@table @samp
31091@item OK
31092for success
31093@item E @var{NN}
31094for an error
31095@end table
31096
31097@item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
31098@cindex @samp{F} packet
31099A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
31100This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
31101Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
31102
31103@item g
31104@anchor{read registers packet}
31105@cindex @samp{g} packet
31106Read general registers.
31107
31108Reply:
31109@table @samp
31110@item @var{XX@dots{}}
31111Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
31112with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
31113each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
31114determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
31115@code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
31116specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
31117@item E @var{NN}
31118for an error.
31119@end table
31120
31121@item G @var{XX@dots{}}
31122@cindex @samp{G} packet
31123Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
31124description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
31125
31126Reply:
31127@table @samp
31128@item OK
31129for success
31130@item E @var{NN}
31131for an error
31132@end table
31133
31134@item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
31135@cindex @samp{H} packet
31136Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
31137@samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
31138should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
31139operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
31140interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31141
31142Reply:
31143@table @samp
31144@item OK
31145for success
31146@item E @var{NN}
31147for an error
31148@end table
31149
31150@c FIXME: JTC:
31151@c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
31152@c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
31153@c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
31154@c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
31155@c described. For example:
31156@c
31157@c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
31158@c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
31159@c otherwise returns current registers.
31160@c
31161@c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
31162@c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
31163@c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
31164
31165@item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
31166@anchor{cycle step packet}
31167@cindex @samp{i} packet
31168Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
31169present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
31170step starting at that address.
31171
31172@item I
31173@cindex @samp{I} packet
31174Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
31175step packet}.
31176
31177@item k
31178@cindex @samp{k} packet
31179Kill request.
31180
31181FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
31182thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
31183thread?)}.
31184
31185@item m @var{addr},@var{length}
31186@cindex @samp{m} packet
31187Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
31188Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
31189
31190The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
31191data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
31192and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
31193use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
31194suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
31195@cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
31196@cindex size of remote memory accesses
31197@cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
31198
31199Reply:
31200@table @samp
31201@item @var{XX@dots{}}
31202Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
31203number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
31204server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
31205@item E @var{NN}
31206@var{NN} is errno
31207@end table
31208
31209@item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
31210@cindex @samp{M} packet
31211Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
31212@var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
31213hexadecimal number.
31214
31215Reply:
31216@table @samp
31217@item OK
31218for success
31219@item E @var{NN}
31220for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
31221written).
31222@end table
31223
31224@item p @var{n}
31225@cindex @samp{p} packet
31226Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
31227@xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
31228register value is encoded.
31229
31230Reply:
31231@table @samp
31232@item @var{XX@dots{}}
31233the register's value
31234@item E @var{NN}
31235for an error
31236@item
31237Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
31238@end table
31239
31240@item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
31241@anchor{write register packet}
31242@cindex @samp{P} packet
31243Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
31244number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
31245digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
31246
31247Reply:
31248@table @samp
31249@item OK
31250for success
31251@item E @var{NN}
31252for an error
31253@end table
31254
31255@item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
31256@itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
31257@cindex @samp{q} packet
31258@cindex @samp{Q} packet
31259General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
31260described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
31261
31262@item r
31263@cindex @samp{r} packet
31264Reset the entire system.
31265
31266Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
31267
31268@item R @var{XX}
31269@cindex @samp{R} packet
31270Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
31271This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
31272
31273The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
31274
31275@item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
31276@cindex @samp{s} packet
31277Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
31278@var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
31279
31280Reply:
31281@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31282
31283@item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
31284@anchor{step with signal packet}
31285@cindex @samp{S} packet
31286Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
31287requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
31288
31289Reply:
31290@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31291
31292@item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
31293@cindex @samp{t} packet
31294Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
31295@var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
31296@var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
31297
31298@item T @var{thread-id}
31299@cindex @samp{T} packet
31300Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
31301
31302Reply:
31303@table @samp
31304@item OK
31305thread is still alive
31306@item E @var{NN}
31307thread is dead
31308@end table
31309
31310@item v
31311Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
31312up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
31313
31314@item vAttach;@var{pid}
31315@cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
31316Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
31317The process ID is a
31318hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
31319threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
31320attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
31321
31322@c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
31323@c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
31324@c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
31325@c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
31326@c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
31327@c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
31328@c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
31329@c stopping or restarting threads.
31330
31331This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
31332
31333Reply:
31334@table @samp
31335@item E @var{nn}
31336for an error
31337@item @r{Any stop packet}
31338for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
31339@item OK
31340for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
31341@end table
31342
31343@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
31344@cindex @samp{vCont} packet
31345Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
31346If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
31347threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
31348specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
31349in their current state in non-stop mode.
31350Specifying multiple
31351default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
31352Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31353
31354Currently supported actions are:
31355
31356@table @samp
31357@item c
31358Continue.
31359@item C @var{sig}
31360Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
31361@item s
31362Step.
31363@item S @var{sig}
31364Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
31365@item t
31366Stop.
31367@end table
31368
31369The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
31370@samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
31371not supported in @samp{vCont}.
31372
31373The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
31374(@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
31375A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
31376When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
31377the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
31378signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
31379as an implementation detail.
31380
31381Reply:
31382@xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
31383
31384@item vCont?
31385@cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
31386Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
31387
31388Reply:
31389@table @samp
31390@item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
31391The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
31392command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
31393@item
31394The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
31395@end table
31396
31397@item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
31398@cindex @samp{vFile} packet
31399Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
31400see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
31401
31402@item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
31403@cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
31404Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
31405@var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
31406its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
31407flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
31408Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
31409together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
31410stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
31411packet is received.
31412
31413The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
31414multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
31415this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
31416in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
31417@var{thread-id}.
31418
31419Reply:
31420@table @samp
31421@item OK
31422for success
31423@item E @var{NN}
31424for an error
31425@end table
31426
31427@item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
31428@cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
31429Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
31430is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
31431packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
31432@samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
31433not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
31434(although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
31435have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
31436@samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
31437neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
31438target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
31439
31440
31441Reply:
31442@table @samp
31443@item OK
31444for success
31445@item E.memtype
31446for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
31447@item E @var{NN}
31448for an error
31449@end table
31450
31451@item vFlashDone
31452@cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
31453Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
31454The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
31455@samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
31456@samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
31457regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
31458request is completed.
31459
31460@item vKill;@var{pid}
31461@cindex @samp{vKill} packet
31462Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
31463hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
31464preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
31465supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
31466
31467Reply:
31468@table @samp
31469@item E @var{nn}
31470for an error
31471@item OK
31472for success
31473@end table
31474
31475@item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
31476@cindex @samp{vRun} packet
31477Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
31478command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
31479@var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
31480(e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
31481state.
31482
31483@c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
31484
31485This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
31486
31487Reply:
31488@table @samp
31489@item E @var{nn}
31490for an error
31491@item @r{Any stop packet}
31492for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
31493@end table
31494
31495@item vStopped
31496@anchor{vStopped packet}
31497@cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
31498
31499In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
31500reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
31501
31502Reply:
31503@table @samp
31504@item @r{Any stop packet}
31505if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
31506@item OK
31507if there are no unreported stop events
31508@end table
31509
31510@item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
31511@anchor{X packet}
31512@cindex @samp{X} packet
31513Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
31514@var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
31515@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
31516
31517Reply:
31518@table @samp
31519@item OK
31520for success
31521@item E @var{NN}
31522for an error
31523@end table
31524
31525@item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
31526@itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
31527@anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
31528@cindex @samp{z} packet
31529@cindex @samp{Z} packets
31530Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
31531watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
31532
31533Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
31534separately.
31535
31536@emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
31537for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
31538remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
31539@samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
31540avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
31541be implemented in an idempotent way.}
31542
31543@item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31544@itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31545@cindex @samp{z0} packet
31546@cindex @samp{Z0} packet
31547Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
31548@var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
31549
31550A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
31551@var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
31552@var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
31553the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
31554and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
31555architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
31556see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
31557
31558@emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
31559code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
31560overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
31561target, is not defined.}
31562
31563Reply:
31564@table @samp
31565@item OK
31566success
31567@item
31568not supported
31569@item E @var{NN}
31570for an error
31571@end table
31572
31573@item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31574@itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31575@cindex @samp{z1} packet
31576@cindex @samp{Z1} packet
31577Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
31578address @var{addr}.
31579
31580A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
31581dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
31582has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
31583
31584@emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
31585movement.}
31586
31587Reply:
31588@table @samp
31589@item OK
31590success
31591@item
31592not supported
31593@item E @var{NN}
31594for an error
31595@end table
31596
31597@item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31598@itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31599@cindex @samp{z2} packet
31600@cindex @samp{Z2} packet
31601Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31602@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31603
31604Reply:
31605@table @samp
31606@item OK
31607success
31608@item
31609not supported
31610@item E @var{NN}
31611for an error
31612@end table
31613
31614@item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31615@itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31616@cindex @samp{z3} packet
31617@cindex @samp{Z3} packet
31618Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31619@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31620
31621Reply:
31622@table @samp
31623@item OK
31624success
31625@item
31626not supported
31627@item E @var{NN}
31628for an error
31629@end table
31630
31631@item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31632@itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31633@cindex @samp{z4} packet
31634@cindex @samp{Z4} packet
31635Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31636@var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31637
31638Reply:
31639@table @samp
31640@item OK
31641success
31642@item
31643not supported
31644@item E @var{NN}
31645for an error
31646@end table
31647
31648@end table
31649
31650@node Stop Reply Packets
31651@section Stop Reply Packets
31652@cindex stop reply packets
31653
31654The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
31655@samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
31656receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
31657and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
31658when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
31659number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
31660@value{GDBN} source code.
31661
31662As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
31663reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
31664syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
31665components.
31666
31667@table @samp
31668
31669@item S @var{AA}
31670The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
31671number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
31672@var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
31673
31674@item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
31675@cindex @samp{T} packet reply
31676The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
31677number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
31678@samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
31679and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
31680round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
31681this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
31682
31683@itemize @bullet
31684@item
31685If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
31686corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
31687series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
31688two-digit hex number.
31689
31690@item
31691If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
31692the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31693
31694@item
31695If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
31696the core on which the stop event was detected.
31697
31698@item
31699If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
31700specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
31701reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
31702signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
31703
31704@item
31705Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
31706and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
31707future.
31708@end itemize
31709
31710The currently defined stop reasons are:
31711
31712@table @samp
31713@item watch
31714@itemx rwatch
31715@itemx awatch
31716The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
31717hex.
31718
31719@cindex shared library events, remote reply
31720@item library
31721The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
31722@value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
31723list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
31724
31725@cindex replay log events, remote reply
31726@item replaylog
31727The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
31728logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
31729beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
31730will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
31731for more information.
31732@end table
31733
31734@item W @var{AA}
31735@itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
31736The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
31737applicable to certain targets.
31738
31739The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
31740process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
31741multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
31742The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
31743
31744@item X @var{AA}
31745@itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
31746The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
31747
31748The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
31749terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
31750support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
31751extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
31752
31753@item O @var{XX}@dots{}
31754@samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
31755written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
31756while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
31757for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
31758
31759@item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
31760@var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
31761be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
31762correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
31763@xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
31764system calls.
31765
31766@samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
31767this very system call.
31768
31769The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
31770call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
31771with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
31772reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
31773or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
31774Protocol Extension}, for more details.
31775
31776@end table
31777
31778@node General Query Packets
31779@section General Query Packets
31780@cindex remote query requests
31781
31782Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
31783packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
31784query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
31785sending information to and from the stub.
31786
31787The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
31788indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
31789@value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
31790definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
31791conventions:
31792
31793@itemize @bullet
31794@item
31795The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
31796@item
31797Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
31798letter.
31799@item
31800The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
31801lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
31802the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
31803foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
31804@end itemize
31805
31806The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
31807parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
31808separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
31809full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
31810in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
31811with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
31812packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
31813for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
31814are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
31815existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
31816packet.}.
31817
31818Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
31819has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
31820explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
31821templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
31822@value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
31823
31824Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
31825
31826@table @samp
31827
31828@item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
31829@cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
31830Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
31831target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
31832pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
31833@samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
31834@samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
31835indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
31836indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
31837own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
31838insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
31839
31840@item qC
31841@cindex current thread, remote request
31842@cindex @samp{qC} packet
31843Return the current thread ID.
31844
31845Reply:
31846@table @samp
31847@item QC @var{thread-id}
31848Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
31849@ref{thread-id syntax}.
31850@item @r{(anything else)}
31851Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
31852@end table
31853
31854@item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
31855@cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
31856@cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
31857Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
31858IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
31859significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
31860@code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
31861
31862@emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
31863files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
31864Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
31865separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
31866significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
31867detect trailing zeros.
31868
31869Reply:
31870@table @samp
31871@item E @var{NN}
31872An error (such as memory fault)
31873@item C @var{crc32}
31874The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
31875@end table
31876
31877@item qfThreadInfo
31878@itemx qsThreadInfo
31879@cindex list active threads, remote request
31880@cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
31881@cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
31882Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
31883may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
31884works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
31885obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
31886be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
31887sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
31888
31889NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
31890
31891Reply:
31892@table @samp
31893@item m @var{thread-id}
31894A single thread ID
31895@item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
31896a comma-separated list of thread IDs
31897@item l
31898(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
31899@end table
31900
31901In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
31902more thread IDs, separated by commas.
31903@value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
31904ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
31905with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
31906Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
31907fields.
31908
31909@item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
31910@cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
31911@cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
31912Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
31913by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
31914
31915@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
31916thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
31917
31918@var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
31919thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
31920information associated with the variable.)
31921
31922@var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
31923the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
31924a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
31925object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
31926Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
31927differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
31928
31929Reply:
31930@table @samp
31931@item @var{XX}@dots{}
31932Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
31933local storage requested.
31934
31935@item E @var{nn}
31936An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31937
31938@item
31939An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
31940@end table
31941
31942@item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
31943@cindex get thread information block address
31944@cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
31945Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
31946
31947@var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
31948
31949Reply:
31950@table @samp
31951@item @var{XX}@dots{}
31952Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
31953thread information block.
31954
31955@item E @var{nn}
31956An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
31957address could not be retrieved.
31958
31959@item
31960An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
31961@end table
31962
31963@item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
31964Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
31965digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
31966subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
31967number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
31968(eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
31969returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
31970
31971Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
31972
31973Reply:
31974@table @samp
31975@item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
31976Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
31977returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
31978and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
31979digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
31980is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
31981digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
31982@end table
31983
31984@item qOffsets
31985@cindex section offsets, remote request
31986@cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
31987Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
31988image.
31989
31990Reply:
31991@table @samp
31992@item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
31993Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
31994Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
31995If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
31996@samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
31997segments by the supplied offsets.
31998
31999@emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
32000@value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
32001to the @code{Bss} section.}
32002
32003@item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
32004Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
32005contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
32006@samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
32007conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
32008@var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
32009does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
32010as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
32011kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
32012@end table
32013
32014@item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
32015@cindex thread information, remote request
32016@cindex @samp{qP} packet
32017Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
32018encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
32019(@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
32020
32021Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
32022(see below).
32023
32024Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
32025
32026@item QNonStop:1
32027@item QNonStop:0
32028@cindex non-stop mode, remote request
32029@cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
32030@anchor{QNonStop}
32031Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
32032@xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
32033
32034Reply:
32035@table @samp
32036@item OK
32037The request succeeded.
32038
32039@item E @var{nn}
32040An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
32041
32042@item
32043An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
32044the stub.
32045@end table
32046
32047This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32048by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32049Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
32050@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
32051
32052@item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
32053@cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
32054@cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
32055@anchor{QPassSignals}
32056Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
32057Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
32058(@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
32059strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
32060the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
32061reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
32062combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
32063new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
32064@var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
32065
32066Reply:
32067@table @samp
32068@item OK
32069The request succeeded.
32070
32071@item E @var{nn}
32072An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
32073
32074@item
32075An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
32076the stub.
32077@end table
32078
32079Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
32080command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
32081This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32082by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32083
32084@item qRcmd,@var{command}
32085@cindex execute remote command, remote request
32086@cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
32087@var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
32088execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
32089string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
32090with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
32091packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
32092stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
32093
32094Reply:
32095@table @samp
32096@item OK
32097A command response with no output.
32098@item @var{OUTPUT}
32099A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
32100@item E @var{NN}
32101Indicate a badly formed request.
32102@item
32103An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
32104@end table
32105
32106(Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
32107command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
32108conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
32109packets.)
32110
32111@item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
32112@cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
32113@cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
32114@anchor{qSearch memory}
32115Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
32116@var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
32117@var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
32118
32119Reply:
32120@table @samp
32121@item 0
32122The pattern was not found.
32123@item 1,address
32124The pattern was found at @var{address}.
32125@item E @var{NN}
32126A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
32127@item
32128An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
32129@end table
32130
32131@item QStartNoAckMode
32132@cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
32133@anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
32134Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
32135protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
32136
32137Reply:
32138@table @samp
32139@item OK
32140The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
32141@value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
32142but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
32143@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
32144@item
32145An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
32146@end table
32147
32148@item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
32149@cindex supported packets, remote query
32150@cindex features of the remote protocol
32151@cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
32152@anchor{qSupported}
32153Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
32154query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
32155@value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
32156features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
32157at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
32158packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
32159high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
32160be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
32161stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
32162automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
32163reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
32164unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
32165helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
32166versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
32167
32168Reply:
32169@table @samp
32170@item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
32171The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
32172depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
32173possible forms).
32174@item
32175An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
32176or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
32177@end table
32178
32179The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
32180@samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
32181are:
32182
32183@table @samp
32184@item @var{name}=@var{value}
32185The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
32186with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
32187on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
32188@item @var{name}+
32189The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
32190need an associated value.
32191@item @var{name}-
32192The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
32193@item @var{name}?
32194The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
32195@value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
32196needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
32197but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
32198@end table
32199
32200Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
32201supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
32202request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
32203state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
32204a different version of @value{GDBN}.
32205
32206The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
32207are defined:
32208
32209@table @samp
32210@item multiprocess
32211This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
32212extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
32213extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
32214including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
32215@xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
32216
32217@item xmlRegisters
32218This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
32219description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
32220specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
32221description.
32222
32223@item qRelocInsn
32224This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
32225@samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
32226instruction reply packet}).
32227@end table
32228
32229Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
32230@var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
32231packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
32232versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
32233for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
32234advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
32235improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
32236an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
32237of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
32238describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
32239all the features it supports.
32240
32241Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
32242responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
32243
32244Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
32245should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
32246require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
32247form response.
32248
32249Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
32250@samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
32251in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
32252stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
32253
32254Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
32255mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
32256architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
32257about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
32258stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
32259
32260These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
32261
32262@multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
32263@c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
32264@c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
32265@item Feature Name
32266@tab Value Required
32267@tab Default
32268@tab Probe Allowed
32269
32270@item @samp{PacketSize}
32271@tab Yes
32272@tab @samp{-}
32273@tab No
32274
32275@item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
32276@tab No
32277@tab @samp{-}
32278@tab Yes
32279
32280@item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
32281@tab No
32282@tab @samp{-}
32283@tab Yes
32284
32285@item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
32286@tab No
32287@tab @samp{-}
32288@tab Yes
32289
32290@item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
32291@tab No
32292@tab @samp{-}
32293@tab Yes
32294
32295@item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
32296@tab No
32297@tab @samp{-}
32298@tab Yes
32299
32300@item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
32301@tab No
32302@tab @samp{-}
32303@tab Yes
32304
32305@item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
32306@tab No
32307@tab @samp{-}
32308@tab Yes
32309
32310@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
32311@tab No
32312@tab @samp{-}
32313@tab Yes
32314
32315@item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
32316@tab No
32317@tab @samp{-}
32318@tab Yes
32319
32320@item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
32321@tab No
32322@tab @samp{-}
32323@tab Yes
32324
32325
32326@item @samp{QNonStop}
32327@tab No
32328@tab @samp{-}
32329@tab Yes
32330
32331@item @samp{QPassSignals}
32332@tab No
32333@tab @samp{-}
32334@tab Yes
32335
32336@item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
32337@tab No
32338@tab @samp{-}
32339@tab Yes
32340
32341@item @samp{multiprocess}
32342@tab No
32343@tab @samp{-}
32344@tab No
32345
32346@item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
32347@tab No
32348@tab @samp{-}
32349@tab No
32350
32351@item @samp{ReverseContinue}
32352@tab No
32353@tab @samp{-}
32354@tab No
32355
32356@item @samp{ReverseStep}
32357@tab No
32358@tab @samp{-}
32359@tab No
32360
32361@item @samp{TracepointSource}
32362@tab No
32363@tab @samp{-}
32364@tab No
32365
32366@item @samp{QAllow}
32367@tab No
32368@tab @samp{-}
32369@tab No
32370
32371@end multitable
32372
32373These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
32374
32375@table @samp
32376@cindex packet size, remote protocol
32377@item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
32378The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
32379length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
32380transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
32381data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
32382There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
32383stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
32384byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
32385@value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
32386
32387@item qXfer:auxv:read
32388The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
32389(@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
32390
32391@item qXfer:features:read
32392The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
32393(@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
32394
32395@item qXfer:libraries:read
32396The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
32397(@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
32398
32399@item qXfer:memory-map:read
32400The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
32401(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
32402
32403@item qXfer:sdata:read
32404The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
32405(@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
32406
32407@item qXfer:spu:read
32408The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
32409(@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
32410
32411@item qXfer:spu:write
32412The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
32413(@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
32414
32415@item qXfer:siginfo:read
32416The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
32417(@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
32418
32419@item qXfer:siginfo:write
32420The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
32421(@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
32422
32423@item qXfer:threads:read
32424The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
32425(@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
32426
32427@item QNonStop
32428The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
32429(@pxref{QNonStop}).
32430
32431@item QPassSignals
32432The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
32433(@pxref{QPassSignals}).
32434
32435@item QStartNoAckMode
32436The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
32437prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
32438
32439@item multiprocess
32440@anchor{multiprocess extensions}
32441@cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
32442The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
32443protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
32444thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
32445add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
32446replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
32447syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
32448debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
32449multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
32450indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
32451
32452@item qXfer:osdata:read
32453The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
32454((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
32455
32456@item ConditionalTracepoints
32457The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
32458for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
32459
32460@item ReverseContinue
32461The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
32462(@pxref{bc}).
32463
32464@item ReverseStep
32465The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
32466(@pxref{bs}).
32467
32468@item TracepointSource
32469The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
32470the source form of tracepoint definitions.
32471
32472@item QAllow
32473The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
32474
32475@item StaticTracepoint
32476@cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
32477The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
32478
32479@end table
32480
32481@item qSymbol::
32482@cindex symbol lookup, remote request
32483@cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
32484Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
32485requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
32486
32487Reply:
32488@table @samp
32489@item OK
32490The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
32491@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
32492The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
32493@value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
32494@samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
32495below.
32496@end table
32497
32498@item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
32499Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
32500
32501@var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
32502target has previously requested.
32503
32504@var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
32505@value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
32506will be empty.
32507
32508Reply:
32509@table @samp
32510@item OK
32511The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
32512@item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
32513The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
32514encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
32515(if available), until the target ceases to request them.
32516@end table
32517
32518@item qTBuffer
32519@item QTBuffer
32520@item QTDisconnected
32521@itemx QTDP
32522@itemx QTDPsrc
32523@itemx QTDV
32524@itemx qTfP
32525@itemx qTfV
32526@itemx QTFrame
32527@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
32528
32529@item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
32530@cindex thread attributes info, remote request
32531@cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
32532Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
32533the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
32534see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
32535string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
32536for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
32537displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
32538examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
32539@samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
32540
32541Reply:
32542@table @samp
32543@item @var{XX}@dots{}
32544Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
32545comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
32546the thread's attributes.
32547@end table
32548
32549(Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
32550the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
32551conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
32552packets.)
32553
32554@item QTSave
32555@item qTsP
32556@item qTsV
32557@itemx QTStart
32558@itemx QTStop
32559@itemx QTinit
32560@itemx QTro
32561@itemx qTStatus
32562@itemx qTV
32563@itemx qTfSTM
32564@itemx qTsSTM
32565@itemx qTSTMat
32566@xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
32567
32568@item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32569@cindex read special object, remote request
32570@cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
32571@anchor{qXfer read}
32572Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
32573identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
32574starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
32575encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
32576additional details about what data to access.
32577
32578Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
32579@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
32580formats, listed below.
32581
32582@table @samp
32583@item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32584@anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
32585Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
32586auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
32587
32588This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32589by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32590
32591@item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32592@anchor{qXfer target description read}
32593Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
32594annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
32595always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
32596
32597This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32598by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32599
32600@item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32601@anchor{qXfer library list read}
32602Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
32603The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32604(@pxref{qXfer read}).
32605
32606Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
32607not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
32608the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
32609
32610This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32611by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32612
32613@item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32614@anchor{qXfer memory map read}
32615Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
32616annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32617(@pxref{qXfer read}).
32618
32619This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32620by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32621
32622@item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32623@anchor{qXfer sdata read}
32624
32625Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
32626information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
32627be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
32628Action Lists}.
32629
32630This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32631by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32632(@pxref{qSupported}).
32633
32634@item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32635@anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
32636Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
32637system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
32638empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32639
32640This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32641by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32642(@pxref{qSupported}).
32643
32644@item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32645@anchor{qXfer spu read}
32646Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
32647annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
32648@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
32649in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
32650in that context to be accessed.
32651
32652This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32653by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32654(@pxref{qSupported}).
32655
32656@item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32657@anchor{qXfer threads read}
32658Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
32659annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32660(@pxref{qXfer read}).
32661
32662This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32663by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32664
32665@item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32666@anchor{qXfer osdata read}
32667Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
32668@xref{Operating System Information}.
32669
32670@end table
32671
32672Reply:
32673@table @samp
32674@item m @var{data}
32675Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
32676target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
32677it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
32678block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
32679@var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
32680request.
32681
32682@item l @var{data}
32683Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
32684There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
32685than the @var{length} in the request.
32686
32687@item l
32688The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
32689There is no more data to be read.
32690
32691@item E00
32692The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
32693
32694@item E @var{nn}
32695The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
32696@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
32697
32698@item
32699An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
32700the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
32701@end table
32702
32703@item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32704@cindex write data into object, remote request
32705@anchor{qXfer write}
32706Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
32707identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
32708into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
32709(@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
32710is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
32711to access.
32712
32713Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
32714@samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
32715formats, listed below.
32716
32717@table @samp
32718@item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32719@anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
32720Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
32721The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
32722empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
32723
32724This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32725by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32726(@pxref{qSupported}).
32727
32728@item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32729@anchor{qXfer spu write}
32730Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
32731annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
32732@file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
32733in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
32734in that context to be accessed.
32735
32736This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32737by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32738@end table
32739
32740Reply:
32741@table @samp
32742@item @var{nn}
32743@var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
32744This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
32745
32746@item E00
32747The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
32748
32749@item E @var{nn}
32750The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
32751@var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
32752
32753@item
32754An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
32755recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
32756@end table
32757
32758@item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
32759Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
32760not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
32761@var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
32762must respond with an empty packet.
32763
32764@item qAttached:@var{pid}
32765@cindex query attached, remote request
32766@cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
32767Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
32768existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
32769protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
32770@var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
32771process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
32772the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
32773
32774This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
32775should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
32776the @code{quit} command.
32777
32778Reply:
32779@table @samp
32780@item 1
32781The remote server attached to an existing process.
32782@item 0
32783The remote server created a new process.
32784@item E @var{NN}
32785A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
32786@end table
32787
32788@end table
32789
32790@node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
32791@section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
32792
32793This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
32794target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
32795details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
32796
32797@subsection ARM
32798
32799@subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
32800
32801These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
32802
32803@table @r
32804
32805@item 2
3280616-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
32807
32808@item 3
3280932-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
32810
32811@item 4
3281232-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
32813
32814@end table
32815
32816@subsection MIPS
32817
32818@subsubsection Register Packet Format
32819
32820The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
32821In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
32822sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
32823to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
32824byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
32825most-significant - least-significant.
32826
32827@table @r
32828
32829@item MIPS32
32830
32831All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
3283232 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
32833registers; fsr; fir; fp.
32834
32835@item MIPS64
32836
32837All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
32838thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
32839as @code{MIPS32}.
32840
32841@end table
32842
32843@node Tracepoint Packets
32844@section Tracepoint Packets
32845@cindex tracepoint packets
32846@cindex packets, tracepoint
32847
32848Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
32849tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
32850
32851@table @samp
32852
32853@item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
32854Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
32855is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
32856the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
32857count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
32858then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
32859the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
32860for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
32861tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
32862by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
32863encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
32864further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
32865actions.
32866
32867Replies:
32868@table @samp
32869@item OK
32870The packet was understood and carried out.
32871@item qRelocInsn
32872@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
32873@item
32874The packet was not recognized.
32875@end table
32876
32877@item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
32878Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
32879@var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
32880this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
32881another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
32882trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
32883specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
32884
32885In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
32886can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
32887is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
32888actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
32889taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
32890@samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
32891tracepoint actions.
32892
32893The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
32894actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
32895following forms:
32896
32897@table @samp
32898
32899@item R @var{mask}
32900Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
32901a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
32902@var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
32903zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
32904not fit in a 32-bit word.
32905
32906@item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
32907Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
32908number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
32909@samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
32910address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
32911@var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
32912values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
32913
32914@item X @var{len},@var{expr}
32915Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
32916it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
32917@ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
32918two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
32919in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
32920packet).
32921
32922@end table
32923
32924Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
32925packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
32926length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
32927action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
32928actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
32929must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
32930``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
32931separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
32932
32933Replies:
32934@table @samp
32935@item OK
32936The packet was understood and carried out.
32937@item qRelocInsn
32938@xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
32939@item
32940The packet was not recognized.
32941@end table
32942
32943@item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
32944@cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
32945Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
32946This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
32947originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
32948is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
32949tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
32950@var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
32951
32952@var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
32953string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
32954This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
32955fit in a single packet.
32956@c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
32957@c tracepoint descriptions section.
32958
32959The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
32960@samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
32961@value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
32962list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
32963
32964The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
32965report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
32966query packets.
32967
32968Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
32969if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
32970Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
32971much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
32972tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
32973the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
32974could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
32975be found.
32976
32977@item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
32978@cindex define trace state variable, remote request
32979@cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
32980Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
32981value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
32982and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
32983the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
32984target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
32985mentioned in expressions.
32986
32987@item QTFrame:@var{n}
32988Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
32989register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
32990request packets from @value{GDBN}.
32991
32992A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
32993requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
32994without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
32995one of the following forms:
32996
32997@table @samp
32998@item F @var{f}
32999The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
33000@var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
33001was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
33002
33003@item T @var{t}
33004The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
33005@var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
33006
33007@end table
33008
33009@item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
33010Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33011currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
33012@var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
33013
33014@item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
33015Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33016currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
33017is a hexadecimal number.
33018
33019@item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
33020Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
33021currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
33022and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
33023numbers.
33024
33025@item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
33026Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
33027frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
33028
33029@item QTStart
33030Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
33031tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
33032@samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
33033instruction reply packet}).
33034
33035@item QTStop
33036End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
33037
33038@item QTinit
33039Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
33040
33041@item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
33042Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
33043will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
33044if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
33045
33046@value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
33047containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
33048still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
33049there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
33050
33051@item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
33052Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
33053disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
33054continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
33055@value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
33056
33057@item qTStatus
33058Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
33059
33060The reply has the form:
33061
33062@table @samp
33063
33064@item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
33065@var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
33066running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
33067optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
33068
33069@end table
33070
33071If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
33072explanations as one of the optional fields:
33073
33074@table @samp
33075
33076@item tnotrun:0
33077No trace has been run yet.
33078
33079@item tstop:0
33080The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
33081
33082@item tfull:0
33083The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
33084
33085@item tdisconnected:0
33086The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
33087
33088@item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
33089The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
33090
33091@item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
33092The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
33093string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
33094(for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
33095@var{text} is hex encoded.
33096
33097@item tunknown:0
33098The trace stopped for some other reason.
33099
33100@end table
33101
33102Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
33103Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
33104the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
33105numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
33106trace.
33107
33108@table @samp
33109
33110@item tframes:@var{n}
33111The number of trace frames in the buffer.
33112
33113@item tcreated:@var{n}
33114The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
33115be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
33116
33117@item tsize:@var{n}
33118The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
33119
33120@item tfree:@var{n}
33121The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
33122
33123@item circular:@var{n}
33124The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
33125trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
33126necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
33127and may fill up.
33128
33129@item disconn:@var{n}
33130The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
33131tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
33132that the trace run will stop.
33133
33134@end table
33135
33136@item qTV:@var{var}
33137@cindex trace state variable value, remote request
33138@cindex @samp{qTV} packet
33139Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
33140
33141Replies:
33142@table @samp
33143@item V@var{value}
33144The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
33145value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
33146saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
33147user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
33148different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
33149program is running.
33150
33151@item U
33152The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
33153if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
33154was not collected.
33155@end table
33156
33157@item qTfP
33158@itemx qTsP
33159These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
33160the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
33161of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
33162to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
33163that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
33164
33165@item qTfV
33166@itemx qTsV
33167These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
33168target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
33169and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
33170these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
33171trace state variables.
33172
33173@item qTfSTM
33174@itemx qTsSTM
33175These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
33176in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
33177first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
33178pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
33179
33180Reply:
33181@table @samp
33182@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
33183A single marker
33184@item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
33185a comma-separated list of markers
33186@item l
33187(lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
33188@item E @var{nn}
33189An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
33190@item
33191An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
33192stub.
33193@end table
33194
33195@var{address} is encoded in hex.
33196@var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
33197
33198In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
33199more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
33200reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
33201query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
33202@dfn{last}).
33203
33204@item qTSTMat:@var{address}
33205This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
33206target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
33207syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
33208tracepoint markers.
33209
33210@item QTSave:@var{filename}
33211This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
33212@var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
33213as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
33214absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
33215
33216@item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
33217Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
33218starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
33219a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
33220The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
33221in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
33222A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
33223available.
33224
33225@item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
33226This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
33227@var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
33228
33229@end table
33230
33231@subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
33232When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
33233relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
33234different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
33235enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
33236return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
33237PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
33238of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
33239it had executed in the original location.
33240
33241In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
33242respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
33243packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
33244this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
33245documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
33246descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
33247format of the request is:
33248
33249@table @samp
33250@item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
33251
33252This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
33253to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
33254instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
33255@var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
33256memory starting at @var{to}.
33257@end table
33258
33259Replies:
33260@table @samp
33261@item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
33262Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
33263the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
33264@item E @var{NN}
33265A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
33266relocating the instruction.
33267@end table
33268
33269@node Host I/O Packets
33270@section Host I/O Packets
33271@cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
33272@cindex file transfer, remote protocol
33273
33274The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
33275operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
33276used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
33277filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
33278layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
33279Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
33280protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
33281Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
33282target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
33283Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
33284
33285The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
33286its arguments. They have this format:
33287
33288@table @samp
33289
33290@item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
33291@var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
33292should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
33293for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
33294the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
33295numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
33296used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
33297hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
33298buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
33299
33300@end table
33301
33302The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
33303
33304@table @samp
33305
33306@item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
33307@var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
33308non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
33309@var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
33310value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
33311operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
33312binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
33313normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
33314documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
33315@var{attachment}.
33316
33317@item
33318An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
33319
33320@end table
33321
33322These are the supported Host I/O operations:
33323
33324@table @samp
33325@item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
33326Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
33327return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
33328@var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
33329(@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
33330of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
33331@xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
33332
33333@item vFile:close: @var{fd}
33334Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
33335-1 if an error occurs.
33336
33337@item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
33338Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
33339@var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
33340relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
33341common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
33342condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
33343returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
33344@var{count} was zero.
33345
33346The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
33347If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
33348attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
33349number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
33350some characters were escaped.
33351
33352@item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
33353Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
33354to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
33355file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
33356separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
33357packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
33358which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
33359error occurred.
33360
33361@item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
33362Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
33363or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
33364
33365@end table
33366
33367@node Interrupts
33368@section Interrupts
33369@cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
33370
33371When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
33372attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
33373a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
33374control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
33375
33376The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
33377mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
33378currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
33379interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
33380@code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
33381
33382@samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
33383transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
33384@code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
33385the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
33386transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
33387and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
33388(@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
33389@code{0x03} as part of its packet.
33390
33391@code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
33392When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
33393it stops execution and connects to gdb.
33394
33395Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
33396precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
33397implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
33398threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
33399currently-executing threads and processes.
33400If the stub is successful at interrupting the
33401running program, it should send one of the stop
33402reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
33403of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
33404for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
33405Interrupts received while the
33406program is stopped are discarded.
33407
33408@node Notification Packets
33409@section Notification Packets
33410@cindex notification packets
33411@cindex packets, notification
33412
33413The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
33414packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
33415may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
33416present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
33417without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
33418are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
33419is not a problem.
33420
33421A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
33422@var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
33423and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
33424as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
33425never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
33426receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
33427to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
33428
33429Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
33430colon characters, followed by a colon character.
33431
33432Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
33433notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
33434timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
33435not they understand it.
33436
33437Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
33438protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
33439future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
33440new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
33441recipients.
33442
33443(Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
33444the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
33445transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
33446are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
33447assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
33448
33449The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
33450defined:
33451
33452@table @samp
33453@item Stop: @var{reply}
33454Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
33455The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
33456described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
33457for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
33458@value{GDBN}.
33459@end table
33460
33461@node Remote Non-Stop
33462@section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
33463
33464@value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
33465multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
33466supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
33467@samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
33468
33469@value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
33470establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
33471does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
33472must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
33473all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
33474probe the target state after a mode change.
33475
33476In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
33477would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
33478asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
33479inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
33480in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
33481mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
33482when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
33483of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
33484affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
33485to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
33486threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
33487
33488Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
33489additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
33490previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
33491synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
33492@value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
33493the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
33494if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
33495ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
33496finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
33497sending any queued stop events.
33498
33499Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
33500notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
33501@value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
33502@value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
33503@samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
33504Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
33505the stub so there is no ambiguity.
33506
33507After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
33508acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
33509as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
33510is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
33511send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
33512process normally.
33513
33514Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
33515stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
33516normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
33517@samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
33518permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
33519should process normally.
33520
33521If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
33522additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
33523response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
33524send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
33525notification, and the process shall be repeated.
33526
33527In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
33528follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
33529sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
33530sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
33531it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
33532stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
33533subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
33534using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
33535asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
33536If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
33537or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
33538@samp{OK}.
33539
33540@node Packet Acknowledgment
33541@section Packet Acknowledgment
33542
33543@cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
33544@cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
33545By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
33546the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
33547the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
33548This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
33549unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
33550
33551In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
33552TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
33553It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
33554overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
33555@samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
33556
33557When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
33558expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
33559and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
33560@ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
33561
33562If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
33563no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
33564by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
33565@pxref{qSupported}.
33566If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
33567disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
33568(@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
33569@value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
33570Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
33571@value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
33572response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
33573
33574Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
33575between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
33576it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
33577connection.
33578Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
33579new connection is established,
33580there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
33581for the current connection, once disabled.
33582
33583@node Examples
33584@section Examples
33585
33586Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
33587does not get any direct output:
33588
33589@smallexample
33590-> @code{R00}
33591<- @code{+}
33592@emph{target restarts}
33593-> @code{?}
33594<- @code{+}
33595<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
33596-> @code{+}
33597@end smallexample
33598
33599Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
33600
33601@smallexample
33602-> @code{G1445@dots{}}
33603<- @code{+}
33604-> @code{s}
33605<- @code{+}
33606@emph{time passes}
33607<- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
33608-> @code{+}
33609-> @code{g}
33610<- @code{+}
33611<- @code{1455@dots{}}
33612-> @code{+}
33613@end smallexample
33614
33615@node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
33616@section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
33617@cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
33618
33619@menu
33620* File-I/O Overview::
33621* Protocol Basics::
33622* The F Request Packet::
33623* The F Reply Packet::
33624* The Ctrl-C Message::
33625* Console I/O::
33626* List of Supported Calls::
33627* Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
33628* Constants::
33629* File-I/O Examples::
33630@end menu
33631
33632@node File-I/O Overview
33633@subsection File-I/O Overview
33634@cindex file-i/o overview
33635
33636The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
33637target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
33638system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
33639remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
33640actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
33641This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
33642
33643The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
33644It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
33645@value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
33646translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
33647protocol representations when data is transmitted.
33648
33649The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
33650@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
33651or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
33652the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
33653memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
33654the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
33655(@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
33656
33657The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
33658the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
33659after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
33660previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
33661request from @value{GDBN} is required.
33662
33663@smallexample
33664(@value{GDBP}) continue
33665 <- target requests 'system call X'
33666 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
33667 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
33668 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
33669 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
33670@end smallexample
33671
33672The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
33673the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
33674named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
33675system are not supported by this protocol.
33676
33677File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
33678
33679@node Protocol Basics
33680@subsection Protocol Basics
33681@cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
33682
33683The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
33684as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
33685@value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
33686the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
33687of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
33688This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
33689to call the appropriate host system call:
33690
33691@itemize @bullet
33692@item
33693A unique identifier for the requested system call.
33694
33695@item
33696All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
33697in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
33698pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
33699Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
33700
33701@end itemize
33702
33703At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
33704
33705@itemize @bullet
33706@item
33707If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
33708system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
33709standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
33710expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
33711packet.
33712
33713@item
33714@value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
33715representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
33716
33717@item
33718@value{GDBN} calls the system call.
33719
33720@item
33721It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
33722
33723@item
33724If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
33725by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
33726target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
33727by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
33728packet.
33729
33730@end itemize
33731
33732Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
33733necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
33734
33735@itemize @bullet
33736@item
33737Return value.
33738
33739@item
33740@code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
33741
33742@item
33743``Ctrl-C'' flag.
33744
33745@end itemize
33746
33747After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
33748the latest continue or step action.
33749
33750@node The F Request Packet
33751@subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
33752@cindex file-i/o request packet
33753@cindex @code{F} request packet
33754
33755The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
33756
33757@table @samp
33758@item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
33759
33760@var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
33761This is just the name of the function.
33762
33763@var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
33764Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
33765of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
33766datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
33767of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
33768comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
33769string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
33770
33771@end table
33772
33773
33774
33775@node The F Reply Packet
33776@subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
33777@cindex file-i/o reply packet
33778@cindex @code{F} reply packet
33779
33780The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
33781
33782@table @samp
33783
33784@item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
33785
33786@var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
33787
33788@var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
33789representation.
33790This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
33791
33792@var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
33793case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
33794The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
33795
33796@smallexample
33797F0,0,C
33798@end smallexample
33799
33800@noindent
33801or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
33802
33803@smallexample
33804F-1,4,C
33805@end smallexample
33806
33807@noindent
33808assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
33809
33810@end table
33811
33812
33813@node The Ctrl-C Message
33814@subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
33815@cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
33816
33817If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
33818reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
33819the target should behave as if it had
33820gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
33821interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
33822(as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
33823packet.
33824
33825It's important for the target to know in which
33826state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
33827
33828@itemize @bullet
33829@item
33830The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
33831
33832@item
33833The system call on the host has been finished.
33834
33835@end itemize
33836
33837These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
33838returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
33839call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
33840on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
33841system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
33842as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
33843
33844@value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
33845yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
33846@code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
33847before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
33848@value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
33849The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
33850or the full action has been completed.
33851
33852@node Console I/O
33853@subsection Console I/O
33854@cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
33855
33856By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
33857descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
33858on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
33859(@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
33860by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
338610 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
33862conditions is met:
33863
33864@itemize @bullet
33865@item
33866The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
33867@code{read}
33868system call is treated as finished.
33869
33870@item
33871The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
33872newline.
33873
33874@item
33875The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
33876character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
33877
33878@end itemize
33879
33880If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
33881the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
33882either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
33883is stopped at the user's request.
33884
33885
33886@node List of Supported Calls
33887@subsection List of Supported Calls
33888@cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
33889
33890@menu
33891* open::
33892* close::
33893* read::
33894* write::
33895* lseek::
33896* rename::
33897* unlink::
33898* stat/fstat::
33899* gettimeofday::
33900* isatty::
33901* system::
33902@end menu
33903
33904@node open
33905@unnumberedsubsubsec open
33906@cindex open, file-i/o system call
33907
33908@table @asis
33909@item Synopsis:
33910@smallexample
33911int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
33912int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
33913@end smallexample
33914
33915@item Request:
33916@samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
33917
33918@noindent
33919@var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
33920
33921@table @code
33922@item O_CREAT
33923If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
33924rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
33925are concerned.
33926
33927@item O_EXCL
33928When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
33929an error and open() fails.
33930
33931@item O_TRUNC
33932If the file already exists and the open mode allows
33933writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
33934truncated to zero length.
33935
33936@item O_APPEND
33937The file is opened in append mode.
33938
33939@item O_RDONLY
33940The file is opened for reading only.
33941
33942@item O_WRONLY
33943The file is opened for writing only.
33944
33945@item O_RDWR
33946The file is opened for reading and writing.
33947@end table
33948
33949@noindent
33950Other bits are silently ignored.
33951
33952
33953@noindent
33954@var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
33955
33956@table @code
33957@item S_IRUSR
33958User has read permission.
33959
33960@item S_IWUSR
33961User has write permission.
33962
33963@item S_IRGRP
33964Group has read permission.
33965
33966@item S_IWGRP
33967Group has write permission.
33968
33969@item S_IROTH
33970Others have read permission.
33971
33972@item S_IWOTH
33973Others have write permission.
33974@end table
33975
33976@noindent
33977Other bits are silently ignored.
33978
33979
33980@item Return value:
33981@code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
33982occurred.
33983
33984@item Errors:
33985
33986@table @code
33987@item EEXIST
33988@var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
33989
33990@item EISDIR
33991@var{pathname} refers to a directory.
33992
33993@item EACCES
33994The requested access is not allowed.
33995
33996@item ENAMETOOLONG
33997@var{pathname} was too long.
33998
33999@item ENOENT
34000A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
34001
34002@item ENODEV
34003@var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
34004
34005@item EROFS
34006@var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
34007write access was requested.
34008
34009@item EFAULT
34010@var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
34011
34012@item ENOSPC
34013No space on device to create the file.
34014
34015@item EMFILE
34016The process already has the maximum number of files open.
34017
34018@item ENFILE
34019The limit on the total number of files open on the system
34020has been reached.
34021
34022@item EINTR
34023The call was interrupted by the user.
34024@end table
34025
34026@end table
34027
34028@node close
34029@unnumberedsubsubsec close
34030@cindex close, file-i/o system call
34031
34032@table @asis
34033@item Synopsis:
34034@smallexample
34035int close(int fd);
34036@end smallexample
34037
34038@item Request:
34039@samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
34040
34041@item Return value:
34042@code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
34043
34044@item Errors:
34045
34046@table @code
34047@item EBADF
34048@var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
34049
34050@item EINTR
34051The call was interrupted by the user.
34052@end table
34053
34054@end table
34055
34056@node read
34057@unnumberedsubsubsec read
34058@cindex read, file-i/o system call
34059
34060@table @asis
34061@item Synopsis:
34062@smallexample
34063int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
34064@end smallexample
34065
34066@item Request:
34067@samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
34068
34069@item Return value:
34070On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
34071Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
34072returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
34073
34074@item Errors:
34075
34076@table @code
34077@item EBADF
34078@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
34079reading.
34080
34081@item EFAULT
34082@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34083
34084@item EINTR
34085The call was interrupted by the user.
34086@end table
34087
34088@end table
34089
34090@node write
34091@unnumberedsubsubsec write
34092@cindex write, file-i/o system call
34093
34094@table @asis
34095@item Synopsis:
34096@smallexample
34097int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
34098@end smallexample
34099
34100@item Request:
34101@samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
34102
34103@item Return value:
34104On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
34105Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
34106is returned.
34107
34108@item Errors:
34109
34110@table @code
34111@item EBADF
34112@var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
34113writing.
34114
34115@item EFAULT
34116@var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34117
34118@item EFBIG
34119An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
34120host-specific maximum file size allowed.
34121
34122@item ENOSPC
34123No space on device to write the data.
34124
34125@item EINTR
34126The call was interrupted by the user.
34127@end table
34128
34129@end table
34130
34131@node lseek
34132@unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
34133@cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
34134
34135@table @asis
34136@item Synopsis:
34137@smallexample
34138long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
34139@end smallexample
34140
34141@item Request:
34142@samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
34143
34144@var{flag} is one of:
34145
34146@table @code
34147@item SEEK_SET
34148The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
34149
34150@item SEEK_CUR
34151The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
34152bytes.
34153
34154@item SEEK_END
34155The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
34156bytes.
34157@end table
34158
34159@item Return value:
34160On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
34161the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
34162value of -1 is returned.
34163
34164@item Errors:
34165
34166@table @code
34167@item EBADF
34168@var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
34169
34170@item ESPIPE
34171@var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
34172
34173@item EINVAL
34174@var{flag} is not a proper value.
34175
34176@item EINTR
34177The call was interrupted by the user.
34178@end table
34179
34180@end table
34181
34182@node rename
34183@unnumberedsubsubsec rename
34184@cindex rename, file-i/o system call
34185
34186@table @asis
34187@item Synopsis:
34188@smallexample
34189int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
34190@end smallexample
34191
34192@item Request:
34193@samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
34194
34195@item Return value:
34196On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
34197
34198@item Errors:
34199
34200@table @code
34201@item EISDIR
34202@var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
34203directory.
34204
34205@item EEXIST
34206@var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
34207
34208@item EBUSY
34209@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
34210process.
34211
34212@item EINVAL
34213An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
34214of itself.
34215
34216@item ENOTDIR
34217A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
34218path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
34219and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
34220
34221@item EFAULT
34222@var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
34223
34224@item EACCES
34225No access to the file or the path of the file.
34226
34227@item ENAMETOOLONG
34228
34229@var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
34230
34231@item ENOENT
34232A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
34233
34234@item EROFS
34235The file is on a read-only filesystem.
34236
34237@item ENOSPC
34238The device containing the file has no room for the new
34239directory entry.
34240
34241@item EINTR
34242The call was interrupted by the user.
34243@end table
34244
34245@end table
34246
34247@node unlink
34248@unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
34249@cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
34250
34251@table @asis
34252@item Synopsis:
34253@smallexample
34254int unlink(const char *pathname);
34255@end smallexample
34256
34257@item Request:
34258@samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
34259
34260@item Return value:
34261On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
34262
34263@item Errors:
34264
34265@table @code
34266@item EACCES
34267No access to the file or the path of the file.
34268
34269@item EPERM
34270The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
34271
34272@item EBUSY
34273The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
34274being used by another process.
34275
34276@item EFAULT
34277@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34278
34279@item ENAMETOOLONG
34280@var{pathname} was too long.
34281
34282@item ENOENT
34283A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
34284
34285@item ENOTDIR
34286A component of the path is not a directory.
34287
34288@item EROFS
34289The file is on a read-only filesystem.
34290
34291@item EINTR
34292The call was interrupted by the user.
34293@end table
34294
34295@end table
34296
34297@node stat/fstat
34298@unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
34299@cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
34300@cindex stat, file-i/o system call
34301
34302@table @asis
34303@item Synopsis:
34304@smallexample
34305int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
34306int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
34307@end smallexample
34308
34309@item Request:
34310@samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
34311@samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
34312
34313@item Return value:
34314On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
34315
34316@item Errors:
34317
34318@table @code
34319@item EBADF
34320@var{fd} is not a valid open file.
34321
34322@item ENOENT
34323A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
34324path is an empty string.
34325
34326@item ENOTDIR
34327A component of the path is not a directory.
34328
34329@item EFAULT
34330@var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34331
34332@item EACCES
34333No access to the file or the path of the file.
34334
34335@item ENAMETOOLONG
34336@var{pathname} was too long.
34337
34338@item EINTR
34339The call was interrupted by the user.
34340@end table
34341
34342@end table
34343
34344@node gettimeofday
34345@unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
34346@cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
34347
34348@table @asis
34349@item Synopsis:
34350@smallexample
34351int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
34352@end smallexample
34353
34354@item Request:
34355@samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
34356
34357@item Return value:
34358On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
34359
34360@item Errors:
34361
34362@table @code
34363@item EINVAL
34364@var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
34365
34366@item EFAULT
34367@var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
34368@end table
34369
34370@end table
34371
34372@node isatty
34373@unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
34374@cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
34375
34376@table @asis
34377@item Synopsis:
34378@smallexample
34379int isatty(int fd);
34380@end smallexample
34381
34382@item Request:
34383@samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
34384
34385@item Return value:
34386Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
34387
34388@item Errors:
34389
34390@table @code
34391@item EINTR
34392The call was interrupted by the user.
34393@end table
34394
34395@end table
34396
34397Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
343981 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
34399to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
34400would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
34401needed.
34402
34403
34404@node system
34405@unnumberedsubsubsec system
34406@cindex system, file-i/o system call
34407
34408@table @asis
34409@item Synopsis:
34410@smallexample
34411int system(const char *command);
34412@end smallexample
34413
34414@item Request:
34415@samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
34416
34417@item Return value:
34418If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
34419available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
34420For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
34421return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
34422command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
34423return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
34424@file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
34425
34426@item Errors:
34427
34428@table @code
34429@item EINTR
34430The call was interrupted by the user.
34431@end table
34432
34433@end table
34434
34435@value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
34436to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
34437the host is simplified before it's returned
34438to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
34439is discarded, and the return value consists
34440entirely of the exit status of the called command.
34441
34442Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
34443by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
34444@code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
34445
34446@table @code
34447@item set remote system-call-allowed
34448@kindex set remote system-call-allowed
34449Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
34450protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
34451
34452@item show remote system-call-allowed
34453@kindex show remote system-call-allowed
34454Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
34455protocol.
34456@end table
34457
34458@node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
34459@subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
34460@cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
34461
34462@menu
34463* Integral Datatypes::
34464* Pointer Values::
34465* Memory Transfer::
34466* struct stat::
34467* struct timeval::
34468@end menu
34469
34470@node Integral Datatypes
34471@unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
34472@cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
34473
34474The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
34475@code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
34476@code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
34477
34478@code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
34479implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
34480
34481@code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
34482
34483@xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
34484in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
34485
34486@code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
34487
34488All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
34489structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
34490byte order.
34491
34492@node Pointer Values
34493@unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
34494@cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
34495
34496Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
34497is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
34498transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
34499are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
34500
34501@smallexample
34502@code{1aaf/12}
34503@end smallexample
34504
34505@noindent
34506which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
34507The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
34508the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
34509at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
34510
34511@smallexample
34512@code{123456/d}
34513@end smallexample
34514
34515@node Memory Transfer
34516@unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
34517@cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
34518
34519Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
34520example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
34521with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
34522this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
34523packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
34524it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
34525data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
34526
34527
34528@node struct stat
34529@unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
34530@cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
34531
34532The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
34533is defined as follows:
34534
34535@smallexample
34536struct stat @{
34537 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
34538 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
34539 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
34540 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
34541 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
34542 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
34543 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
34544 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
34545 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
34546 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
34547 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
34548 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
34549 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
34550@};
34551@end smallexample
34552
34553The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
34554appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
34555structure is of size 64 bytes.
34556
34557The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
34558range of values.
34559
34560@table @code
34561
34562@item st_dev
34563A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
34564
34565@item st_ino
34566No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
34567
34568@item st_mode
34569Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
34570bits have currently no meaning for the target.
34571
34572@item st_uid
34573@itemx st_gid
34574@itemx st_rdev
34575No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
34576
34577@item st_atime
34578@itemx st_mtime
34579@itemx st_ctime
34580These values have a host and file system dependent
34581accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
34582support exact timing values.
34583@end table
34584
34585The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
34586responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
34587continuing.
34588
34589Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
34590representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
34591get truncated on the target.
34592
34593@node struct timeval
34594@unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
34595@cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
34596
34597The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
34598is defined as follows:
34599
34600@smallexample
34601struct timeval @{
34602 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
34603 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
34604@};
34605@end smallexample
34606
34607The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
34608appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
34609structure is of size 8 bytes.
34610
34611@node Constants
34612@subsection Constants
34613@cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
34614
34615The following values are used for the constants inside of the
34616protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
34617values before and after the call as needed.
34618
34619@menu
34620* Open Flags::
34621* mode_t Values::
34622* Errno Values::
34623* Lseek Flags::
34624* Limits::
34625@end menu
34626
34627@node Open Flags
34628@unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
34629@cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
34630
34631All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
34632
34633@smallexample
34634 O_RDONLY 0x0
34635 O_WRONLY 0x1
34636 O_RDWR 0x2
34637 O_APPEND 0x8
34638 O_CREAT 0x200
34639 O_TRUNC 0x400
34640 O_EXCL 0x800
34641@end smallexample
34642
34643@node mode_t Values
34644@unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
34645@cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
34646
34647All values are given in octal representation.
34648
34649@smallexample
34650 S_IFREG 0100000
34651 S_IFDIR 040000
34652 S_IRUSR 0400
34653 S_IWUSR 0200
34654 S_IXUSR 0100
34655 S_IRGRP 040
34656 S_IWGRP 020
34657 S_IXGRP 010
34658 S_IROTH 04
34659 S_IWOTH 02
34660 S_IXOTH 01
34661@end smallexample
34662
34663@node Errno Values
34664@unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
34665@cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
34666
34667All values are given in decimal representation.
34668
34669@smallexample
34670 EPERM 1
34671 ENOENT 2
34672 EINTR 4
34673 EBADF 9
34674 EACCES 13
34675 EFAULT 14
34676 EBUSY 16
34677 EEXIST 17
34678 ENODEV 19
34679 ENOTDIR 20
34680 EISDIR 21
34681 EINVAL 22
34682 ENFILE 23
34683 EMFILE 24
34684 EFBIG 27
34685 ENOSPC 28
34686 ESPIPE 29
34687 EROFS 30
34688 ENAMETOOLONG 91
34689 EUNKNOWN 9999
34690@end smallexample
34691
34692 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
34693 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
34694
34695@node Lseek Flags
34696@unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
34697@cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
34698
34699@smallexample
34700 SEEK_SET 0
34701 SEEK_CUR 1
34702 SEEK_END 2
34703@end smallexample
34704
34705@node Limits
34706@unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
34707@cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
34708
34709All values are given in decimal representation.
34710
34711@smallexample
34712 INT_MIN -2147483648
34713 INT_MAX 2147483647
34714 UINT_MAX 4294967295
34715 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
34716 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
34717 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
34718@end smallexample
34719
34720@node File-I/O Examples
34721@subsection File-I/O Examples
34722@cindex file-i/o examples
34723
34724Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
34725address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
34726
34727@smallexample
34728<- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
34729@emph{request memory read from target}
34730-> @code{m1234,6}
34731<- XXXXXX
34732@emph{return "6 bytes written"}
34733-> @code{F6}
34734@end smallexample
34735
34736Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
34737address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
34738
34739@smallexample
34740<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34741@emph{request memory write to target}
34742-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
34743@emph{return "6 bytes read"}
34744-> @code{F6}
34745@end smallexample
34746
34747Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
34748file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
34749
34750@smallexample
34751<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34752-> @code{F-1,9}
34753@end smallexample
34754
34755Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
34756host is called:
34757
34758@smallexample
34759<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34760-> @code{F-1,4,C}
34761<- @code{T02}
34762@end smallexample
34763
34764Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
34765host is called:
34766
34767@smallexample
34768<- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34769-> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
34770<- @code{T02}
34771@end smallexample
34772
34773@node Library List Format
34774@section Library List Format
34775@cindex library list format, remote protocol
34776
34777On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
34778same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
34779@value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
34780operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
34781platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
34782@value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
34783through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
34784packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
34785queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
34786are loaded.
34787
34788The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
34789lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
34790associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
34791which report where the library was loaded in memory.
34792
34793For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
34794library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
34795dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
34796should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
34797section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
34798depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
34799
34800@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34801library lists. @xref{Expat}.
34802
34803A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
34804offset, looks like this:
34805
34806@smallexample
34807<library-list>
34808 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
34809 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
34810 </library>
34811</library-list>
34812@end smallexample
34813
34814Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
34815allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
34816
34817@smallexample
34818<library-list>
34819 <library name="sharedlib.o">
34820 <section address="0x10000000"/>
34821 <section address="0x20000000"/>
34822 <section address="0x30000000"/>
34823 </library>
34824</library-list>
34825@end smallexample
34826
34827The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
34828
34829@smallexample
34830<!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
34831<!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
34832<!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
34833<!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
34834<!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
34835<!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
34836<!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
34837<!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
34838<!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
34839@end smallexample
34840
34841In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
34842single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
34843section for each library.
34844
34845@node Memory Map Format
34846@section Memory Map Format
34847@cindex memory map format
34848
34849To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
34850memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
34851memory map.
34852
34853The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
34854(@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
34855lists memory regions.
34856
34857@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34858memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
34859
34860The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
34861
34862@smallexample
34863<?xml version="1.0"?>
34864<!DOCTYPE memory-map
34865 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
34866 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
34867<memory-map>
34868 region...
34869</memory-map>
34870@end smallexample
34871
34872Each region can be either:
34873
34874@itemize
34875
34876@item
34877A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
34878bytes from there:
34879
34880@smallexample
34881<memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
34882@end smallexample
34883
34884
34885@item
34886A region of read-only memory:
34887
34888@smallexample
34889<memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
34890@end smallexample
34891
34892
34893@item
34894A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
34895bytes in length:
34896
34897@smallexample
34898<memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
34899 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
34900</memory>
34901@end smallexample
34902
34903@end itemize
34904
34905Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
34906by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
34907packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
34908
34909The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
34910
34911@smallexample
34912<!-- ................................................... -->
34913<!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
34914<!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
34915<!-- .................................... .............. -->
34916<!-- memory-map.dtd -->
34917<!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
34918<!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
34919<!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
34920<!ELEMENT memory (property)>
34921<!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
34922 and its type, or device. -->
34923<!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
34924 start CDATA #REQUIRED
34925 length CDATA #REQUIRED
34926 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
34927<!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
34928<!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
34929<!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
34930@end smallexample
34931
34932@node Thread List Format
34933@section Thread List Format
34934@cindex thread list format
34935
34936To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
34937@value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
34938(@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
34939the following structure:
34940
34941@smallexample
34942<?xml version="1.0"?>
34943<threads>
34944 <thread id="id" core="0">
34945 ... description ...
34946 </thread>
34947</threads>
34948@end smallexample
34949
34950Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
34951identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
34952@samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
34953the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
34954element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
34955
34956@include agentexpr.texi
34957
34958@node Trace File Format
34959@appendix Trace File Format
34960@cindex trace file format
34961
34962The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
34963section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
34964
34965The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
34966@code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
34967while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
34968in the future.
34969
34970The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
34971separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
34972variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
34973as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
34974ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
34975of this section.
34976
34977@c FIXME add some specific types of data
34978
34979The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
34980Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
34981four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
34982the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
34983character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
34984state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
34985hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
34986endianness.
34987
34988@c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
34989
34990@table @code
34991@item R @var{bytes}
34992Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
34993@code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
34994actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
34995hexadecimal encoding.
34996
34997@item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
34998Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
34999address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
35000@var{length} bytes.
35001
35002@item V @var{number} @var{value}
35003Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
35004@var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
35005
35006@end table
35007
35008Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
35009of blocks.
35010
35011@node Target Descriptions
35012@appendix Target Descriptions
35013@cindex target descriptions
35014
35015@strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
35016and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
35017The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
35018
35019One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
35020is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
35021architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
35022a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
35023and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
35024architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
35025vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
35026
35027@itemize @bullet
35028@item
35029With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
35030the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
35031@item
35032Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
35033audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
35034variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
35035@item
35036When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
35037at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
35038@command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
35039@end itemize
35040
35041To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
35042target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
35043actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
35044processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
35045descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
35046
35047@value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
35048target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
35049
35050@menu
35051* Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
35052* Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
35053* Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
35054 descriptions.
35055* Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
35056@end menu
35057
35058@node Retrieving Descriptions
35059@section Retrieving Descriptions
35060
35061Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
35062specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
35063description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
35064protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
35065qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
35066@samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
35067XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
35068Format}.
35069
35070Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
35071If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
35072specify a file are:
35073
35074@table @code
35075@cindex set tdesc filename
35076@item set tdesc filename @var{path}
35077Read the target description from @var{path}.
35078
35079@cindex unset tdesc filename
35080@item unset tdesc filename
35081Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
35082will use the description supplied by the current target.
35083
35084@cindex show tdesc filename
35085@item show tdesc filename
35086Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
35087@end table
35088
35089
35090@node Target Description Format
35091@section Target Description Format
35092@cindex target descriptions, XML format
35093
35094A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
35095document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
35096the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
35097means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
35098check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
35099However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
35100their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
35101
35102Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
35103and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
35104sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
35105@value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
35106target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
35107
35108Here is a simple target description:
35109
35110@smallexample
35111<target version="1.0">
35112 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
35113</target>
35114@end smallexample
35115
35116@noindent
35117This minimal description only says that the target uses
35118the x86-64 architecture.
35119
35120A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
35121optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
35122are explained further below.
35123
35124@smallexample
35125<?xml version="1.0"?>
35126<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
35127<target version="1.0">
35128 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
35129 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
35130 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
35131 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
35132</target>
35133@end smallexample
35134
35135@noindent
35136The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
35137breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
35138declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
35139(@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
35140useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
35141@samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
35142including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
35143revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
35144the version mismatch.
35145
35146@subsection Inclusion
35147@cindex target descriptions, inclusion
35148@cindex XInclude
35149@ifnotinfo
35150@cindex <xi:include>
35151@end ifnotinfo
35152
35153It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
35154several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
35155share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
35156divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
35157the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
35158
35159@smallexample
35160<xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
35161@end smallexample
35162
35163@noindent
35164When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
35165the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
35166the contents of that document. If the current description was read
35167using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
35168@var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
35169current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
35170@var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
35171original description.
35172
35173@subsection Architecture
35174@cindex <architecture>
35175
35176An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
35177
35178@smallexample
35179 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
35180@end smallexample
35181
35182@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
35183@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
35184
35185@subsection OS ABI
35186@cindex @code{<osabi>}
35187
35188This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
35189Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
35190
35191An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
35192
35193@smallexample
35194 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
35195@end smallexample
35196
35197@var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
35198@w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
35199
35200@subsection Compatible Architecture
35201@cindex @code{<compatible>}
35202
35203This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
35204Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
35205
35206A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
35207
35208@smallexample
35209 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
35210@end smallexample
35211
35212@var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
35213@code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
35214
35215A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
35216is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
35217given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
35218Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
35219or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
35220in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
35221capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
35222
35223@smallexample
35224 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
35225 <compatible>spu</compatible>
35226@end smallexample
35227
35228@subsection Features
35229@cindex <feature>
35230
35231Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
35232system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
35233registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
35234has this form:
35235
35236@smallexample
35237<feature name="@var{name}">
35238 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
35239 @var{reg}@dots{}
35240</feature>
35241@end smallexample
35242
35243@noindent
35244Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
35245of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
35246knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
35247should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
35248
35249@subsection Types
35250
35251Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
35252interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
35253but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
35254Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
35255Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
35256
35257Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
35258a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
35259Types must be defined before they are used.
35260
35261@cindex <vector>
35262Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
35263of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
35264specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
35265@var{count}:
35266
35267@smallexample
35268<vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
35269@end smallexample
35270
35271@cindex <union>
35272If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
35273with a union type containing the useful representations. The
35274@samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
35275each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
35276
35277@smallexample
35278<union id="@var{id}">
35279 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
35280 @dots{}
35281</union>
35282@end smallexample
35283
35284@cindex <struct>
35285If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
35286it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
35287element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
35288or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
35289its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
35290explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
35291integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
35292equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
35293
35294@smallexample
35295<struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
35296 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
35297 @dots{}
35298</struct>
35299@end smallexample
35300
35301If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
35302explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
35303
35304@smallexample
35305<struct id="@var{id}">
35306 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
35307 @dots{}
35308</struct>
35309@end smallexample
35310
35311@cindex <flags>
35312If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
35313a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
35314and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
35315@var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
35316are supported.
35317
35318@smallexample
35319<flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
35320 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
35321 @dots{}
35322</flags>
35323@end smallexample
35324
35325@subsection Registers
35326@cindex <reg>
35327
35328Each register is represented as an element with this form:
35329
35330@smallexample
35331<reg name="@var{name}"
35332 bitsize="@var{size}"
35333 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
35334 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
35335 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
35336 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
35337@end smallexample
35338
35339@noindent
35340The components are as follows:
35341
35342@table @var
35343
35344@item name
35345The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
35346
35347@item bitsize
35348The register's size, in bits.
35349
35350@item regnum
35351The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
35352than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
35353a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
35354defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
35355the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
35356packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
35357in order of increasing register number.
35358
35359@item save-restore
35360Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
35361calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
35362@code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
35363some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
35364ABI.
35365
35366@item type
35367The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
35368defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
35369and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
35370for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
35371architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
35372@var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
35373
35374@item group
35375The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
35376be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
35377@var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
35378in @code{info registers}.
35379
35380@end table
35381
35382@node Predefined Target Types
35383@section Predefined Target Types
35384@cindex target descriptions, predefined types
35385
35386Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
35387from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
35388standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
35389types. The currently supported types are:
35390
35391@table @code
35392
35393@item int8
35394@itemx int16
35395@itemx int32
35396@itemx int64
35397@itemx int128
35398Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
35399
35400@item uint8
35401@itemx uint16
35402@itemx uint32
35403@itemx uint64
35404@itemx uint128
35405Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
35406
35407@item code_ptr
35408@itemx data_ptr
35409Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
35410any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
35411pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
35412address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
35413may be marked as data pointers.
35414
35415@item ieee_single
35416Single precision IEEE floating point.
35417
35418@item ieee_double
35419Double precision IEEE floating point.
35420
35421@item arm_fpa_ext
35422The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
35423
35424@item i387_ext
35425The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
35426
35427@item i386_eflags
3542832bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
35429
35430@item i386_mxcsr
3543132bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
35432
35433@end table
35434
35435@node Standard Target Features
35436@section Standard Target Features
35437@cindex target descriptions, standard features
35438
35439A target description must contain either no registers or all the
35440target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
35441@value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
35442the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
35443default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
35444described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
35445can recognize them.
35446
35447This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
35448which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
35449with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
35450if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
35451feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
35452description. You can add additional registers to any of the
35453standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
35454they were added to an unrecognized feature.
35455
35456This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
35457Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
35458@value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
35459
35460Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
35461company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
35462architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
35463containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
35464
35465The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
35466of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
35467registers using the capitalization used in the description.
35468
35469@menu
35470* ARM Features::
35471* i386 Features::
35472* MIPS Features::
35473* M68K Features::
35474* PowerPC Features::
35475@end menu
35476
35477
35478@node ARM Features
35479@subsection ARM Features
35480@cindex target descriptions, ARM features
35481
35482The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
35483It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
35484@samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
35485
35486The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
35487should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
35488
35489The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
35490it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
35491@samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
35492@samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
35493
35494The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
35495should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
35496they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
35497@value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
35498halves of the double-precision registers.
35499
35500The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
35501need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
35502VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
35503quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
35504If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
35505be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
35506
35507@node i386 Features
35508@subsection i386 Features
35509@cindex target descriptions, i386 features
35510
35511The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
35512targets. It should describe the following registers:
35513
35514@itemize @minus
35515@item
35516@samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
35517@item
35518@samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
35519@item
35520@samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
35521@samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
35522@item
35523@samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
35524@item
35525@samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
35526@samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
35527@end itemize
35528
35529The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
35530
35531The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
35532describe registers:
35533
35534@itemize @minus
35535@item
35536@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
35537@item
35538@samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
35539@item
35540@samp{mxcsr}
35541@end itemize
35542
35543The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
35544@samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
35545describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
35546
35547@itemize @minus
35548@item
35549@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
35550@item
35551@samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
35552@item
35553@end itemize
35554
35555The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
35556describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
35557
35558@node MIPS Features
35559@subsection MIPS Features
35560@cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
35561
35562The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
35563It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
35564@samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
35565on the target.
35566
35567The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
35568contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
35569registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35570
35571The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
35572it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
35573contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
35574@samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35575
35576The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
35577contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
35578Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
35579
35580@node M68K Features
35581@subsection M68K Features
35582@cindex target descriptions, M68K features
35583
35584@table @code
35585@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
35586@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
35587@itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
35588One of those features must be always present.
35589The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
35590used. The feature that is present should contain registers
35591@samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
35592@samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
35593
35594@item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
35595This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
35596@samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
35597@samp{fpiaddr}.
35598@end table
35599
35600@node PowerPC Features
35601@subsection PowerPC Features
35602@cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
35603
35604The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
35605targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
35606@samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
35607@samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35608
35609The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
35610contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
35611
35612The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
35613contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
35614and @samp{vrsave}.
35615
35616The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
35617contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
35618will combine these registers with the floating point registers
35619(@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
35620through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
35621through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
35622
35623The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
35624contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
35625@samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
35626@samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
35627@samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
35628these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
35629user.
35630
35631@node Operating System Information
35632@appendix Operating System Information
35633@cindex operating system information
35634
35635@menu
35636* Process list::
35637@end menu
35638
35639Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
35640the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
35641processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
35642mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
35643target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
35644on a different aspect of target.
35645
35646Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
35647remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
35648read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
35649the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
35650
35651@node Process list
35652@appendixsection Process list
35653@cindex operating system information, process list
35654
35655When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
35656@samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
35657an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
35658@file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
35659
35660An example document is:
35661
35662@smallexample
35663<?xml version="1.0"?>
35664<!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
35665<osdata type="processes">
35666 <item>
35667 <column name="pid">1</column>
35668 <column name="user">root</column>
35669 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
35670 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
35671 </item>
35672</osdata>
35673@end smallexample
35674
35675Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
35676of that column should identify the process on the target. The
35677@samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
35678displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
35679should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
35680is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
35681which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
35682
35683@include gpl.texi
35684
35685@node GNU Free Documentation License
35686@appendix GNU Free Documentation License
35687@include fdl.texi
35688
35689@node Index
35690@unnumbered Index
35691
35692@printindex cp
35693
35694@tex
35695% I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
35696% meantime:
35697\long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
35698\centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
35699\centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
35700\centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
35701\centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
35702\centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
35703\centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
35704\centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
35705\centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
35706\page\colophon
35707% Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
35708@end tex
35709
35710@bye
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