b904f9b7b11698d627aba702ea44a7ab57407517
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-1996, 1998-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c
4 @c %**start of header
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7 @setfilename gdb.info
8 @c
9 @include gdb-cfg.texi
10 @c
11 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
12 @setchapternewpage odd
13 @c %**end of header
14
15 @iftex
16 @c @smallbook
17 @c @cropmarks
18 @end iftex
19
20 @finalout
21 @syncodeindex ky cp
22 @syncodeindex tp cp
23
24 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
25 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
26 @syncodeindex vr cp
27 @syncodeindex fn cp
28
29 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
30 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
31 @set EDITION Tenth
32
33 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
34 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
35
36 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
37
38 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
39 @c manuals to an info tree.
40 @dircategory Software development
41 @direntry
42 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
43 @end direntry
44
45 @copying
46 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
47 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
48 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
49
50 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
51 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
52 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
53 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
54 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
55 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
56
57 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
58 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
59 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
60 @end copying
61
62 @ifnottex
63 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
64
65 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
66 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
67 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
68 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
69 @end ifset
70 Version @value{GDBVN}.
71
72 @insertcopying
73 @end ifnottex
74
75 @titlepage
76 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
77 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
78 @sp 1
79 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
80 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
81 @sp 1
82 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
83 @end ifset
84 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
85 @page
86 @tex
87 {\parskip=0pt
88 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
89 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
90 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
91 }
92 @end tex
93
94 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
95 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
96 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
97 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
98 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
99
100 @insertcopying
101 @end titlepage
102 @page
103
104 @ifnottex
105 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
106
107 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
108
109 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
110
111 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
112 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
113 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
114 @end ifset
115 Version @value{GDBVN}.
116
117 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
118
119 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
120 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
121 software in general. We will miss him.
122
123 @menu
124 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
125 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
126
127 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
128 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
129 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
130 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
131 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
132 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
133 * Stack:: Examining the stack
134 * Source:: Examining source files
135 * Data:: Examining data
136 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
137 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
138 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
139 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
140
141 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
142
143 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
144 * Altering:: Altering execution
145 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
146 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
147 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
148 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
149 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
150 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
151 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
152 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
153 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
154 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
155 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
156 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
157 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
158
159 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
160
161 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
162 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
163 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
164 @end ifset
165 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
166 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
167 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
168 @end ifclear
169 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
170 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
171 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
172 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
173 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
174 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
175 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
176 @value{GDBN}
177 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
178 the operating system
179 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
180 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
181 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
182 how you can copy and share GDB
183 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
184 * Index:: Index
185 @end menu
186
187 @end ifnottex
188
189 @contents
190
191 @node Summary
192 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
193
194 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
195 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
196 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
197
198 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
199 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
200
201 @itemize @bullet
202 @item
203 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
204
205 @item
206 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
207
208 @item
209 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
210
211 @item
212 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
213 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
214 @end itemize
215
216 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
217 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
218 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
219
220 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
221 @ref{D,,D}.
222
223 @cindex Modula-2
224 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
225 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
226
227 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
228 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
229
230 @cindex Pascal
231 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
232 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
233 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
234 syntax.
235
236 @cindex Fortran
237 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
238 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
239 underscore.
240
241 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
242 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
243
244 @menu
245 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
246 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
247 @end menu
248
249 @node Free Software
250 @unnumberedsec Free Software
251
252 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
253 General Public License
254 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
255 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
256 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
257 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
258 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
259 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
260
261 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
262 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
263 from anyone else.
264
265 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
266
267 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
268 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
269 include with the free software. Many of our most important
270 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
271 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
272 when an important free software package does not come with a free
273 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
274 gaps today.
275
276 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
277 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
278 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
279 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
280 them from the free software world.
281
282 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
283 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
284 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
285 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
286 contract to make it non-free.
287
288 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
289 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
290 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
291 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
292 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
293 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
294 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
295
296 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
297 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
298 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
299 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
300
301 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
302 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
303 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
304 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
305 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
306 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
307 community.
308
309 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
310 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
311 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
312 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
313 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
314 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
315 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
316 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
317 of the manual.
318
319 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
320 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
321 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
322 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
323 manual to replace it.
324
325 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
326 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
327 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
328 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
329 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
330 the free software community.
331
332 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
333 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
334 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
335 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
336 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
337 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
338 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
339 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
340 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
341
342 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
343 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
344 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
345 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
346 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
347 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
348 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
349 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
350
351 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
352 published by other publishers, at
353 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
354
355 @node Contributors
356 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
357
358 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
359 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
360 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
361 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
362 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
363 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
364 blow-by-blow account.
365
366 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
367
368 @quotation
369 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
370 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
371 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
372 @end quotation
373
374 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
375 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
376 releases:
377 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
378 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
379 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
380 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
381 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
382 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
383 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
384 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
385 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
386
387 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
388 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
389
390 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
391 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
392 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
393 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
394 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
395
396 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
397 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
398 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
399
400 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
401 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
402
403 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
404
405 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
406 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
407 support.
408 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
409 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
410 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
411 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
412 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
413 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
414 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
415 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
416 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
417 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
418 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
419 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
420 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
421 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
422 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
423 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
424
425 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
426
427 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
428 libraries.
429
430 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
431 about several machine instruction sets.
432
433 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
434 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
435 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
436 and RDI targets, respectively.
437
438 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
439 command-line editing and command history.
440
441 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
442 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
443
444 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
445 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
446 symbols.
447
448 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
449 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
450
451 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
452
453 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
454 processors.
455
456 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
457
458 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
459
460 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
461
462 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
463 watchpoints.
464
465 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
466
467 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
468
469 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
470 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
471
472 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
473 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
474 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
475 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
476 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
477 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
478 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
479
480 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
481 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
482
483 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
484 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
485 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
486 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
487 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
488 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
489 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
490 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
491 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
492 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
493 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
494 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
495 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
496 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
497 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
498
499 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
500 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
501
502 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
503 Hat.
504
505 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
506 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
507 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
508 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
509 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
510 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
511
512 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
513 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
514 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
515 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
516 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
517 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
518 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
519 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
520 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
521 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
522 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
523 Weigand.
524
525 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
526 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
527 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
528 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
529
530 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
531 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
532
533 @node Sample Session
534 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
535
536 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
537 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
538 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
539
540 @iftex
541 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
542 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
543 @end iftex
544
545 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
546 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
547
548 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
549 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
550 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
551 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
552 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
553 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
554 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
555 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
556 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
557
558 @smallexample
559 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
560 $ @b{./m4}
561 @b{define(foo,0000)}
562
563 @b{foo}
564 0000
565 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
566
567 @b{bar}
568 0000
569 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
570
571 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
572 @b{baz}
573 @b{Ctrl-d}
574 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
575 @end smallexample
576
577 @noindent
578 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
579
580 @smallexample
581 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
582 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
583 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
584 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
585 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
586 the conditions.
587 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
588 for details.
589
590 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
591 (@value{GDBP})
592 @end smallexample
593
594 @noindent
595 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
596 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
597 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
598 that examples fit in this manual.
599
600 @smallexample
601 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
602 @end smallexample
603
604 @noindent
605 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
606 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
607 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
608 @code{break} command.
609
610 @smallexample
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
612 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
613 @end smallexample
614
615 @noindent
616 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
617 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
618 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
619
620 @smallexample
621 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
622 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
623 @b{define(foo,0000)}
624
625 @b{foo}
626 0000
627 @end smallexample
628
629 @noindent
630 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
631 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
632 context where it stops.
633
634 @smallexample
635 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
636
637 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
638 at builtin.c:879
639 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
640 @end smallexample
641
642 @noindent
643 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
644 the next line of the current function.
645
646 @smallexample
647 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
648 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
649 : nil,
650 @end smallexample
651
652 @noindent
653 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
654 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
655 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
656 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
657
658 @smallexample
659 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
660 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
661 at input.c:530
662 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
663 @end smallexample
664
665 @noindent
666 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
667 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
668 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
669 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
670 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
671 stack frame for each active subroutine.
672
673 @smallexample
674 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
675 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
676 at input.c:530
677 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
678 at builtin.c:882
679 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
680 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
681 at macro.c:71
682 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
683 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
684 @end smallexample
685
686 @noindent
687 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
688 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
689 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
690
691 @smallexample
692 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
693 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
694 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
695 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
696 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
697 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
698 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
699 : xstrdup(rq);
700 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
701 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
702 @end smallexample
703
704 @noindent
705 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
706 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
707 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
708 (@code{print}) to see their values.
709
710 @smallexample
711 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
712 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
713 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
714 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
715 @end smallexample
716
717 @noindent
718 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
719 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
720 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
721
722 @smallexample
723 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
724 533 xfree(rquote);
725 534
726 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
727 : xstrdup (lq);
728 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
729 : xstrdup (rq);
730 537
731 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
732 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
733 540 @}
734 541
735 542 void
736 @end smallexample
737
738 @noindent
739 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
740 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
741
742 @smallexample
743 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
744 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
745 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
746 540 @}
747 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
748 $3 = 9
749 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
750 $4 = 7
751 @end smallexample
752
753 @noindent
754 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
755 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
756 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
757 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
758 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
759 assignments.
760
761 @smallexample
762 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
763 $5 = 7
764 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
765 $6 = 9
766 @end smallexample
767
768 @noindent
769 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
770 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
771 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
772 example that caused trouble initially:
773
774 @smallexample
775 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
776 Continuing.
777
778 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
779
780 baz
781 0000
782 @end smallexample
783
784 @noindent
785 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
786 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
787 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
788
789 @smallexample
790 @b{Ctrl-d}
791 Program exited normally.
792 @end smallexample
793
794 @noindent
795 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
796 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
797 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
798
799 @smallexample
800 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
801 @end smallexample
802
803 @node Invocation
804 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
805
806 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
807 The essentials are:
808 @itemize @bullet
809 @item
810 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
811 @item
812 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
813 @end itemize
814
815 @menu
816 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
817 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
818 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
819 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
820 @end menu
821
822 @node Invoking GDB
823 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
824
825 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
826 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
827
828 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
829 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
830
831 The command-line options described here are designed
832 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
833 options may effectively be unavailable.
834
835 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
836 specifying an executable program:
837
838 @smallexample
839 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
840 @end smallexample
841
842 @noindent
843 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
844 specified:
845
846 @smallexample
847 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
848 @end smallexample
849
850 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
851 to debug a running process:
852
853 @smallexample
854 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
855 @end smallexample
856
857 @noindent
858 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
859 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
860
861 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
862 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
863 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
864 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
865 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
866
867 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
868 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
869 option processing.
870 @smallexample
871 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
872 @end smallexample
873 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
874 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
875
876 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
877 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
878
879 @smallexample
880 @value{GDBP} -silent
881 @end smallexample
882
883 @noindent
884 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
885 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
886
887 @noindent
888 Type
889
890 @smallexample
891 @value{GDBP} -help
892 @end smallexample
893
894 @noindent
895 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
896 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
897
898 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
899 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
900 @samp{-x} option is used.
901
902
903 @menu
904 * File Options:: Choosing files
905 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
906 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
907 @end menu
908
909 @node File Options
910 @subsection Choosing Files
911
912 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
913 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
914 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
915 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
916 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
917 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
918 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
919 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
920 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
921 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
922 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
923 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
924 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
925
926 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
927 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
928 argument and ignore it.
929
930 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
931 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
932 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
933 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
934 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
935
936 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
937 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
938 @c it.
939
940 @table @code
941 @item -symbols @var{file}
942 @itemx -s @var{file}
943 @cindex @code{--symbols}
944 @cindex @code{-s}
945 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
946
947 @item -exec @var{file}
948 @itemx -e @var{file}
949 @cindex @code{--exec}
950 @cindex @code{-e}
951 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
952 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
953
954 @item -se @var{file}
955 @cindex @code{--se}
956 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
957 file.
958
959 @item -core @var{file}
960 @itemx -c @var{file}
961 @cindex @code{--core}
962 @cindex @code{-c}
963 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
964
965 @item -pid @var{number}
966 @itemx -p @var{number}
967 @cindex @code{--pid}
968 @cindex @code{-p}
969 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
970
971 @item -command @var{file}
972 @itemx -x @var{file}
973 @cindex @code{--command}
974 @cindex @code{-x}
975 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
976 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
977 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
978
979 @item -eval-command @var{command}
980 @itemx -ex @var{command}
981 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
982 @cindex @code{-ex}
983 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
984
985 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
986 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
987
988 @smallexample
989 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
990 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
991 @end smallexample
992
993 @item -init-command @var{file}
994 @itemx -ix @var{file}
995 @cindex @code{--init-command}
996 @cindex @code{-ix}
997 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading gdbinit files or the
998 inferior.
999 @xref{Startup}.
1000
1001 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1002 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1003 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1004 @cindex @code{-iex}
1005 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading gdbinit files or the
1006 inferior.
1007 @xref{Startup}.
1008
1009 @item -directory @var{directory}
1010 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1011 @cindex @code{--directory}
1012 @cindex @code{-d}
1013 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1014
1015 @item -r
1016 @itemx -readnow
1017 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1018 @cindex @code{-r}
1019 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1020 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1021 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1022
1023 @end table
1024
1025 @node Mode Options
1026 @subsection Choosing Modes
1027
1028 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1029 batch mode or quiet mode.
1030
1031 @table @code
1032 @anchor{-nx}
1033 @item -nx
1034 @itemx -n
1035 @cindex @code{--nx}
1036 @cindex @code{-n}
1037 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1038 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1039 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1040 Files}.
1041
1042 @item -quiet
1043 @itemx -silent
1044 @itemx -q
1045 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1046 @cindex @code{--silent}
1047 @cindex @code{-q}
1048 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1049 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1050
1051 @item -batch
1052 @cindex @code{--batch}
1053 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1054 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1055 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1056 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1057 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1058 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1059 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1060
1061 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1062 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1063 make this more useful, the message
1064
1065 @smallexample
1066 Program exited normally.
1067 @end smallexample
1068
1069 @noindent
1070 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1071 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1072 mode.
1073
1074 @item -batch-silent
1075 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1076 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1077 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1078 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1079 for an interactive session.
1080
1081 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1082 messages, for example.
1083
1084 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1085 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1086
1087 @item -return-child-result
1088 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1089 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1090 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1091
1092 @itemize @bullet
1093 @item
1094 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1095 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1096 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1097 @item
1098 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1099 @item
1100 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1101 the exit code will be -1.
1102 @end itemize
1103
1104 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1105 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1106 interface.
1107
1108 @item -nowindows
1109 @itemx -nw
1110 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1111 @cindex @code{-nw}
1112 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1113 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1114 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1115
1116 @item -windows
1117 @itemx -w
1118 @cindex @code{--windows}
1119 @cindex @code{-w}
1120 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1121 used if possible.
1122
1123 @item -cd @var{directory}
1124 @cindex @code{--cd}
1125 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1126 instead of the current directory.
1127
1128 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1129 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1130 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1131 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1132 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1133
1134 @item -fullname
1135 @itemx -f
1136 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1137 @cindex @code{-f}
1138 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1139 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1140 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1141 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1142 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1143 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1144 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1145 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1146 frame.
1147
1148 @item -epoch
1149 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1150 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1151 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1152 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1153 separate window.
1154
1155 @item -annotate @var{level}
1156 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1157 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1158 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1159 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1160 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1161 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1162 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1163 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1164 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1165
1166 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1167 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1168
1169 @item --args
1170 @cindex @code{--args}
1171 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1172 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1173 This option stops option processing.
1174
1175 @item -baud @var{bps}
1176 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1177 @cindex @code{--baud}
1178 @cindex @code{-b}
1179 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1180 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1181
1182 @item -l @var{timeout}
1183 @cindex @code{-l}
1184 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1185 for remote debugging.
1186
1187 @item -tty @var{device}
1188 @itemx -t @var{device}
1189 @cindex @code{--tty}
1190 @cindex @code{-t}
1191 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1192 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1193
1194 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1195 @item -tui
1196 @cindex @code{--tui}
1197 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1198 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1199 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1200 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1201 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1202 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1203
1204 @c @item -xdb
1205 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1206 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1207 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1208 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1209 @c systems.
1210
1211 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1212 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1213 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1214 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1215 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1216 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1217
1218 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1219 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1220 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1221 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1222 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1223 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1224
1225 @item -write
1226 @cindex @code{--write}
1227 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1228 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1229 (@pxref{Patching}).
1230
1231 @item -statistics
1232 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1233 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1234 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1235
1236 @item -version
1237 @cindex @code{--version}
1238 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1239 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1240
1241 @item -use-deprecated-index-sections
1242 @cindex @code{--use-deprecated-index-sections}
1243 This option causes @value{GDBN} to read and use deprecated
1244 @samp{.gdb_index} sections from symbol files. This can speed up
1245 startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
1246 @xref{Index Section Format}.
1247
1248 @end table
1249
1250 @node Startup
1251 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1252 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1253
1254 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1255
1256 @enumerate
1257 @item
1258 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1259 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1260
1261 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1262 @item
1263 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1264 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1265 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1266 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1267 gets loaded.
1268
1269 @item
1270 @cindex init file
1271 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1272 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1273 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1274 that file.
1275
1276 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1277 @item
1278 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1279 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1280 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1281 that file.
1282
1283 @item
1284 Processes command line options and operands.
1285
1286 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1287 @item
1288 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1289 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1290 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1291 This is only done if the current directory is
1292 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1293 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1294 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1295 @value{GDBN}.
1296
1297 @item
1298 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1299 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1300 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1301 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1302
1303 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1304 you must do something like the following:
1305
1306 @smallexample
1307 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1308 @end smallexample
1309
1310 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1311 off too late.
1312
1313 @item
1314 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1315 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1316 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1317
1318 @item
1319 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1320 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1321 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1322 @end enumerate
1323
1324 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1325 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1326 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1327 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1328 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1329 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1330
1331 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1332 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1333
1334 @cindex init file name
1335 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1336 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1337 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1338 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1339 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1340 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1341 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1342 the file to the standard name.
1343
1344
1345 @node Quitting GDB
1346 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1347 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1348 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1349
1350 @table @code
1351 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1352 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1353 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1354 @itemx q
1355 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1356 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1357 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1358 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1359 error code.
1360 @end table
1361
1362 @cindex interrupt
1363 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1364 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1365 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1366 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1367 until a time when it is safe.
1368
1369 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1370 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1371 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1372
1373 @node Shell Commands
1374 @section Shell Commands
1375
1376 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1377 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1378 just use the @code{shell} command.
1379
1380 @table @code
1381 @kindex shell
1382 @kindex !
1383 @cindex shell escape
1384 @item shell @var{command-string}
1385 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1386 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1387 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1388 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1389 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1390 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1391 @end table
1392
1393 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1394 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1395 @value{GDBN}:
1396
1397 @table @code
1398 @kindex make
1399 @cindex calling make
1400 @item make @var{make-args}
1401 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1402 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1403 @end table
1404
1405 @node Logging Output
1406 @section Logging Output
1407 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1408 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1409
1410 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1411 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1412
1413 @table @code
1414 @kindex set logging
1415 @item set logging on
1416 Enable logging.
1417 @item set logging off
1418 Disable logging.
1419 @cindex logging file name
1420 @item set logging file @var{file}
1421 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1422 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1423 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1424 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1425 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1426 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1427 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1428 @kindex show logging
1429 @item show logging
1430 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1431 @end table
1432
1433 @node Commands
1434 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1435
1436 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1437 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1438 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1439 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1440 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1441
1442 @menu
1443 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1444 * Completion:: Command completion
1445 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1446 @end menu
1447
1448 @node Command Syntax
1449 @section Command Syntax
1450
1451 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1452 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1453 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1454 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1455 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1456 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1457
1458 @cindex abbreviation
1459 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1460 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1461 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1462 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1463 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1464 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1465 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1466
1467 @cindex repeating commands
1468 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1469 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1470 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1471 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1472 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1473 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1474 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1475
1476 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1477 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1478 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1479
1480 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1481 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1482 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1483 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1484 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1485
1486 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1487 @cindex comment
1488 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1489 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1490 Files,,Command Files}).
1491
1492 @cindex repeating command sequences
1493 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1494 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1495 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1496 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1497 for editing.
1498
1499 @node Completion
1500 @section Command Completion
1501
1502 @cindex completion
1503 @cindex word completion
1504 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1505 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1506 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1507 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1508
1509 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1510 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1511 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1512 enter it). For example, if you type
1513
1514 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1515 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1516 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1517 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1518 @smallexample
1519 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1520 @end smallexample
1521
1522 @noindent
1523 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1524 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1525
1526 @smallexample
1527 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1528 @end smallexample
1529
1530 @noindent
1531 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1532 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1533 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1534 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1535 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1536 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1537
1538 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1539 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1540 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1541 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1542 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1543 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1544 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1545 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1546 example:
1547
1548 @smallexample
1549 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1550 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1551 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1552 make_abs_section make_function_type
1553 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1554 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1555 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1556 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1557 @end smallexample
1558
1559 @noindent
1560 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1561 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1562 command.
1563
1564 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1565 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1566 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1567 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1568 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1569
1570 @cindex quotes in commands
1571 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1572 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1573 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1574 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1575 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1576 @value{GDBN} commands.
1577
1578 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1579 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1580 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1581 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1582 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1583 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1584 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1585 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1586 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1587 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1588 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1589
1590 @smallexample
1591 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1592 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1593 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1594 @end smallexample
1595
1596 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1597 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1598 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1599 place:
1600
1601 @smallexample
1602 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1603 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1604 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1605 @end smallexample
1606
1607 @noindent
1608 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1609 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1610 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1611
1612 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1613 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1614 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1615 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1616
1617 @cindex completion of structure field names
1618 @cindex structure field name completion
1619 @cindex completion of union field names
1620 @cindex union field name completion
1621 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1622 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1623 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1624 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1625 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1626 left-hand-side:
1627
1628 @smallexample
1629 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1630 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1631 to_data to_isatty to_write
1632 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1633 to_flush to_read
1634 @end smallexample
1635
1636 @noindent
1637 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1638 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1639 follows:
1640
1641 @smallexample
1642 struct ui_file
1643 @{
1644 int *magic;
1645 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1646 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1647 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1648 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1649 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1650 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1651 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1652 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1653 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1654 void *to_data;
1655 @}
1656 @end smallexample
1657
1658
1659 @node Help
1660 @section Getting Help
1661 @cindex online documentation
1662 @kindex help
1663
1664 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1665 using the command @code{help}.
1666
1667 @table @code
1668 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1669 @item help
1670 @itemx h
1671 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1672 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1673
1674 @smallexample
1675 (@value{GDBP}) help
1676 List of classes of commands:
1677
1678 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1679 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1680 data -- Examining data
1681 files -- Specifying and examining files
1682 internals -- Maintenance commands
1683 obscure -- Obscure features
1684 running -- Running the program
1685 stack -- Examining the stack
1686 status -- Status inquiries
1687 support -- Support facilities
1688 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1689 stopping the program
1690 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1691
1692 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1693 commands in that class.
1694 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1695 documentation.
1696 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1697 (@value{GDBP})
1698 @end smallexample
1699 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1700
1701 @item help @var{class}
1702 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1703 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1704 help display for the class @code{status}:
1705
1706 @smallexample
1707 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1708 Status inquiries.
1709
1710 List of commands:
1711
1712 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1713 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1714 info -- Generic command for showing things
1715 about the program being debugged
1716 show -- Generic command for showing things
1717 about the debugger
1718
1719 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1720 documentation.
1721 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1722 (@value{GDBP})
1723 @end smallexample
1724
1725 @item help @var{command}
1726 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1727 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1728
1729 @kindex apropos
1730 @item apropos @var{args}
1731 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1732 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1733 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1734
1735 @smallexample
1736 apropos alias
1737 @end smallexample
1738
1739 @noindent
1740 results in:
1741
1742 @smallexample
1743 @c @group
1744 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1745 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1746 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1747 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1748 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1749 @c @end group
1750 @end smallexample
1751
1752 @kindex complete
1753 @item complete @var{args}
1754 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1755 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1756 command you want completed. For example:
1757
1758 @smallexample
1759 complete i
1760 @end smallexample
1761
1762 @noindent results in:
1763
1764 @smallexample
1765 @group
1766 if
1767 ignore
1768 info
1769 inspect
1770 @end group
1771 @end smallexample
1772
1773 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1774 @end table
1775
1776 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1777 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1778 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1779 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1780 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1781 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1782
1783 @c @group
1784 @table @code
1785 @kindex info
1786 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1787 @item info
1788 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1789 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1790 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1791 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1792 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1793 @w{@code{help info}}.
1794
1795 @kindex set
1796 @item set
1797 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1798 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1799 @code{set prompt $}.
1800
1801 @kindex show
1802 @item show
1803 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1804 @value{GDBN} itself.
1805 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1806 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1807 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1808 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1809
1810 @kindex info set
1811 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1812 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1813 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1814 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1815 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1816 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1817 @end table
1818 @c @end group
1819
1820 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1821 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1822
1823 @table @code
1824 @kindex show version
1825 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1826 @item show version
1827 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1828 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1829 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1830 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1831 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1832 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1833 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1834 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1835 @value{GDBN}.
1836
1837 @kindex show copying
1838 @kindex info copying
1839 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1840 @item show copying
1841 @itemx info copying
1842 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1843
1844 @kindex show warranty
1845 @kindex info warranty
1846 @item show warranty
1847 @itemx info warranty
1848 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1849 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1850
1851 @end table
1852
1853 @node Running
1854 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1855
1856 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1857 debugging information when you compile it.
1858
1859 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1860 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1861 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1862 kill a child process.
1863
1864 @menu
1865 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1866 * Starting:: Starting your program
1867 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1868 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1869
1870 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1871 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1872 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1873 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1874
1875 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1876 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1877 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1878 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1879 @end menu
1880
1881 @node Compilation
1882 @section Compiling for Debugging
1883
1884 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1885 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1886 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1887 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1888 and addresses in the executable code.
1889
1890 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1891 the compiler.
1892
1893 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1894 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1895 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1896 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1897 executables containing debugging information.
1898
1899 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1900 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1901 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1902 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1903 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1904
1905 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1906 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1907 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1908
1909 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1910 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1911 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1912 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1913 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1914 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1915
1916 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1917 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1918 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1919
1920 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1921 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1922 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1923 format in @value{GDBN}.
1924
1925 @need 2000
1926 @node Starting
1927 @section Starting your Program
1928 @cindex starting
1929 @cindex running
1930
1931 @table @code
1932 @kindex run
1933 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1934 @item run
1935 @itemx r
1936 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1937 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1938 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1939 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1940 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1941
1942 @end table
1943
1944 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1945 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1946 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1947 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1948 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1949 message like this one:
1950
1951 @smallexample
1952 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1953 Try "help target" or "continue".
1954 @end smallexample
1955
1956 @noindent
1957 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1958 first (@pxref{load}).
1959
1960 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1961 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1962 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1963 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1964 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1965 divided into four categories:
1966
1967 @table @asis
1968 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1969 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1970 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1971 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1972 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1973 the arguments.
1974 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1975 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1976 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1977
1978 @item The @emph{environment.}
1979 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1980 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1981 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1982 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1983
1984 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1985 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1986 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1987 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1988
1989 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1990 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1991 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1992 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1993 set a different device for your program.
1994 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1995
1996 @cindex pipes
1997 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1998 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1999 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2000 wrong program.
2001 @end table
2002
2003 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2004 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2005 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2006 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2007 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2008
2009 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2010 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2011 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2012 your current breakpoints.
2013
2014 @table @code
2015 @kindex start
2016 @item start
2017 @cindex run to main procedure
2018 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2019 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2020 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2021 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2022 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2023 procedure, depending on the language used.
2024
2025 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2026 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2027 the @samp{run} command.
2028
2029 @cindex elaboration phase
2030 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2031 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2032 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2033 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2034 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2035 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2036 will remain to halt execution.
2037
2038 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2039 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2040 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2041 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2042 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2043
2044 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2045 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2046 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2047 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2048 elaboration code before running your program.
2049
2050 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2051 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2052 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2053 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2054 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2055 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2056 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2057 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2058 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2059 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2060 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2061
2062 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2063 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2064 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2065 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2066
2067 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2068 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2069 environment:
2070
2071 @smallexample
2072 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2073 (@value{GDBP}) run
2074 @end smallexample
2075
2076 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2077 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2078
2079 @kindex set disable-randomization
2080 @item set disable-randomization
2081 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2082 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2083 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2084 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2085 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2086
2087 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2088 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2089
2090 @smallexample
2091 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2092 @end smallexample
2093
2094 @item set disable-randomization off
2095 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2096 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2097 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2098 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2099 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2100 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2101
2102 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2103 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2104 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2105 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2106 a code at its expected addresses.
2107
2108 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2109 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2110 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2111 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2112 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2113 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2114 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2115 a randomly chosen address.
2116
2117 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2118 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2119 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2120 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2121 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2122
2123 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2124 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2125
2126 @item show disable-randomization
2127 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2128 the virtual address space of the started program.
2129
2130 @end table
2131
2132 @node Arguments
2133 @section Your Program's Arguments
2134
2135 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2136 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2137 @code{run} command.
2138 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2139 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2140 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2141 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2142 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2143
2144 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2145 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2146 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2147 the program, not by the shell.
2148
2149 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2150 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2151
2152 @table @code
2153 @kindex set args
2154 @item set args
2155 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2156 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2157 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2158 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2159 it again without arguments.
2160
2161 @kindex show args
2162 @item show args
2163 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2164 @end table
2165
2166 @node Environment
2167 @section Your Program's Environment
2168
2169 @cindex environment (of your program)
2170 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2171 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2172 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2173 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2174 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2175 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2176 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2177
2178 @table @code
2179 @kindex path
2180 @item path @var{directory}
2181 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2182 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2183 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2184 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2185 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2186 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2187 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2188
2189 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2190 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2191 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2192 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2193 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2194 @var{directory} to the search path.
2195 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2196 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2197
2198 @kindex show paths
2199 @item show paths
2200 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2201 environment variable).
2202
2203 @kindex show environment
2204 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2205 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2206 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2207 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2208 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2209
2210 @kindex set environment
2211 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2212 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2213 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2214 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2215 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2216 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2217 null value.
2218 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2219 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2220
2221 For example, this command:
2222
2223 @smallexample
2224 set env USER = foo
2225 @end smallexample
2226
2227 @noindent
2228 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2229 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2230 are not actually required.)
2231
2232 @kindex unset environment
2233 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2234 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2235 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2236 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2237 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2238 @end table
2239
2240 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2241 the shell indicated
2242 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2243 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2244 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2245 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2246 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2247 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2248 @file{.profile}.
2249
2250 @node Working Directory
2251 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2252
2253 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2254 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2255 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2256 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2257 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2258 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2259
2260 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2261 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2262 Specify Files}.
2263
2264 @table @code
2265 @kindex cd
2266 @cindex change working directory
2267 @item cd @var{directory}
2268 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2269
2270 @kindex pwd
2271 @item pwd
2272 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2273 @end table
2274
2275 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2276 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2277 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2278 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2279 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2280 current working directory of the debuggee.
2281
2282 @node Input/Output
2283 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2284
2285 @cindex redirection
2286 @cindex i/o
2287 @cindex terminal
2288 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2289 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2290 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2291 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2292 running your program.
2293
2294 @table @code
2295 @kindex info terminal
2296 @item info terminal
2297 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2298 program is using.
2299 @end table
2300
2301 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2302 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2303
2304 @smallexample
2305 run > outfile
2306 @end smallexample
2307
2308 @noindent
2309 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2310
2311 @kindex tty
2312 @cindex controlling terminal
2313 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2314 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2315 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2316 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2317 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2318
2319 @smallexample
2320 tty /dev/ttyb
2321 @end smallexample
2322
2323 @noindent
2324 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2325 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2326 that as their controlling terminal.
2327
2328 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2329 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2330 terminal.
2331
2332 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2333 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2334 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2335 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2336
2337 @cindex inferior tty
2338 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2339 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2340 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2341 program.
2342
2343 @table @code
2344 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2345 @kindex set inferior-tty
2346 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2347
2348 @item show inferior-tty
2349 @kindex show inferior-tty
2350 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2351 @end table
2352
2353 @node Attach
2354 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2355 @kindex attach
2356 @cindex attach
2357
2358 @table @code
2359 @item attach @var{process-id}
2360 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2361 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2362 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2363 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2364 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2365
2366 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2367 executing the command.
2368 @end table
2369
2370 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2371 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2372 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2373 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2374
2375 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2376 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2377 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2378 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2379 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2380 Specify Files}.
2381
2382 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2383 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2384 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2385 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2386 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2387 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2388 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2389
2390 @table @code
2391 @kindex detach
2392 @item detach
2393 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2394 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2395 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2396 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2397 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2398 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2399 executing the command.
2400 @end table
2401
2402 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2403 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2404 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2405 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2406 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2407 Messages}).
2408
2409 @node Kill Process
2410 @section Killing the Child Process
2411
2412 @table @code
2413 @kindex kill
2414 @item kill
2415 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2416 @end table
2417
2418 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2419 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2420 is running.
2421
2422 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2423 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2424 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2425 outside the debugger.
2426
2427 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2428 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2429 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2430 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2431 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2432 breakpoint settings).
2433
2434 @node Inferiors and Programs
2435 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2436
2437 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2438 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2439 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2440 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2441 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2442 from multiple executables.
2443
2444 @cindex inferior
2445 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2446 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2447 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2448 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2449 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2450 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2451 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2452 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2453 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2454 threads running in it.
2455
2456 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2457 inferiors}}:
2458
2459 @table @code
2460 @kindex info inferiors
2461 @item info inferiors
2462 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2463
2464 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2465
2466 @enumerate
2467 @item
2468 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2469
2470 @item
2471 the target system's inferior identifier
2472
2473 @item
2474 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2475
2476 @end enumerate
2477
2478 @noindent
2479 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2480 indicates the current inferior.
2481
2482 For example,
2483 @end table
2484 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2485
2486 @smallexample
2487 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2488 Num Description Executable
2489 2 process 2307 hello
2490 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2491 @end smallexample
2492
2493 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2494
2495 @table @code
2496 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2497 @item inferior @var{infno}
2498 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2499 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2500 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2501 @end table
2502
2503
2504 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2505 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2506 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2507 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2508 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2509 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2510
2511 @table @code
2512 @kindex add-inferior
2513 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2514 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2515 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2516 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2517 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2518 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2519
2520 @kindex clone-inferior
2521 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2522 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2523 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2524 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2525 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2526
2527 @smallexample
2528 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2529 Num Description Executable
2530 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2531 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2532 Added inferior 2.
2533 1 inferiors added.
2534 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2535 Num Description Executable
2536 2 <null> helloworld
2537 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2538 @end smallexample
2539
2540 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2541
2542 @kindex remove-inferiors
2543 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2544 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2545 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2546 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2547
2548 @end table
2549
2550 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2551 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2552 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2553 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2554
2555 @table @code
2556 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2557 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2558 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2559 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2560 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2561 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2562
2563 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2564 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2565 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2566 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2567 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2568 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2569 @end table
2570
2571 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2572 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2573 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2574 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2575
2576
2577 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2578 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2579
2580 @table @code
2581 @kindex set print inferior-events
2582 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2583 @item set print inferior-events
2584 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2585 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2586 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2587 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2588 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2589 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2590
2591 @kindex show print inferior-events
2592 @item show print inferior-events
2593 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2594 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2595 @end table
2596
2597 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2598 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2599 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2600
2601
2602 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2603 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2604 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2605 info program-spaces}} command.
2606
2607 @table @code
2608 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2609 @item maint info program-spaces
2610 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2611 @value{GDBN}.
2612
2613 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2614
2615 @enumerate
2616 @item
2617 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2618
2619 @item
2620 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2621 the @code{file} command.
2622
2623 @end enumerate
2624
2625 @noindent
2626 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2627 indicates the current program space.
2628
2629 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2630 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2631 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2632
2633 @smallexample
2634 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2635 Id Executable
2636 2 goodbye
2637 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2638 * 1 hello
2639 @end smallexample
2640
2641 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2642 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2643 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2644 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2645 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2646
2647 @smallexample
2648 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2649 Id Executable
2650 * 1 vfork-test
2651 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2652 @end smallexample
2653
2654 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2655 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2656 @end table
2657
2658 @node Threads
2659 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2660
2661 @cindex threads of execution
2662 @cindex multiple threads
2663 @cindex switching threads
2664 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2665 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2666 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2667 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2668 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2669 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2670 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2671
2672 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2673 programs:
2674
2675 @itemize @bullet
2676 @item automatic notification of new threads
2677 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2678 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2679 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2680 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2681 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2682 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2683 messages on thread start and exit.
2684 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2685 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2686 isn't compatible with the program.
2687 @end itemize
2688
2689 @quotation
2690 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2691 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2692 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2693 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2694 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2695 like this:
2696
2697 @smallexample
2698 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2699 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2700 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2701 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2702 @end smallexample
2703 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2704 @c doesn't support threads"?
2705 @end quotation
2706
2707 @cindex focus of debugging
2708 @cindex current thread
2709 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2710 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2711 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2712 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2713 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2714
2715 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2716 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2717 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2718 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2719 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2720 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2721 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2722 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2723 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2724 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2725
2726 @smallexample
2727 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2728 @end smallexample
2729
2730 @noindent
2731 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2732 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2733 further qualifier.
2734
2735 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2736 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2737 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2738 @c program?
2739 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2740 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2741 @c threads ab initio?
2742
2743 @cindex thread number
2744 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2745 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2746 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2747
2748 @table @code
2749 @kindex info threads
2750 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2751 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2752 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2753 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2754 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2755
2756 @enumerate
2757 @item
2758 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2759
2760 @item
2761 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2762
2763 @item
2764 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2765 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2766 program itself.
2767
2768 @item
2769 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2770 @end enumerate
2771
2772 @noindent
2773 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2774 indicates the current thread.
2775
2776 For example,
2777 @end table
2778 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2779
2780 @smallexample
2781 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2782 Id Target Id Frame
2783 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2784 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2785 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2786 at threadtest.c:68
2787 @end smallexample
2788
2789 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2790 Solaris-specific command:
2791
2792 @table @code
2793 @item maint info sol-threads
2794 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2795 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2796 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2797 @end table
2798
2799 @table @code
2800 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2801 @item thread @var{threadno}
2802 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2803 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2804 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2805 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2806 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2807
2808 @smallexample
2809 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2810 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2811 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2812 8 printf ("hello\n");
2813 @end smallexample
2814
2815 @noindent
2816 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2817 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2818 threads.
2819
2820 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2821 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2822 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2823 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2824 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2825 information on convenience variables.
2826
2827 @kindex thread apply
2828 @cindex apply command to several threads
2829 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2830 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2831 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2832 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2833 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2834 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2835 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2836 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2837
2838 @kindex thread name
2839 @cindex name a thread
2840 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2841 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2842 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2843 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2844
2845 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2846 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2847 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2848 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2849 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2850
2851 @kindex thread find
2852 @cindex search for a thread
2853 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2854 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2855 matches the supplied regular expression.
2856
2857 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2858 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2859 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2860 is the LWP id.
2861
2862 @smallexample
2863 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2864 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2865 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2866 Id Target Id Frame
2867 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2868 @end smallexample
2869
2870 @kindex set print thread-events
2871 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2872 @item set print thread-events
2873 @itemx set print thread-events on
2874 @itemx set print thread-events off
2875 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2876 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2877 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2878 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2879 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2880
2881 @kindex show print thread-events
2882 @item show print thread-events
2883 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2884 have started and exited.
2885 @end table
2886
2887 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2888 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2889 programs with multiple threads.
2890
2891 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2892 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2893
2894 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2895 @table @code
2896 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2897 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2898 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2899 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2900 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2901 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2902 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2903 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2904 macro.
2905
2906 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2907 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2908 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2909 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2910 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2911 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2912
2913 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2914 refers to the default system directories that are
2915 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2916 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2917 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2918
2919 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2920 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2921 was loaded in the inferior process.
2922
2923 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2924 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2925 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2926 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2927 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2928 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2929 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2930
2931 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2932 only on some platforms.
2933
2934 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2935 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2936 Display current libthread_db search path.
2937
2938 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2939 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2940 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2941 @item set debug libthread-db
2942 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2943 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2944 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2945 @end table
2946
2947 @node Forks
2948 @section Debugging Forks
2949
2950 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2951 @cindex multiple processes
2952 @cindex processes, multiple
2953 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2954 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2955 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2956 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2957 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2958 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2959 will cause it to terminate.
2960
2961 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2962 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2963 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2964 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2965 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2966 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2967 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2968 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2969 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2970 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2971
2972 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2973 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2974 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2975 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2976
2977 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2978 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2979
2980 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2981 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2982
2983 @table @code
2984 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2985 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2986 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2987 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2988 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2989
2990 @table @code
2991 @item parent
2992 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2993 unimpeded. This is the default.
2994
2995 @item child
2996 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2997 unimpeded.
2998
2999 @end table
3000
3001 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3002 @item show follow-fork-mode
3003 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3004 @end table
3005
3006 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3007 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3008 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3009
3010 @table @code
3011 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3012 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3013 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3014 retain debugger control over them both.
3015
3016 @table @code
3017 @item on
3018 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3019 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3020 independently. This is the default.
3021
3022 @item off
3023 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3024 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3025 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3026 is held suspended.
3027
3028 @end table
3029
3030 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3031 @item show detach-on-fork
3032 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3033 @end table
3034
3035 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3036 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3037 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3038 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3039 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3040 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3041
3042 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3043 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3044 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3045 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3046 and Programs}.
3047
3048 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3049 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3050 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3051 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3052 the child process's @code{main}.
3053
3054 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3055 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3056
3057 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3058 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3059 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3060 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3061 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3062 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3063 command.
3064
3065 @table @code
3066 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3067 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3068
3069 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3070 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3071
3072 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3073
3074 @table @code
3075 @item new
3076 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3077 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3078 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3079 original inferior.
3080
3081 For example:
3082
3083 @smallexample
3084 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3085 (gdb) info inferior
3086 Id Description Executable
3087 * 1 <null> prog1
3088 (@value{GDBP}) run
3089 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3090 Program exited normally.
3091 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3092 Id Description Executable
3093 * 2 <null> prog2
3094 1 <null> prog1
3095 @end smallexample
3096
3097 @item same
3098 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3099 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3100 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3101 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3102 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3103
3104 For example:
3105
3106 @smallexample
3107 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3108 Id Description Executable
3109 * 1 <null> prog1
3110 (@value{GDBP}) run
3111 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3112 Program exited normally.
3113 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3114 Id Description Executable
3115 * 1 <null> prog2
3116 @end smallexample
3117
3118 @end table
3119 @end table
3120
3121 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3122 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3123 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3124
3125 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3126 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3127
3128 @cindex checkpoint
3129 @cindex restart
3130 @cindex bookmark
3131 @cindex snapshot of a process
3132 @cindex rewind program state
3133
3134 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3135 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3136 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3137 later.
3138
3139 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3140 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3141 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3142 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3143 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3144
3145 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3146 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3147 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3148 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3149 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3150 start again from there.
3151
3152 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3153 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3154
3155 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3156
3157 @table @code
3158 @kindex checkpoint
3159 @item checkpoint
3160 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3161 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3162 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3163
3164 @kindex info checkpoints
3165 @item info checkpoints
3166 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3167 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3168 listed:
3169
3170 @table @code
3171 @item Checkpoint ID
3172 @item Process ID
3173 @item Code Address
3174 @item Source line, or label
3175 @end table
3176
3177 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3178 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3179 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3180 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3181 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3182 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3183 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3184
3185 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3186 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3187 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3188 the debugger.
3189
3190 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3191 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3192 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3193
3194 @end table
3195
3196 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3197 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3198 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3199 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3200 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3201 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3202 previously read data can be read again.
3203
3204 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3205 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3206 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3207 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3208 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3209 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3210
3211 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3212 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3213 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3214 different execution path this time.
3215
3216 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3217 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3218 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3219 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3220 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3221 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3222 potentially pose a problem.
3223
3224 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3225
3226 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3227 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3228 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3229 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3230 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3231 next.
3232
3233 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3234 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3235 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3236 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3237 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3238
3239 @node Stopping
3240 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3241
3242 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3243 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3244 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3245
3246 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3247 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3248 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3249 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3250 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3251 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3252 explicitly request this information at any time.
3253
3254 @table @code
3255 @kindex info program
3256 @item info program
3257 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3258 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3259 @end table
3260
3261 @menu
3262 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3263 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3264 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3265 Skipping over functions and files
3266 * Signals:: Signals
3267 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3268 @end menu
3269
3270 @node Breakpoints
3271 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3272
3273 @cindex breakpoints
3274 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3275 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3276 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3277 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3278 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3279 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3280 program.
3281
3282 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3283 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3284 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3285 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3286 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3287 call).
3288
3289 @cindex watchpoints
3290 @cindex data breakpoints
3291 @cindex memory tracing
3292 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3293 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3294 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3295 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3296 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3297 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3298 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3299 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3300 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3301 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3302 same commands.
3303
3304 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3305 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3306 Automatic Display}.
3307
3308 @cindex catchpoints
3309 @cindex breakpoint on events
3310 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3311 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3312 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3313 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3314 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3315 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3316 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3317
3318 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3319 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3320 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3321 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3322 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3323 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3324 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3325 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3326 enable it again.
3327
3328 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3329 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3330 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3331 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3332 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3333 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3334 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3335
3336 @menu
3337 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3338 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3339 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3340 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3341 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3342 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3343 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3344 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3345 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3346 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3347 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3348 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3349 @end menu
3350
3351 @node Set Breaks
3352 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3353
3354 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3355 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3356 @c
3357 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3358
3359 @kindex break
3360 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3361 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3362 @cindex latest breakpoint
3363 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3364 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3365 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3366 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3367 convenience variables.
3368
3369 @table @code
3370 @item break @var{location}
3371 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3372 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3373 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3374 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3375 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3376
3377 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3378 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3379 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3380 that situation.
3381
3382 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3383 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3384 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3385
3386 @item break
3387 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3388 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3389 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3390 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3391 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3392 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3393 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3394 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3395 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3396 inside loops.
3397
3398 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3399 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3400 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3401 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3402 existed when your program stopped.
3403
3404 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3405 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3406 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3407 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3408 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3409 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3410 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3411
3412 @kindex tbreak
3413 @item tbreak @var{args}
3414 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3415 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3416 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3417 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3418
3419 @kindex hbreak
3420 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3421 @item hbreak @var{args}
3422 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3423 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3424 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3425 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3426 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3427 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3428 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3429 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3430 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3431 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3432 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3433 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3434 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3435 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3436 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3437 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3438 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3439 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3440
3441 @kindex thbreak
3442 @item thbreak @var{args}
3443 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3444 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3445 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3446 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3447 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3448 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3449 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3450 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3451
3452 @kindex rbreak
3453 @cindex regular expression
3454 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3455 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3456 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3457 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3458 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3459 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3460 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3461 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3462 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3463
3464 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3465 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3466 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3467 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3468 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3469 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3470
3471 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3472 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3473 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3474 classes.
3475
3476 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3477 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3478 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3479
3480 @smallexample
3481 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3482 @end smallexample
3483
3484 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3485 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3486 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3487 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3488 every function in a given file:
3489
3490 @smallexample
3491 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3492 @end smallexample
3493
3494 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3495 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3496
3497 @kindex info breakpoints
3498 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3499 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3500 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3501 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3502 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3503 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3504 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3505
3506 @table @emph
3507 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3508 @item Type
3509 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3510 @item Disposition
3511 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3512 @item Enabled or Disabled
3513 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3514 that are not enabled.
3515 @item Address
3516 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3517 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3518 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3519 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3520 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3521 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3522 @item What
3523 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3524 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3525 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3526 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3527 @end table
3528
3529 @noindent
3530 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3531 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3532 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3533 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3534 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3535 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3536
3537 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3538 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3539 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3540 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3541
3542 @noindent
3543 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3544 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3545 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3546 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3547 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3548
3549 @noindent
3550 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3551 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3552 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3553 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3554 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3555 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3556
3557 @noindent
3558 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3559 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3560
3561 @end table
3562
3563 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3564 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3565 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3566 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3567
3568 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3569 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3570 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3571 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3572
3573 @itemize @bullet
3574 @item
3575 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3576
3577 @item
3578 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3579 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3580
3581 @item
3582 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3583 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3584
3585 @item
3586 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3587 several places where that function is inlined.
3588 @end itemize
3589
3590 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3591 the relevant locations.
3592
3593 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3594 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3595 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3596 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3597 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3598 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3599 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3600
3601 For example:
3602
3603 @smallexample
3604 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3605 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3606 stop only if i==1
3607 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3608 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3609 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3610 @end smallexample
3611
3612 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3613 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3614 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3615 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3616 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3617 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3618 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3619 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3620 that belong to that breakpoint.
3621
3622 @cindex pending breakpoints
3623 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3624 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3625 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3626 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3627 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3628 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3629 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3630 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3631 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3632 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3633 is not yet resolved.
3634
3635 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3636 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3637 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3638 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3639 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3640 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3641
3642 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3643 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3644 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3645 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3646
3647 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3648 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3649 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3650
3651 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3652 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3653 address specification to an address:
3654
3655 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3656 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3657 @table @code
3658 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3659 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3660 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3661
3662 @item set breakpoint pending on
3663 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3664 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3665
3666 @item set breakpoint pending off
3667 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3668 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3669 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3670
3671 @item show breakpoint pending
3672 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3673 @end table
3674
3675 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3676 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3677 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3678
3679 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3680 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3681 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3682 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3683 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3684 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3685 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3686 breakpoints.
3687
3688 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3689
3690 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3691 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3692 @table @code
3693 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3694 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3695 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3696 breakpoint must be used.
3697
3698 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3699 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3700 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3701 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3702 @end table
3703
3704 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3705 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3706 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3707 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3708 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3709 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3710 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3711 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3712 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3713
3714 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3715 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3716 @table @code
3717 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3718 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3719 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3720 removed from the target when it stops.
3721
3722 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3723 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3724 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3725 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3726 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3727
3728 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3729 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3730 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3731 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3732 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3733 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3734 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3735 @end table
3736
3737 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3738 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3739 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3740
3741 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3742 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3743
3744 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3745
3746 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3747 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3748 @table @code
3749 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3750 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3751 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3752 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3753 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3754
3755 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3756 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3757 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3758 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3759 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3760 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3761 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3762 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3763 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3764 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3765 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3766 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3767 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3768
3769 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3770 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3771 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3772 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3773 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3774 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3775 @end table
3776
3777
3778 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3779 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3780 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3781 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3782 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3783 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3784 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3785 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3786
3787
3788 @node Set Watchpoints
3789 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3790
3791 @cindex setting watchpoints
3792 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3793 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3794 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3795 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3796 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3797
3798 @itemize @bullet
3799 @item
3800 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3801
3802 @item
3803 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3804 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3805 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3806
3807 @item
3808 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3809 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3810 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3811 @end itemize
3812
3813 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3814 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3815 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3816 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3817 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3818 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3819 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3820 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3821 the expression changes.
3822
3823 @cindex software watchpoints
3824 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3825 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3826 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3827 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3828 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3829 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3830 culprit.)
3831
3832 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3833 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3834 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3835
3836 @table @code
3837 @kindex watch
3838 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3839 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3840 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3841 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3842 to watch the value of a single variable:
3843
3844 @smallexample
3845 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3846 @end smallexample
3847
3848 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3849 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3850 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3851 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3852 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3853 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3854
3855 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3856 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3857 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3858 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3859 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3860 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3861 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3862 error.
3863
3864 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3865 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3866 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3867 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3868 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3869 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3870 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3871 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3872 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3873 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3874 Examples:
3875
3876 @smallexample
3877 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3878 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3879 @end smallexample
3880
3881 @kindex rwatch
3882 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3883 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3884 by the program.
3885
3886 @kindex awatch
3887 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3888 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3889 or written into by the program.
3890
3891 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3892 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3893 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3894 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3895 @end table
3896
3897 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3898 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3899 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3900 a never-changing value:
3901
3902 @smallexample
3903 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3904 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3905 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3906 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3907 @end smallexample
3908
3909 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3910 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3911 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3912 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3913 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3914 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3915
3916 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3917 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3918 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3919 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3920 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3921 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3922 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3923 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3924
3925 @table @code
3926 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3927 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3928 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3929
3930 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3931 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3932 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3933 @end table
3934
3935 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3936 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3937 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3938
3939 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3940
3941 @smallexample
3942 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3943 @end smallexample
3944
3945 @noindent
3946 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3947
3948 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3949 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3950 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3951 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3952 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3953 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3954 will print a message like this:
3955
3956 @smallexample
3957 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3958 @end smallexample
3959
3960 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3961 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3962 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3963 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3964 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3965 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3966 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3967 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3968
3969 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3970 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3971 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3972 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3973 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3974 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3975
3976 @smallexample
3977 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3978 @end smallexample
3979
3980 @noindent
3981 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3982
3983 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3984 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3985 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3986 expression with separately allocated resources.
3987
3988 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3989 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3990 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3991
3992 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3993 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3994 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3995 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3996 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3997 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3998 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3999 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4000 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4001
4002 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4003 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4004 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4005 watched expression from every thread.
4006
4007 @quotation
4008 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4009 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4010 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4011 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4012 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4013 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4014 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4015 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4016 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4017 @end quotation
4018
4019 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4020
4021 @node Set Catchpoints
4022 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4023 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4024 @cindex exception handlers
4025 @cindex event handling
4026
4027 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4028 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4029 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4030
4031 @table @code
4032 @kindex catch
4033 @item catch @var{event}
4034 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4035 @table @code
4036 @item throw
4037 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4038 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
4039
4040 @item catch
4041 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4042
4043 @item exception
4044 @cindex Ada exception catching
4045 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4046 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4047 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4048 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4049 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4050
4051 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4052 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4053 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4054 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4055 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4056 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4057 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4058 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4059
4060 @item exception unhandled
4061 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4062
4063 @item assert
4064 A failed Ada assertion.
4065
4066 @item exec
4067 @cindex break on fork/exec
4068 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4069 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4070
4071 @item syscall
4072 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4073 @cindex break on a system call.
4074 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4075 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4076 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4077 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4078 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4079 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4080 will be caught.
4081
4082 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4083 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4084 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4085 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4086
4087 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4088 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4089 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4090 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4091
4092 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4093 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4094 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4095 available choices.
4096
4097 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4098 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4099 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4100 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4101 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4102 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4103 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4104 behind the OS upgrades).
4105
4106 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4107 arguments to it:
4108
4109 @smallexample
4110 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4111 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4112 (@value{GDBP}) r
4113 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4114
4115 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4116 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4117 (@value{GDBP}) c
4118 Continuing.
4119
4120 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4121 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4122 (@value{GDBP})
4123 @end smallexample
4124
4125 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4126
4127 @smallexample
4128 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4129 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4130 (@value{GDBP}) r
4131 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4132
4133 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4134 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4135 (@value{GDBP}) c
4136 Continuing.
4137
4138 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4139 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4140 (@value{GDBP})
4141 @end smallexample
4142
4143 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4144 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4145 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4146
4147 @smallexample
4148 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4149 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4150 (@value{GDBP}) r
4151 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4152
4153 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4154 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4155 (@value{GDBP}) c
4156 Continuing.
4157
4158 Program exited normally.
4159 (@value{GDBP})
4160 @end smallexample
4161
4162 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4163 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4164 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4165 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4166
4167 @smallexample
4168 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4169 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4170 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4171 (@value{GDBP})
4172 @end smallexample
4173
4174 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4175 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4176 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4177 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4178 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4179 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4180
4181 @smallexample
4182 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4183 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4184 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4185 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4186 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4187 (@value{GDBP})
4188 @end smallexample
4189
4190 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4191
4192 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4193 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4194
4195 @smallexample
4196 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4197 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4198 @end smallexample
4199
4200 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4201
4202 @item fork
4203 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4204 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4205
4206 @item vfork
4207 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4208 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4209
4210 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4211 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4212 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4213 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4214 matches one of the affected libraries.
4215
4216 @end table
4217
4218 @item tcatch @var{event}
4219 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4220 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4221
4222 @end table
4223
4224 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4225
4226 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4227 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4228
4229 @itemize @bullet
4230 @item
4231 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4232 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4233 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4234 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4235 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4236 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4237 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4238 disabled within interactive calls.
4239
4240 @item
4241 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4242
4243 @item
4244 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4245 @end itemize
4246
4247 @cindex raise exceptions
4248 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4249 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4250 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4251 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4252 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4253 out where the exception was raised.
4254
4255 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4256 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4257 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4258 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4259
4260 @smallexample
4261 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4262 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4263 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4264 @end smallexample
4265
4266 @noindent
4267 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4268 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4269 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4270
4271 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4272 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4273 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4274 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4275 raised.
4276
4277
4278 @node Delete Breaks
4279 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4280
4281 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4282 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4283 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4284 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4285 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4286 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4287
4288 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4289 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4290 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4291 their breakpoint numbers.
4292
4293 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4294 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4295 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4296
4297 @table @code
4298 @kindex clear
4299 @item clear
4300 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4301 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4302 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4303 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4304
4305 @item clear @var{location}
4306 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4307 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4308 most useful ones are listed below:
4309
4310 @table @code
4311 @item clear @var{function}
4312 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4313 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4314
4315 @item clear @var{linenum}
4316 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4317 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4318 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4319 @end table
4320
4321 @cindex delete breakpoints
4322 @kindex delete
4323 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4324 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4325 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4326 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4327 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4328 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4329 @end table
4330
4331 @node Disabling
4332 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4333
4334 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4335 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4336 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4337 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4338 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4339
4340 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4341 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4342 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4343 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4344 do not know which numbers to use.
4345
4346 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4347 affects all of its locations.
4348
4349 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4350 different states of enablement:
4351
4352 @itemize @bullet
4353 @item
4354 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4355 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4356 @item
4357 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4358 @item
4359 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4360 disabled.
4361 @item
4362 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4363 N times, then becomes disabled.
4364 @item
4365 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4366 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4367 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4368 @end itemize
4369
4370 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4371 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4372
4373 @table @code
4374 @kindex disable
4375 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4376 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4377 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4378 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4379 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4380 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4381 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4382
4383 @kindex enable
4384 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4385 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4386 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4387
4388 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4389 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4390 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4391
4392 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4393 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4394 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4395 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4396 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4397 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4398 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4399
4400 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4401 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4402 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4403 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4404 @end table
4405
4406 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4407 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4408 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4409 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4410 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4411 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4412 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4413 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4414 Stepping}.)
4415
4416 @node Conditions
4417 @subsection Break Conditions
4418 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4419 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4420
4421 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4422 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4423 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4424 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4425 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4426 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4427 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4428 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4429
4430 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4431 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4432 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4433 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4434 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4435
4436 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4437 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4438 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4439 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4440 one.
4441
4442 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4443 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4444 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4445 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4446 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4447 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4448 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4449 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4450 conditions for the
4451 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4452 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4453
4454 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4455 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4456 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4457 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4458 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4459 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4460
4461 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4462 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4463 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4464 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4465 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4466
4467 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4468 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4469 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4470 with the @code{condition} command.
4471
4472 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4473 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4474 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4475 catchpoint.
4476
4477 @table @code
4478 @kindex condition
4479 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4480 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4481 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4482 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4483 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4484 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4485 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4486 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4487 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4488 prints an error message:
4489
4490 @smallexample
4491 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4492 @end smallexample
4493
4494 @noindent
4495 @value{GDBN} does
4496 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4497 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4498 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4499
4500 @item condition @var{bnum}
4501 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4502 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4503 @end table
4504
4505 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4506 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4507 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4508 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4509 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4510 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4511 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4512 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4513 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4514 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4515 your program reaches it.
4516
4517 @table @code
4518 @kindex ignore
4519 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4520 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4521 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4522 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4523 takes no action.
4524
4525 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4526 a count of zero.
4527
4528 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4529 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4530 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4531 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4532
4533 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4534 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4535 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4536
4537 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4538 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4539 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4540 Variables}.
4541 @end table
4542
4543 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4544
4545
4546 @node Break Commands
4547 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4548
4549 @cindex breakpoint commands
4550 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4551 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4552 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4553 enable other breakpoints.
4554
4555 @table @code
4556 @kindex commands
4557 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4558 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4559 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4560 @itemx end
4561 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4562 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4563 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4564
4565 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4566 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4567
4568 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4569 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4570 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4571 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4572 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4573 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4574 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4575 Expressions}).
4576 @end table
4577
4578 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4579 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4580
4581 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4582 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4583 that resumes execution.
4584
4585 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4586 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4587 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4588 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4589 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4590
4591 @kindex silent
4592 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4593 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4594 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4595 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4596 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4597 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4598
4599 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4600 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4601 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4602
4603 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4604 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4605
4606 @smallexample
4607 break foo if x>0
4608 commands
4609 silent
4610 printf "x is %d\n",x
4611 cont
4612 end
4613 @end smallexample
4614
4615 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4616 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4617 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4618 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4619 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4620 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4621 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4622
4623 @smallexample
4624 break 403
4625 commands
4626 silent
4627 set x = y + 4
4628 cont
4629 end
4630 @end smallexample
4631
4632 @node Dynamic Printf
4633 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4634
4635 @cindex dynamic printf
4636 @cindex dprintf
4637 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4638 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4639 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4640 having to recompile it.
4641
4642 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4643 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4644 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4645 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4646 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4647 redirects to files and so forth.
4648
4649 @table @code
4650 @kindex dprintf
4651 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4652 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4653 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4654 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4655
4656 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4657 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4658 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4659 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4660 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4661 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4662
4663 @item gdb
4664 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4665 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4666
4667 @item call
4668 @kindex dprintf-style call
4669 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4670 @code{printf}).
4671
4672 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4673 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4674 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4675 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4676 command.
4677
4678 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4679 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4680 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4681 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4682 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4683 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4684
4685 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4686 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4687 you could do the following:
4688
4689 @example
4690 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4691 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4692 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4693 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4694 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4695 (gdb) info break
4696 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4697 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4698 continue
4699 (gdb)
4700 @end example
4701
4702 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4703 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4704 the variable settings.
4705
4706 @end table
4707
4708 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4709 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4710 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4711 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4712 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4713 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4714
4715 @node Save Breakpoints
4716 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4717
4718 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4719 breakpoints}} command.
4720
4721 @table @code
4722 @kindex save breakpoints
4723 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4724 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4725 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4726 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4727 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4728 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4729 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4730 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4731 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4732 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4733 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4734 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4735 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4736 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4737 that can no longer be recreated.
4738 @end table
4739
4740 @node Static Probe Points
4741 @subsection Static Probe Points
4742
4743 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4744 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4745 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4746 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4747 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4748 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4749 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4750
4751 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4752 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4753 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4754 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4755 in your applications.
4756
4757 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4758 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4759 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4760 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4761 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4762 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4763 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4764 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4765
4766 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4767 probes}, with optional arguments:
4768
4769 @table @code
4770 @kindex info probes
4771 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4772 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4773 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4774 probes from all providers are listed.
4775
4776 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4777 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4778 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4779
4780 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4781 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4782 given, all object files are considered.
4783
4784 @item info probes all
4785 List the available static probes, from all types.
4786 @end table
4787
4788 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4789 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4790 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4791 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4792 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4793 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4794 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4795 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4796 at the current probe point.
4797
4798 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4799 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4800 an error message.
4801
4802
4803 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4804 @node Error in Breakpoints
4805 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4806
4807 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4808 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4809
4810 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4811 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4812 @smallexample
4813 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4814 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4815 @end smallexample
4816
4817 @noindent
4818 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4819 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4820 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4821
4822 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4823 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4824
4825 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4826 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4827 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4828
4829 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4830 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4831 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4832 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4833
4834 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4835 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4836 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4837 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4838 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4839 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4840 first in the bundle.
4841
4842 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4843 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4844 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4845 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4846 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4847 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4848 is hit.
4849
4850 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4851 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4852
4853 @smallexample
4854 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4855 @end smallexample
4856
4857 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4858 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4859 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4860 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4861 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4862 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4863 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4864 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4865
4866 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4867 adjusted breakpoints:
4868
4869 @smallexample
4870 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4871 to 0x00010410.
4872 @end smallexample
4873
4874 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4875 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4876 frequently than expected.
4877
4878 @node Continuing and Stepping
4879 @section Continuing and Stepping
4880
4881 @cindex stepping
4882 @cindex continuing
4883 @cindex resuming execution
4884 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4885 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4886 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4887 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4888 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4889 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4890 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4891 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4892
4893 @table @code
4894 @kindex continue
4895 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4896 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4897 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4898 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4899 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4900 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4901 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4902 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4903 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4904 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4905
4906 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4907 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4908 @code{continue} is ignored.
4909
4910 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4911 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4912 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4913 @code{continue}.
4914 @end table
4915
4916 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4917 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4918 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4919 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4920
4921 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4922 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4923 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4924 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4925 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4926 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4927
4928 @table @code
4929 @kindex step
4930 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4931 @item step
4932 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4933 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4934 abbreviated @code{s}.
4935
4936 @quotation
4937 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4938 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4939 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4940 @c distinction here.
4941 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4942 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4943 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4944 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4945 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4946 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4947 below.
4948 @end quotation
4949
4950 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4951 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4952 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4953 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4954 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4955 called within the line.
4956
4957 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4958 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4959 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4960 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4961 was any debugging information about the routine.
4962
4963 @item step @var{count}
4964 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4965 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4966 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4967
4968 @kindex next
4969 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4970 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4971 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4972 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4973 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4974 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4975 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4976 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4977
4978 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4979
4980
4981 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4982 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4983 @c
4984 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4985 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4986 @c function are executed without stopping.
4987
4988 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4989 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4990 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4991
4992 @kindex set step-mode
4993 @item set step-mode
4994 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4995 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4996 @itemx set step-mode on
4997 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4998 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4999 information rather than stepping over it.
5000
5001 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5002 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5003 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5004
5005 @item set step-mode off
5006 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5007 debug information. This is the default.
5008
5009 @item show step-mode
5010 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5011 source line debug information.
5012
5013 @kindex finish
5014 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5015 @item finish
5016 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5017 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5018 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5019
5020 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5021 ,Returning from a Function}).
5022
5023 @kindex until
5024 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5025 @cindex run until specified location
5026 @item until
5027 @itemx u
5028 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5029 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5030 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5031 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5032 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5033 than the address of the jump.
5034
5035 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5036 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5037 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5038 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5039 through the next iteration.
5040
5041 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5042 stack frame.
5043
5044 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5045 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5046 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5047 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5048 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5049
5050 @smallexample
5051 (@value{GDBP}) f
5052 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5053 206 expand_input();
5054 (@value{GDBP}) until
5055 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5056 @end smallexample
5057
5058 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5059 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5060 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5061 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5062 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5063 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5064 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5065
5066 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5067 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5068 argument.
5069
5070 @item until @var{location}
5071 @itemx u @var{location}
5072 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5073 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5074 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5075 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5076 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5077 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5078 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5079 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5080 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5081 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5082 invocations have returned.
5083
5084 @smallexample
5085 94 int factorial (int value)
5086 95 @{
5087 96 if (value > 1) @{
5088 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5089 98 @}
5090 99 return (value);
5091 100 @}
5092 @end smallexample
5093
5094
5095 @kindex advance @var{location}
5096 @itemx advance @var{location}
5097 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5098 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5099 @ref{Specify Location}.
5100 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5101 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5102 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5103 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5104
5105
5106 @kindex stepi
5107 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5108 @item stepi
5109 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5110 @itemx si
5111 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5112
5113 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5114 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5115 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5116 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5117
5118 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5119
5120 @need 750
5121 @kindex nexti
5122 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5123 @item nexti
5124 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5125 @itemx ni
5126 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5127 proceed until the function returns.
5128
5129 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5130 @end table
5131
5132 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5133 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5134 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5135
5136 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5137 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5138 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5139
5140 For example, consider the following C function:
5141
5142 @smallexample
5143 101 int func()
5144 102 @{
5145 103 foo(boring());
5146 104 bar(boring());
5147 105 @}
5148 @end smallexample
5149
5150 @noindent
5151 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5152 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5153 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5154 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5155
5156 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5157 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5158 is called from many places.
5159
5160 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5161 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5162 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5163 @code{foo}.
5164
5165 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5166 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5167
5168 @table @code
5169 @kindex skip function
5170 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5171 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5172 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5173 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5174 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5175
5176 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5177 will be skipped.
5178
5179 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5180 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5181
5182 @kindex skip file
5183 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5184 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5185 will be skipped over when stepping.
5186
5187 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5188 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5189 @end table
5190
5191 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5192 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5193
5194 @table @code
5195 @kindex info skip
5196 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5197 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5198 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5199 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5200
5201 @table @emph
5202 @item Identifier
5203 A number identifying this skip.
5204 @item Type
5205 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5206 @item Enabled or Disabled
5207 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5208 @item Address
5209 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5210 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5211 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5212 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5213 address here.
5214 @item What
5215 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5216 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5217 where it is defined.
5218 @end table
5219
5220 @kindex skip delete
5221 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5222 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5223 skips.
5224
5225 @kindex skip enable
5226 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5227 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5228 skips.
5229
5230 @kindex skip disable
5231 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5232 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5233 skips.
5234
5235 @end table
5236
5237 @node Signals
5238 @section Signals
5239 @cindex signals
5240
5241 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5242 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5243 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5244 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5245 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5246 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5247 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5248 requested an alarm).
5249
5250 @cindex fatal signals
5251 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5252 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5253 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5254 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5255 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5256 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5257
5258 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5259 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5260 signal.
5261
5262 @cindex handling signals
5263 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5264 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5265 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5266 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5267 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5268
5269 @table @code
5270 @kindex info signals
5271 @kindex info handle
5272 @item info signals
5273 @itemx info handle
5274 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5275 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5276 the defined types of signals.
5277
5278 @item info signals @var{sig}
5279 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5280
5281 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5282
5283 @kindex handle
5284 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5285 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5286 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5287 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5288 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5289 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5290 say what change to make.
5291 @end table
5292
5293 @c @group
5294 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5295 Their full names are:
5296
5297 @table @code
5298 @item nostop
5299 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5300 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5301
5302 @item stop
5303 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5304 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5305
5306 @item print
5307 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5308
5309 @item noprint
5310 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5311 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5312
5313 @item pass
5314 @itemx noignore
5315 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5316 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5317 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5318
5319 @item nopass
5320 @itemx ignore
5321 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5322 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5323 @end table
5324 @c @end group
5325
5326 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5327 program until you
5328 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5329 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5330 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5331 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5332 program sees that signal when you continue.
5333
5334 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5335 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5336 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5337 erroneous signals.
5338
5339 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5340 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5341 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5342 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5343 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5344 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5345 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5346 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5347 Program a Signal}.
5348
5349 @cindex extra signal information
5350 @anchor{extra signal information}
5351
5352 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5353 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5354 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5355 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5356 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5357 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5358 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5359 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5360 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5361 system header.
5362
5363 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5364 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5365
5366 @smallexample
5367 @group
5368 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5369 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5370 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5371 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5372 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5373 type = struct @{
5374 int si_signo;
5375 int si_errno;
5376 int si_code;
5377 union @{
5378 int _pad[28];
5379 struct @{...@} _kill;
5380 struct @{...@} _timer;
5381 struct @{...@} _rt;
5382 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5383 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5384 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5385 @} _sifields;
5386 @}
5387 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5388 type = struct @{
5389 void *si_addr;
5390 @}
5391 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5392 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5393 @end group
5394 @end smallexample
5395
5396 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5397
5398 @node Thread Stops
5399 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5400
5401 @cindex stopped threads
5402 @cindex threads, stopped
5403
5404 @cindex continuing threads
5405 @cindex threads, continuing
5406
5407 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5408 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5409 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5410 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5411 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5412 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5413 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5414 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5415 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5416
5417 @menu
5418 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5419 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5420 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5421 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5422 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5423 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5424 @end menu
5425
5426 @node All-Stop Mode
5427 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5428
5429 @cindex all-stop mode
5430
5431 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5432 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5433 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5434 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5435 underfoot.
5436
5437 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5438 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5439 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5440
5441 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5442 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5443 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5444 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5445 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5446 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5447 stops.
5448
5449 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5450 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5451 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5452 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5453
5454 @cindex automatic thread selection
5455 @cindex switching threads automatically
5456 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5457 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5458 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5459 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5460 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5461 thread.
5462
5463 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5464 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5465
5466 @table @code
5467 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5468 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5469 @cindex lock scheduler
5470 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5471 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5472 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5473 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5474 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5475 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5476 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5477 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5478 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5479 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5480 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5481 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5482
5483 @item show scheduler-locking
5484 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5485 @end table
5486
5487 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5488 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5489 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5490 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5491 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5492 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5493 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5494 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5495 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5496 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5497 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5498 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5499 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5500 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5501
5502 @table @code
5503 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5504 @item set schedule-multiple
5505 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5506 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5507 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5508 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5509 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5510 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5511
5512 @item show schedule-multiple
5513 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5514 multiple processes.
5515 @end table
5516
5517 @node Non-Stop Mode
5518 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5519
5520 @cindex non-stop mode
5521
5522 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5523 @c with more details.
5524
5525 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5526 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5527 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5528 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5529 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5530 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5531
5532 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5533 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5534 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5535 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5536 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5537 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5538 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5539 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5540 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5541 independently and simultaneously.
5542
5543 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5544 or attach to your program:
5545
5546 @smallexample
5547 # Enable the async interface.
5548 set target-async 1
5549
5550 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5551 set pagination off
5552
5553 # Finally, turn it on!
5554 set non-stop on
5555 @end smallexample
5556
5557 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5558
5559 @table @code
5560 @kindex set non-stop
5561 @item set non-stop on
5562 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5563 @item set non-stop off
5564 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5565 @kindex show non-stop
5566 @item show non-stop
5567 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5568 @end table
5569
5570 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5571 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5572 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5573 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5574 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5575 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5576 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5577 default.
5578
5579 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5580 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5581 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5582
5583 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5584 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5585 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5586 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5587 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5588
5589 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5590 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5591 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5592 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5593 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5594
5595 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5596
5597 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5598 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5599 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5600 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5601 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5602 previously current thread.
5603
5604 @node Background Execution
5605 @subsection Background Execution
5606
5607 @cindex foreground execution
5608 @cindex background execution
5609 @cindex asynchronous execution
5610 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5611
5612 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5613 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5614 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5615 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5616 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5617 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5618
5619 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5620 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5621 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5622
5623 @table @code
5624 @kindex set target-async
5625 @item set target-async on
5626 Enable asynchronous mode.
5627 @item set target-async off
5628 Disable asynchronous mode.
5629 @kindex show target-async
5630 @item show target-async
5631 Show the current target-async setting.
5632 @end table
5633
5634 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5635 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5636
5637 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5638 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5639 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5640 are:
5641
5642 @table @code
5643 @kindex run&
5644 @item run
5645 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5646
5647 @item attach
5648 @kindex attach&
5649 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5650
5651 @item step
5652 @kindex step&
5653 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5654
5655 @item stepi
5656 @kindex stepi&
5657 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5658
5659 @item next
5660 @kindex next&
5661 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5662
5663 @item nexti
5664 @kindex nexti&
5665 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5666
5667 @item continue
5668 @kindex continue&
5669 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5670
5671 @item finish
5672 @kindex finish&
5673 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5674
5675 @item until
5676 @kindex until&
5677 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5678
5679 @end table
5680
5681 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5682 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5683 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5684 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5685 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5686 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5687
5688 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5689 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5690
5691 @table @code
5692 @kindex interrupt
5693 @item interrupt
5694 @itemx interrupt -a
5695
5696 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5697 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5698 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5699 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5700 @end table
5701
5702 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5703 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5704
5705 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5706 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5707 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5708
5709 @table @code
5710 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5711 @cindex thread breakpoints
5712 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5713 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5714 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5715 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5716 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5717 specify some source line.
5718
5719 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5720 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5721 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5722 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5723 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5724
5725 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5726 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5727 program.
5728
5729 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5730 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5731 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5732
5733 @smallexample
5734 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5735 @end smallexample
5736
5737 @end table
5738
5739 @node Interrupted System Calls
5740 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5741
5742 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5743 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5744 @cindex premature return from system calls
5745 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5746 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5747 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5748 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5749 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5750 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5751 stop execution.
5752
5753 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5754 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5755 style anyways.
5756
5757 For example, do not write code like this:
5758
5759 @smallexample
5760 sleep (10);
5761 @end smallexample
5762
5763 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5764 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5765
5766 Instead, write this:
5767
5768 @smallexample
5769 int unslept = 10;
5770 while (unslept > 0)
5771 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5772 @end smallexample
5773
5774 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5775 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5776 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5777 @value{GDBN}.
5778
5779 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5780 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5781 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5782 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5783
5784 @node Observer Mode
5785 @subsection Observer Mode
5786
5787 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5788 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5789 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5790 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5791 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5792
5793 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5794 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5795 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5796 mode.
5797
5798 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5799 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5800 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5801 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5802 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5803
5804 @table @code
5805
5806 @kindex observer
5807 @item set observer on
5808 @itemx set observer off
5809 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5810 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5811 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5812 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5813
5814 @item show observer
5815 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5816
5817 @kindex may-write-registers
5818 @item set may-write-registers on
5819 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5820 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5821 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5822 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5823
5824 @item show may-write-registers
5825 Show the current permission to write registers.
5826
5827 @kindex may-write-memory
5828 @item set may-write-memory on
5829 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5830 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5831 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5832 defaults to @code{on}.
5833
5834 @item show may-write-memory
5835 Show the current permission to write memory.
5836
5837 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5838 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5839 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5840 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5841 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5842 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5843
5844 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5845 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5846
5847 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5848 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5849 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5850 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5851 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5852 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5853 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5854
5855 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5856 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5857
5858 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5859 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5860 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5861 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5862 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5863 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5864 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5865
5866 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5867 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5868
5869 @kindex may-interrupt
5870 @item set may-interrupt on
5871 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5872 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5873 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5874 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5875 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5876
5877 @item show may-interrupt
5878 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5879
5880 @end table
5881
5882 @node Reverse Execution
5883 @chapter Running programs backward
5884 @cindex reverse execution
5885 @cindex running programs backward
5886
5887 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5888 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5889 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5890 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5891
5892 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5893 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5894 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5895 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5896 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5897 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5898
5899 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5900 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5901 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5902 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5903 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5904 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5905 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5906 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5907 prior values@footnote{
5908 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5909 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5910 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5911
5912 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5913 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5914 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5915 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5916 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5917 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5918 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5919 }.
5920
5921 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5922 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5923
5924 @table @code
5925 @kindex reverse-continue
5926 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5927 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5928 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5929 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5930 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5931 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5932 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5933
5934 @kindex reverse-step
5935 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5936 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5937 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5938 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5939
5940 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5941 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5942 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5943 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5944 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5945 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5946
5947 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5948 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5949
5950 @kindex reverse-stepi
5951 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5952 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5953 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5954 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5955 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5956 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5957 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5958
5959 @kindex reverse-next
5960 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5961 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5962 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5963 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5964 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5965 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5966 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5967 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5968 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5969 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5970
5971 @kindex reverse-nexti
5972 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5973 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5974 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5975 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5976 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5977 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5978 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5979 frame) is reached.
5980
5981 @kindex reverse-finish
5982 @item reverse-finish
5983 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5984 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5985 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5986 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5987
5988 @kindex set exec-direction
5989 @item set exec-direction
5990 Set the direction of target execution.
5991 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5992 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5993 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5994 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5995 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5996 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5997 @item set exec-direction forward
5998 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5999 This is the default.
6000 @end table
6001
6002
6003 @node Process Record and Replay
6004 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6005 @cindex process record and replay
6006 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6007
6008 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6009 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6010 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6011
6012 @cindex replay mode
6013 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6014 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6015 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6016 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6017 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6018 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6019 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6020 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6021 execution log.
6022
6023 @cindex record mode
6024 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6025 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6026 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6027 for future replay.
6028
6029 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6030 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6031 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6032 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6033 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6034 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6035
6036 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6037 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6038 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6039 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6040
6041 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6042 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6043
6044 @table @code
6045 @kindex target record
6046 @kindex record
6047 @kindex rec
6048 @item target record
6049 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
6050 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
6051 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
6052 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
6053 the @kbd{target record} command.
6054
6055 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
6056
6057 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6058 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6059 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6060 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6061 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6062
6063 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6064 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6065 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6066 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
6067 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
6068 support these two modes.
6069
6070 @kindex record stop
6071 @kindex rec s
6072 @item record stop
6073 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6074 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6075 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6076
6077 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6078 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6079 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6080 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6081 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6082
6083 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6084 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6085 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6086 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6087 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6088
6089 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6090 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6091
6092 @kindex record save
6093 @item record save @var{filename}
6094 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6095 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6096 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6097
6098 @kindex record restore
6099 @item record restore @var{filename}
6100 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6101 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6102
6103 @kindex set record insn-number-max
6104 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
6105 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
6106
6107 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6108 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6109 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6110 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6111 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6112 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6113 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6114 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6115
6116 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
6117 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
6118 instructions is unlimited in this case.
6119
6120 @kindex show record insn-number-max
6121 @item show record insn-number-max
6122 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
6123
6124 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
6125 @item set record stop-at-limit
6126 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
6127 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
6128 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
6129 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
6130 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
6131 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
6132
6133 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6134 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6135
6136 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
6137 @item show record stop-at-limit
6138 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6139
6140 @kindex set record memory-query
6141 @item set record memory-query
6142 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6143 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
6144 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
6145
6146 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6147 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6148 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6149 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6150 results.
6151
6152 @kindex show record memory-query
6153 @item show record memory-query
6154 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6155
6156 @kindex info record
6157 @item info record
6158 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
6159 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6160
6161 @itemize @bullet
6162 @item
6163 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6164 @item
6165 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6166 @item
6167 Highest recorded instruction number.
6168 @item
6169 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6170 @item
6171 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6172 @item
6173 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6174 @end itemize
6175
6176 @kindex record delete
6177 @kindex rec del
6178 @item record delete
6179 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6180 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6181 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6182 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6183 @end table
6184
6185
6186 @node Stack
6187 @chapter Examining the Stack
6188
6189 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6190 stopped and how it got there.
6191
6192 @cindex call stack
6193 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6194 is generated.
6195 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6196 the arguments of the call,
6197 and the local variables of the function being called.
6198 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6199 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6200 stack}.
6201
6202 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6203 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6204
6205 @cindex selected frame
6206 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6207 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6208 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6209 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6210 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6211 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6212
6213 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6214 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6215 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6216
6217 @menu
6218 * Frames:: Stack frames
6219 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6220 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6221 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6222
6223 @end menu
6224
6225 @node Frames
6226 @section Stack Frames
6227
6228 @cindex frame, definition
6229 @cindex stack frame
6230 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6231 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6232 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6233 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6234 which the function is executing.
6235
6236 @cindex initial frame
6237 @cindex outermost frame
6238 @cindex innermost frame
6239 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6240 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6241 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6242 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6243 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6244 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6245 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6246 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6247
6248 @cindex frame pointer
6249 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6250 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6251 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6252 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6253 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6254 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6255
6256 @cindex frame number
6257 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6258 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6259 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6260 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6261 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6262
6263 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6264 @c underflow problems.
6265 @cindex frameless execution
6266 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6267 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6268 @smallexample
6269 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6270 @end smallexample
6271 generates functions without a frame.)
6272 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6273 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6274 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6275 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6276 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6277 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6278 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6279
6280 @table @code
6281 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6282 @cindex current stack frame
6283 @item frame @var{args}
6284 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6285 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6286 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6287 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6288
6289 @kindex select-frame
6290 @cindex selecting frame silently
6291 @item select-frame
6292 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6293 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6294 @code{frame}.
6295 @end table
6296
6297 @node Backtrace
6298 @section Backtraces
6299
6300 @cindex traceback
6301 @cindex call stack traces
6302 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6303 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6304 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6305 stack.
6306
6307 @table @code
6308 @kindex backtrace
6309 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6310 @item backtrace
6311 @itemx bt
6312 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6313 frames in the stack.
6314
6315 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6316 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6317
6318 @item backtrace @var{n}
6319 @itemx bt @var{n}
6320 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6321
6322 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6323 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6324 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6325
6326 @item backtrace full
6327 @itemx bt full
6328 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6329 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6330 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6331 number of frames to print, as described above.
6332 @end table
6333
6334 @kindex where
6335 @kindex info stack
6336 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6337 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6338
6339 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6340 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6341 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6342 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6343 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6344 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6345 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6346 multi-threaded program.
6347
6348 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6349 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6350 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6351 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6352 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6353 line number.
6354
6355 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6356 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6357
6358 @smallexample
6359 @group
6360 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6361 at builtin.c:993
6362 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6363 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6364 at macro.c:71
6365 (More stack frames follow...)
6366 @end group
6367 @end smallexample
6368
6369 @noindent
6370 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6371 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6372 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6373
6374 @noindent
6375 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6376 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6377 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6378 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6379 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6380
6381 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6382 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6383 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6384 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6385 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6386 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6387 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6388 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6389 such a backtrace might look like:
6390
6391 @smallexample
6392 @group
6393 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6394 at builtin.c:993
6395 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6396 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6397 at macro.c:71
6398 (More stack frames follow...)
6399 @end group
6400 @end smallexample
6401
6402 @noindent
6403 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6404 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6405
6406 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6407 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6408 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6409
6410 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6411 @cindex program entry point
6412 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6413 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6414 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6415 @code{main}@footnote{
6416 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6417 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6418 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6419 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6420 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6421 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6422
6423 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6424 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6425
6426 @table @code
6427 @item set backtrace past-main
6428 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6429 @kindex set backtrace
6430 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6431
6432 @item set backtrace past-main off
6433 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6434 default.
6435
6436 @item show backtrace past-main
6437 @kindex show backtrace
6438 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6439
6440 @item set backtrace past-entry
6441 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6442 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6443 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6444 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6445
6446 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6447 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6448 application. This is the default.
6449
6450 @item show backtrace past-entry
6451 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6452
6453 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6454 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6455 @cindex backtrace limit
6456 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6457 unlimited.
6458
6459 @item show backtrace limit
6460 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6461 @end table
6462
6463 @node Selection
6464 @section Selecting a Frame
6465
6466 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6467 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6468 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6469 of the stack frame just selected.
6470
6471 @table @code
6472 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6473 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6474 @item frame @var{n}
6475 @itemx f @var{n}
6476 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6477 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6478 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6479 @code{main}.
6480
6481 @item frame @var{addr}
6482 @itemx f @var{addr}
6483 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6484 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6485 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6486 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6487 switches between them.
6488
6489 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6490 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6491
6492 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6493 pointer and a program counter.
6494
6495 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6496 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6497
6498 @kindex up
6499 @item up @var{n}
6500 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6501 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6502 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6503
6504 @kindex down
6505 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6506 @item down @var{n}
6507 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6508 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6509 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6510 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6511 @end table
6512
6513 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6514 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6515 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6516 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6517
6518 @need 1000
6519 For example:
6520
6521 @smallexample
6522 @group
6523 (@value{GDBP}) up
6524 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6525 at env.c:10
6526 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6527 @end group
6528 @end smallexample
6529
6530 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6531 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6532 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6533 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6534 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6535 for details.
6536
6537 @table @code
6538 @kindex down-silently
6539 @kindex up-silently
6540 @item up-silently @var{n}
6541 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6542 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6543 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6544 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6545 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6546 distracting.
6547 @end table
6548
6549 @node Frame Info
6550 @section Information About a Frame
6551
6552 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6553 stack frame.
6554
6555 @table @code
6556 @item frame
6557 @itemx f
6558 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6559 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6560 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6561 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6562 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6563
6564 @kindex info frame
6565 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6566 @item info frame
6567 @itemx info f
6568 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6569 including:
6570
6571 @itemize @bullet
6572 @item
6573 the address of the frame
6574 @item
6575 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6576 @item
6577 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6578 @item
6579 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6580 @item
6581 the address of the frame's arguments
6582 @item
6583 the address of the frame's local variables
6584 @item
6585 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6586 @item
6587 which registers were saved in the frame
6588 @end itemize
6589
6590 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6591 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6592 the usual conventions.
6593
6594 @item info frame @var{addr}
6595 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6596 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6597 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6598 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6599 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6600 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6601
6602 @kindex info args
6603 @item info args
6604 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6605
6606 @item info locals
6607 @kindex info locals
6608 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6609 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6610 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6611
6612 @end table
6613
6614
6615 @node Source
6616 @chapter Examining Source Files
6617
6618 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6619 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6620 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6621 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6622 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6623 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6624 source files by explicit command.
6625
6626 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6627 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6628 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6629
6630 @menu
6631 * List:: Printing source lines
6632 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6633 * Edit:: Editing source files
6634 * Search:: Searching source files
6635 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6636 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6637 @end menu
6638
6639 @node List
6640 @section Printing Source Lines
6641
6642 @kindex list
6643 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6644 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6645 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6646 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6647 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6648
6649 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6650
6651 @table @code
6652 @item list @var{linenum}
6653 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6654 current source file.
6655
6656 @item list @var{function}
6657 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6658 @var{function}.
6659
6660 @item list
6661 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6662 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6663 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6664 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6665 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6666
6667 @item list -
6668 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6669 @end table
6670
6671 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6672 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6673 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6674
6675 @table @code
6676 @kindex set listsize
6677 @item set listsize @var{count}
6678 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6679 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6680
6681 @kindex show listsize
6682 @item show listsize
6683 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6684 @end table
6685
6686 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6687 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6688 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6689 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6690 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6691
6692 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6693 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6694 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6695 to specify some source line.
6696
6697 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6698
6699 @table @code
6700 @item list @var{linespec}
6701 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6702
6703 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6704 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6705 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6706 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6707 the same source file as the first linespec.
6708
6709 @item list ,@var{last}
6710 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6711
6712 @item list @var{first},
6713 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6714
6715 @item list +
6716 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6717
6718 @item list -
6719 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6720
6721 @item list
6722 As described in the preceding table.
6723 @end table
6724
6725 @node Specify Location
6726 @section Specifying a Location
6727 @cindex specifying location
6728 @cindex linespec
6729
6730 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6731 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6732 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6733 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6734
6735 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6736 @value{GDBN} understands:
6737
6738 @table @code
6739 @item @var{linenum}
6740 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6741
6742 @item -@var{offset}
6743 @itemx +@var{offset}
6744 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6745 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6746 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6747 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6748 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6749 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6750 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6751 linespec.
6752
6753 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6754 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6755 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
6756 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
6757 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
6758 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
6759 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
6760
6761 @item @var{function}
6762 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6763 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6764
6765 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6766 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6767
6768 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6769 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6770 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6771 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6772 functions in different source files.
6773
6774 @item @var{label}
6775 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6776 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6777 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6778 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6779 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6780
6781 @item *@var{address}
6782 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6783 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6784 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6785 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6786 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6787 source files.
6788
6789 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6790 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6791 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6792 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6793 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6794 of @var{address}:
6795
6796 @table @code
6797 @item @var{expression}
6798 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6799
6800 @item @var{funcaddr}
6801 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6802 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6803 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6804 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6805 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6806 (although the Pascal form also works).
6807
6808 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6809 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6810
6811 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6812 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6813 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6814 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6815 functions with identical names in different source files.
6816 @end table
6817
6818 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
6819 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
6820 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
6821 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
6822 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
6823 specifies the location of such a static probe.
6824
6825 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
6826 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
6827 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
6828 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
6829 each one of those probes.
6830
6831 @end table
6832
6833
6834 @node Edit
6835 @section Editing Source Files
6836 @cindex editing source files
6837
6838 @kindex edit
6839 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6840 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6841 The editing program of your choice
6842 is invoked with the current line set to
6843 the active line in the program.
6844 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6845 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6846
6847 @table @code
6848 @item edit @var{location}
6849 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6850 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6851 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6852 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6853 command most commonly used:
6854
6855 @table @code
6856 @item edit @var{number}
6857 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6858
6859 @item edit @var{function}
6860 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6861 @end table
6862
6863 @end table
6864
6865 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6866 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6867 @footnote{
6868 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6869 following command-line syntax:
6870 @smallexample
6871 ex +@var{number} file
6872 @end smallexample
6873 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6874 the file where to start editing.}.
6875 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6876 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6877 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6878 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6879 @smallexample
6880 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6881 export EDITOR
6882 gdb @dots{}
6883 @end smallexample
6884 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6885 @smallexample
6886 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6887 gdb @dots{}
6888 @end smallexample
6889
6890 @node Search
6891 @section Searching Source Files
6892 @cindex searching source files
6893
6894 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6895 regular expression.
6896
6897 @table @code
6898 @kindex search
6899 @kindex forward-search
6900 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6901 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6902 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6903 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6904 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6905 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6906 @code{fo}.
6907
6908 @kindex reverse-search
6909 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6910 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6911 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6912 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6913 this command as @code{rev}.
6914 @end table
6915
6916 @node Source Path
6917 @section Specifying Source Directories
6918
6919 @cindex source path
6920 @cindex directories for source files
6921 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6922 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6923 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6924 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6925 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6926 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6927 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6928
6929 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6930 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6931 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6932 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6933 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6934 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6935 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6936 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6937 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6938 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6939 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6940
6941 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6942 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6943 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6944 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6945 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6946 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6947
6948 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6949 source files.
6950
6951 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6952 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6953 each line is in the file.
6954
6955 @kindex directory
6956 @kindex dir
6957 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6958 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6959 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6960
6961 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6962 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6963
6964 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6965 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6966 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6967 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6968 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6969 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6970 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6971 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6972 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6973 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6974 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6975 name to look up the sources.
6976
6977 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6978 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6979 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6980 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6981 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6982 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6983 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6984 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6985
6986 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6987 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6988 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6989 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6990 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6991 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6992 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6993
6994 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6995 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6996 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6997 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6998 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6999 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7000 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7001 command.
7002
7003 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7004 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7005 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7006 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7007 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7008 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7009 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7010
7011 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7012 @cindex default source path substitution
7013 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7014 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7015 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7016 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7017 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7018 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7019 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7020 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7021 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7022 together.
7023
7024 @table @code
7025 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7026 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7027 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7028 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7029 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7030 part of absolute file names) or
7031 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7032 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7033
7034 @kindex cdir
7035 @kindex cwd
7036 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7037 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7038 @cindex compilation directory
7039 @cindex current directory
7040 @cindex working directory
7041 @cindex directory, current
7042 @cindex directory, compilation
7043 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7044 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7045 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7046 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7047 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7048 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7049
7050 @item directory
7051 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7052
7053 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7054 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7055
7056 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7057 @kindex set directories
7058 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7059 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7060
7061 @item show directories
7062 @kindex show directories
7063 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7064
7065 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7066 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7067 @kindex set substitute-path
7068 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7069 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7070 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7071
7072 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7073 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7074
7075 @smallexample
7076 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7077 @end smallexample
7078
7079 @noindent
7080 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7081 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7082 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7083
7084 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7085 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7086 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7087 the substitution.
7088
7089 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7090
7091 @smallexample
7092 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7093 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7094 @end smallexample
7095
7096 @noindent
7097 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7098 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7099 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7100 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7101
7102
7103 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7104 @kindex unset substitute-path
7105 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7106 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7107 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7108
7109 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7110
7111 @item show substitute-path [path]
7112 @kindex show substitute-path
7113 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7114 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7115
7116 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7117 rules.
7118
7119 @end table
7120
7121 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7122 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7123 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7124
7125 @enumerate
7126 @item
7127 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7128
7129 @item
7130 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7131 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7132 directories in one command.
7133 @end enumerate
7134
7135 @node Machine Code
7136 @section Source and Machine Code
7137 @cindex source line and its code address
7138
7139 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7140 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7141 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7142 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7143 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7144 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7145 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7146 well as hex.
7147
7148 @table @code
7149 @kindex info line
7150 @item info line @var{linespec}
7151 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7152 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7153 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7154 @end table
7155
7156 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7157 the object code for the first line of function
7158 @code{m4_changequote}:
7159
7160 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7161 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7162 @smallexample
7163 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7164 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7165 @end smallexample
7166
7167 @noindent
7168 @cindex code address and its source line
7169 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7170 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7171 @smallexample
7172 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7173 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7174 @end smallexample
7175
7176 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7177 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7178 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7179 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7180 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7181 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7182 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7183 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7184 Variables}).
7185
7186 @table @code
7187 @kindex disassemble
7188 @cindex assembly instructions
7189 @cindex instructions, assembly
7190 @cindex machine instructions
7191 @cindex listing machine instructions
7192 @item disassemble
7193 @itemx disassemble /m
7194 @itemx disassemble /r
7195 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7196 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7197 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7198 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7199 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7200 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7201 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7202 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7203 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7204 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7205
7206 @table @code
7207 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7208 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7209 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7210 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7211 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7212 @end table
7213
7214 @noindent
7215 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7216 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7217
7218 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7219 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7220
7221 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7222 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7223 @end table
7224
7225 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7226 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7227
7228 @smallexample
7229 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7230 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7231 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7232 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7233 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7234 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7235 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7236 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7237 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7238 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7239 End of assembler dump.
7240 @end smallexample
7241
7242 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7243 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7244
7245 @smallexample
7246 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7247 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7248 5 @{
7249 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7250 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7251 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7252 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7253 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7254
7255 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7256 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7257 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7258
7259 7 return 0;
7260 8 @}
7261 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7262 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7263 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7264
7265 End of assembler dump.
7266 @end smallexample
7267
7268 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7269
7270 @smallexample
7271 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7272 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7273 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7274 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7275 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7276 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7277 End of assembler dump.
7278 @end smallexample
7279
7280 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7281 mnemonics or other syntax.
7282
7283 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7284 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7285 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7286 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7287 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7288
7289 @table @code
7290 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7291 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7292 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7293 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7294 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7295 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7296
7297 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7298 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7299 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7300 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7301
7302 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7303 @item show disassembly-flavor
7304 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7305 @end table
7306
7307 @table @code
7308 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7309 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7310 @item set disassemble-next-line
7311 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7312 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7313 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7314 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7315 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7316 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7317 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7318 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7319 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7320 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7321 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7322 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7323 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7324 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7325 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7326 instruction.
7327 @end table
7328
7329
7330 @node Data
7331 @chapter Examining Data
7332
7333 @cindex printing data
7334 @cindex examining data
7335 @kindex print
7336 @kindex inspect
7337 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
7338 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
7339 @c different window or something like that.
7340 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7341 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7342 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7343 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7344 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7345 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7346
7347 @table @code
7348 @item print @var{expr}
7349 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7350 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7351 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7352 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7353 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7354 Formats}.
7355
7356 @item print
7357 @itemx print /@var{f}
7358 @cindex reprint the last value
7359 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7360 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7361 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7362 @end table
7363
7364 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7365 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7366 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7367
7368 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7369 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7370 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7371 Table}.
7372
7373 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7374 @kindex explore
7375 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7376 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7377 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7378 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7379 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7380 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7381 embedded in the higher level data types.
7382
7383 @table @code
7384 @item explore @var{arg}
7385 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7386 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7387 @end table
7388
7389 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7390 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7391 C program as
7392
7393 @smallexample
7394 struct SimpleStruct
7395 @{
7396 int i;
7397 double d;
7398 @};
7399
7400 struct ComplexStruct
7401 @{
7402 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7403 int arr[10];
7404 @};
7405 @end smallexample
7406
7407 @noindent
7408 followed by variable declarations as
7409
7410 @smallexample
7411 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7412 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7413 @end smallexample
7414
7415 @noindent
7416 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7417 @code{explore} command as follows.
7418
7419 @smallexample
7420 (gdb) explore cs
7421 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7422 the following fields:
7423
7424 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7425 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7426
7427 Enter the field number of choice:
7428 @end smallexample
7429
7430 @noindent
7431 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7432 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7433 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7434 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7435 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7436 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7437 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7438 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7439
7440 @smallexample
7441 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7442 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7443 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7444 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7445
7446 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7447 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7448
7449 Press enter to return to parent value:
7450 @end smallexample
7451
7452 @noindent
7453 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7454 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7455 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7456 to explore.
7457
7458 @smallexample
7459 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7460 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7461
7462 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7463
7464 (cs.arr)[5] = 4
7465
7466 Press enter to return to parent value:
7467 @end smallexample
7468
7469 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7470 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7471 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7472 level data structure).
7473
7474 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7475 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7476 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7477 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7478 same example as above, your can explore the type
7479 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7480 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7481
7482 @smallexample
7483 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7484 @end smallexample
7485
7486 @noindent
7487 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7488 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7489 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7490 example.
7491
7492 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7493 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7494 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7495 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7496 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7497
7498 @table @code
7499 @item explore value @var{expr}
7500 @cindex explore value
7501 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7502 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
7503 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
7504 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
7505 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
7506
7507 @item explore type @var{arg}
7508 @cindex explore type
7509 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
7510 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
7511 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
7512 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
7513 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
7514 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
7515 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
7516 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
7517 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
7518 @end table
7519
7520 @menu
7521 * Expressions:: Expressions
7522 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7523 * Variables:: Program variables
7524 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7525 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7526 * Memory:: Examining memory
7527 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7528 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7529 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7530 * Value History:: Value history
7531 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7532 * Registers:: Registers
7533 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7534 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7535 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7536 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7537 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7538 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7539 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7540 character set than GDB does
7541 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7542 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7543 @end menu
7544
7545 @node Expressions
7546 @section Expressions
7547
7548 @cindex expressions
7549 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7550 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7551 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7552 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7553 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7554 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7555 @ref{Compilation}.
7556
7557 @cindex arrays in expressions
7558 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7559 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7560 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7561 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7562 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7563 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7564
7565 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7566 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7567 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7568 languages.
7569
7570 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7571 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7572
7573 @cindex casts, in expressions
7574 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7575 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7576 at that address in memory.
7577 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7578
7579 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7580 to programming languages:
7581
7582 @table @code
7583 @item @@
7584 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7585 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7586
7587 @item ::
7588 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7589 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7590
7591 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7592 @cindex type casting memory
7593 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7594 @cindex casts, to view memory
7595 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7596 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7597 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7598 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7599 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7600 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7601 @end table
7602
7603 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7604 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7605 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7606
7607 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7608 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7609 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7610 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7611 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7612 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7613 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7614
7615 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7616 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7617 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7618 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7619 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7620 as well.
7621
7622 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7623 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7624 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7625 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7626 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7627 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7628 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7629 choices.
7630
7631 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7632 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7633 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7634
7635 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7636 @smallexample
7637 @group
7638 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7639 [0] cancel
7640 [1] all
7641 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7642 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7643 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7644 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7645 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7646 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7647 > 2 4 6
7648 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7649 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7650 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7651 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7652 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7653 breakpoints.
7654 (@value{GDBP})
7655 @end group
7656 @end smallexample
7657
7658 @table @code
7659 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7660 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7661 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7662
7663 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7664 is ambiguous.
7665
7666 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7667 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7668 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7669 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7670 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7671 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7672 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7673 in the use of the menu.
7674
7675 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7676 when an ambiguity is detected.
7677
7678 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7679 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7680
7681 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7682 @item show multiple-symbols
7683 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7684 @end table
7685
7686 @node Variables
7687 @section Program Variables
7688
7689 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7690 in your program.
7691
7692 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7693 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7694
7695 @itemize @bullet
7696 @item
7697 global (or file-static)
7698 @end itemize
7699
7700 @noindent or
7701
7702 @itemize @bullet
7703 @item
7704 visible according to the scope rules of the
7705 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7706 @end itemize
7707
7708 @noindent This means that in the function
7709
7710 @smallexample
7711 foo (a)
7712 int a;
7713 @{
7714 bar (a);
7715 @{
7716 int b = test ();
7717 bar (b);
7718 @}
7719 @}
7720 @end smallexample
7721
7722 @noindent
7723 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7724 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7725 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7726 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7727
7728 @cindex variable name conflict
7729 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7730 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7731 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7732 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7733 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7734 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
7735 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7736
7737 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7738 @ifnotinfo
7739 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7740 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7741 @end ifnotinfo
7742 @smallexample
7743 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7744 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7745 @end smallexample
7746
7747 @noindent
7748 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7749 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7750 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7751 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7752
7753 @smallexample
7754 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7755 @end smallexample
7756
7757 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
7758 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
7759 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
7760 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
7761 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
7762
7763 @smallexample
7764 void
7765 foo (int a)
7766 @{
7767 if (a < 10)
7768 bar (a);
7769 else
7770 process (a); /* Stop here */
7771 @}
7772
7773 int
7774 bar (int a)
7775 @{
7776 foo (a + 5);
7777 @}
7778 @end smallexample
7779
7780 @noindent
7781 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
7782 here is what you might see
7783 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
7784
7785 @smallexample
7786 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7787 $1 = 10
7788 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7789 $2 = 5
7790 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
7791 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
7792 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7793 $3 = 5
7794 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7795 $4 = 0
7796 @end smallexample
7797
7798 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7799 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7800 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7801 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7802 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7803 @c conflict?? --mew
7804
7805 @cindex wrong values
7806 @cindex variable values, wrong
7807 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7808 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7809 @quotation
7810 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7811 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7812 scope, and just before exit.
7813 @end quotation
7814 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7815 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7816 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7817 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7818 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7819 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7820 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7821 variable definitions may be gone.
7822
7823 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7824 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7825 when compiling.
7826
7827 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7828 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7829 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7830 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7831 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7832 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7833 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7834
7835 @smallexample
7836 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7837 @end smallexample
7838
7839 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7840 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7841 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
7842 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
7843 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7844
7845 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7846 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7847 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7848 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7849
7850 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
7851 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
7852 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
7853 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
7854 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
7855
7856 @smallexample
7857 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
7858 29 i++;
7859 (gdb) next
7860 30 e (i);
7861 (gdb) print i
7862 $1 = 31
7863 (gdb) print i@@entry
7864 $2 = 30
7865 @end smallexample
7866
7867 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7868 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7869 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7870 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7871 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7872 For program code
7873
7874 @smallexample
7875 char var0[] = "A";
7876 signed char var1[] = "A";
7877 @end smallexample
7878
7879 You get during debugging
7880 @smallexample
7881 (gdb) print var0
7882 $1 = "A"
7883 (gdb) print var1
7884 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7885 @end smallexample
7886
7887 @node Arrays
7888 @section Artificial Arrays
7889
7890 @cindex artificial array
7891 @cindex arrays
7892 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7893 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7894 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7895 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7896 program.
7897
7898 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7899 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7900 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7901 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7902 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7903 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7904 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7905 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7906 example. If a program says
7907
7908 @smallexample
7909 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7910 @end smallexample
7911
7912 @noindent
7913 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7914
7915 @smallexample
7916 p *array@@len
7917 @end smallexample
7918
7919 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7920 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7921 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7922 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7923 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7924
7925 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7926 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7927 The value need not be in memory:
7928 @smallexample
7929 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7930 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7931 @end smallexample
7932
7933 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7934 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7935 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7936 @smallexample
7937 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7938 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7939 @end smallexample
7940
7941 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7942 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7943 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7944 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7945 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7946 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7947 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7948 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7949 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7950 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7951
7952 @smallexample
7953 set $i = 0
7954 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7955 @key{RET}
7956 @key{RET}
7957 @dots{}
7958 @end smallexample
7959
7960 @node Output Formats
7961 @section Output Formats
7962
7963 @cindex formatted output
7964 @cindex output formats
7965 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7966 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7967 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7968 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7969 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7970
7971 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7972 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7973 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7974 letters supported are:
7975
7976 @table @code
7977 @item x
7978 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7979 hexadecimal.
7980
7981 @item d
7982 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7983
7984 @item u
7985 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7986
7987 @item o
7988 Print as integer in octal.
7989
7990 @item t
7991 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7992 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7993 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7994 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7995
7996 @item a
7997 @cindex unknown address, locating
7998 @cindex locate address
7999 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8000 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8001 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8002
8003 @smallexample
8004 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8005 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8006 @end smallexample
8007
8008 @noindent
8009 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8010 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8011
8012 @item c
8013 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8014 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8015 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8016 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8017
8018 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8019 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8020 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8021 data.
8022
8023 @item f
8024 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8025 using typical floating point syntax.
8026
8027 @item s
8028 @cindex printing strings
8029 @cindex printing byte arrays
8030 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8031 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8032 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8033 natural types.
8034
8035 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8036 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8037 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8038 array.
8039
8040 @item r
8041 @cindex raw printing
8042 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8043 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8044 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8045 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8046 pretty-printer which might exist.
8047 @end table
8048
8049 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8050
8051 @smallexample
8052 p/x $pc
8053 @end smallexample
8054
8055 @noindent
8056 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8057 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8058
8059 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8060 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8061 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8062
8063 @node Memory
8064 @section Examining Memory
8065
8066 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8067 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8068
8069 @cindex examining memory
8070 @table @code
8071 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8072 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8073 @itemx x @var{addr}
8074 @itemx x
8075 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8076 @end table
8077
8078 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8079 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8080 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8081 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8082 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8083
8084 @table @r
8085 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8086 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8087 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8088 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8089 @c 4.1.2.
8090
8091 @item @var{f}, the display format
8092 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8093 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8094 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8095 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8096 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8097
8098 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8099 The unit size is any of
8100
8101 @table @code
8102 @item b
8103 Bytes.
8104 @item h
8105 Halfwords (two bytes).
8106 @item w
8107 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8108 @item g
8109 Giant words (eight bytes).
8110 @end table
8111
8112 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8113 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8114 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8115 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8116 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8117 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8118 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8119 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8120 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8121 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8122 be altered.
8123
8124 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8125 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8126 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8127 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8128 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8129 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8130 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8131 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8132 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8133 a value from memory).
8134 @end table
8135
8136 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8137 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8138 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8139 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8140 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8141
8142 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8143 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8144 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8145 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8146 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8147
8148 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8149 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8150 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8151 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8152 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8153 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8154 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8155 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8156 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8157
8158 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8159 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8160 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8161 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8162 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8163 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8164 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8165
8166 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8167 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8168
8169 @smallexample
8170 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8171 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8172 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8173 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8174 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8175 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8176 @end smallexample
8177
8178 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8179 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8180 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8181 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8182 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8183 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8184 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8185 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8186 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8187
8188 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8189 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8190 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8191
8192 @cindex remote memory comparison
8193 @cindex verify remote memory image
8194 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8195 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8196 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8197 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8198 situations.
8199
8200 @table @code
8201 @kindex compare-sections
8202 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8203 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8204 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8205 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8206 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8207 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8208 remote request.
8209 @end table
8210
8211 @node Auto Display
8212 @section Automatic Display
8213 @cindex automatic display
8214 @cindex display of expressions
8215
8216 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8217 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8218 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8219 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8220 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8221 The automatic display looks like this:
8222
8223 @smallexample
8224 2: foo = 38
8225 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8226 @end smallexample
8227
8228 @noindent
8229 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8230 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8231 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8232 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8233 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8234 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8235
8236 @table @code
8237 @kindex display
8238 @item display @var{expr}
8239 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8240 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8241
8242 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8243
8244 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8245 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8246 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8247 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8248 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8249
8250 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8251 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8252 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8253 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8254 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8255 @end table
8256
8257 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8258 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8259 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8260
8261 @table @code
8262 @kindex delete display
8263 @kindex undisplay
8264 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8265 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8266 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8267 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8268 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8269 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8270 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8271
8272 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8273 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8274
8275 @kindex disable display
8276 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8277 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8278 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8279 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8280 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8281 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8282 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8283 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8284
8285 @kindex enable display
8286 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8287 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8288 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8289 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8290 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8291 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8292 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8293
8294 @item display
8295 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8296 done when your program stops.
8297
8298 @kindex info display
8299 @item info display
8300 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8301 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8302 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8303 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8304 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8305 @end table
8306
8307 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8308 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8309 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8310 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8311 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8312 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8313 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8314 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8315 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8316 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8317 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8318
8319 @node Print Settings
8320 @section Print Settings
8321
8322 @cindex format options
8323 @cindex print settings
8324 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8325 and symbols are printed.
8326
8327 @noindent
8328 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8329
8330 @table @code
8331 @kindex set print
8332 @item set print address
8333 @itemx set print address on
8334 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8335 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8336 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8337 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8338 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8339 @code{set print address on}:
8340
8341 @smallexample
8342 @group
8343 (@value{GDBP}) f
8344 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8345 at input.c:530
8346 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8347 @end group
8348 @end smallexample
8349
8350 @item set print address off
8351 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8352 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8353
8354 @smallexample
8355 @group
8356 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8357 (@value{GDBP}) f
8358 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8359 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8360 @end group
8361 @end smallexample
8362
8363 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8364 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8365 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8366 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8367
8368 @kindex show print
8369 @item show print address
8370 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8371 @end table
8372
8373 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8374 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8375 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8376 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8377 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8378 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8379 it prints a symbolic address:
8380
8381 @table @code
8382 @item set print symbol-filename on
8383 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8384 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8385 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8386 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8387
8388 @item set print symbol-filename off
8389 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8390 default.
8391
8392 @item show print symbol-filename
8393 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8394 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8395 @end table
8396
8397 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8398 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8399 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8400
8401 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8402 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8403
8404 @table @code
8405 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8406 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8407 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8408 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8409 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
8410 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
8411
8412 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8413 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8414 symbolic address.
8415 @end table
8416
8417 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8418 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8419 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8420 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8421 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8422 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8423 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8424 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8425
8426 @smallexample
8427 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8428 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8429 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8430 @end smallexample
8431
8432 @quotation
8433 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8434 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8435 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8436 @end quotation
8437
8438 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8439 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8440
8441 @table @code
8442 @item set print symbol on
8443 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8444 one exists.
8445
8446 @item set print symbol off
8447 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8448 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8449 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8450
8451 @item show print symbol
8452 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8453 address.
8454 @end table
8455
8456 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8457
8458 @table @code
8459 @item set print array
8460 @itemx set print array on
8461 @cindex pretty print arrays
8462 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8463 but uses more space. The default is off.
8464
8465 @item set print array off
8466 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8467
8468 @item show print array
8469 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8470 arrays.
8471
8472 @cindex print array indexes
8473 @item set print array-indexes
8474 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8475 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8476 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8477 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8478
8479 @item set print array-indexes off
8480 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8481
8482 @item show print array-indexes
8483 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8484 arrays.
8485
8486 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8487 @cindex number of array elements to print
8488 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8489 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8490 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8491 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8492 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8493 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8494 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8495
8496 @item show print elements
8497 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8498 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8499
8500 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8501 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8502 @cindex printing frame argument values
8503 @cindex print all frame argument values
8504 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8505 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8506 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8507 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8508 values are:
8509
8510 @table @code
8511 @item all
8512 The values of all arguments are printed.
8513
8514 @item scalars
8515 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8516 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8517 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8518 only scalar arguments are shown:
8519
8520 @smallexample
8521 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8522 at frame-args.c:23
8523 @end smallexample
8524
8525 @item none
8526 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8527 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8528
8529 @smallexample
8530 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8531 at frame-args.c:23
8532 @end smallexample
8533 @end table
8534
8535 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8536 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8537 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8538 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8539 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8540 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8541 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8542 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8543 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8544 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8545
8546 @item show print frame-arguments
8547 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8548
8549 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8550 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8551 @kindex set print entry-values
8552 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8553 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8554 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8555 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8556 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8557
8558 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8559 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8560 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8561 @code{no} setting.
8562
8563 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8564 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8565 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8566 this information.
8567
8568 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8569
8570 @table @code
8571 @item no
8572 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8573 point.
8574 @smallexample
8575 #0 equal (val=5)
8576 #0 different (val=6)
8577 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8578 #0 born (val=10)
8579 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8580 @end smallexample
8581
8582 @item only
8583 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8584 values are never printed.
8585 @smallexample
8586 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8587 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8588 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8589 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8590 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8591 @end smallexample
8592
8593 @item preferred
8594 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8595 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8596 value for such parameter.
8597 @smallexample
8598 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8599 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8600 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8601 #0 born (val=10)
8602 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8603 @end smallexample
8604
8605 @item if-needed
8606 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8607 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8608 parameter.
8609 @smallexample
8610 #0 equal (val=5)
8611 #0 different (val=6)
8612 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8613 #0 born (val=10)
8614 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8615 @end smallexample
8616
8617 @item both
8618 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8619 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8620 optimizations.
8621 @smallexample
8622 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8623 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8624 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8625 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8626 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8627 @end smallexample
8628
8629 @item compact
8630 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8631 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8632 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8633 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8634 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8635 @smallexample
8636 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8637 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8638 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8639 #0 born (val=10)
8640 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8641 @end smallexample
8642
8643 @item default
8644 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8645 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8646 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8647 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8648 @smallexample
8649 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8650 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8651 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8652 #0 born (val=10)
8653 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8654 @end smallexample
8655 @end table
8656
8657 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8658 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8659
8660 @item show print entry-values
8661 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8662 entry.
8663
8664 @item set print repeats
8665 @cindex repeated array elements
8666 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8667 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8668 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8669 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8670 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8671 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8672 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8673
8674 @item show print repeats
8675 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8676 elements.
8677
8678 @item set print null-stop
8679 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8680 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8681 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8682 contain only short strings.
8683 The default is off.
8684
8685 @item show print null-stop
8686 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8687 @sc{null} character.
8688
8689 @item set print pretty on
8690 @cindex print structures in indented form
8691 @cindex indentation in structure display
8692 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8693 per line, like this:
8694
8695 @smallexample
8696 @group
8697 $1 = @{
8698 next = 0x0,
8699 flags = @{
8700 sweet = 1,
8701 sour = 1
8702 @},
8703 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
8704 @}
8705 @end group
8706 @end smallexample
8707
8708 @item set print pretty off
8709 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8710
8711 @smallexample
8712 @group
8713 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8714 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8715 @end group
8716 @end smallexample
8717
8718 @noindent
8719 This is the default format.
8720
8721 @item show print pretty
8722 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8723
8724 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8725 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8726 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8727 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8728 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8729 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8730 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8731 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8732
8733 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8734 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8735 international character sets, and is the default.
8736
8737 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8738 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8739
8740 @item set print union on
8741 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8742 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8743 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8744
8745 @item set print union off
8746 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8747 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8748 instead.
8749
8750 @item show print union
8751 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8752 structures and other unions.
8753
8754 For example, given the declarations
8755
8756 @smallexample
8757 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8758 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8759 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8760 Bug_forms;
8761
8762 struct thing @{
8763 Species it;
8764 union @{
8765 Tree_forms tree;
8766 Bug_forms bug;
8767 @} form;
8768 @};
8769
8770 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8771 @end smallexample
8772
8773 @noindent
8774 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8775
8776 @smallexample
8777 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8778 @end smallexample
8779
8780 @noindent
8781 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8782
8783 @smallexample
8784 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8785 @end smallexample
8786
8787 @noindent
8788 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8789 and in Pascal.
8790 @end table
8791
8792 @need 1000
8793 @noindent
8794 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8795
8796 @table @code
8797 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8798 @item set print demangle
8799 @itemx set print demangle on
8800 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8801 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8802 linkage. The default is on.
8803
8804 @item show print demangle
8805 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8806
8807 @item set print asm-demangle
8808 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8809 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8810 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8811 The default is off.
8812
8813 @item show print asm-demangle
8814 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8815 or demangled form.
8816
8817 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8818 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8819 @kindex set demangle-style
8820 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8821 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8822 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8823
8824 @table @code
8825 @item auto
8826 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8827
8828 @item gnu
8829 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8830 This is the default.
8831
8832 @item hp
8833 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8834
8835 @item lucid
8836 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8837
8838 @item arm
8839 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8840 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8841 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8842 require further enhancement to permit that.
8843
8844 @end table
8845 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8846
8847 @item show demangle-style
8848 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8849
8850 @item set print object
8851 @itemx set print object on
8852 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8853 @cindex display derived types
8854 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8855 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8856 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
8857 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
8858 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
8859 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
8860 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
8861
8862 @item set print object off
8863 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8864 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8865
8866 @item show print object
8867 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8868
8869 @item set print static-members
8870 @itemx set print static-members on
8871 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8872 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8873
8874 @item set print static-members off
8875 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8876
8877 @item show print static-members
8878 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8879
8880 @item set print pascal_static-members
8881 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8882 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8883 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8884 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8885
8886 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8887 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8888
8889 @item show print pascal_static-members
8890 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8891
8892 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8893 @item set print vtbl
8894 @itemx set print vtbl on
8895 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8896 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8897 @cindex VTBL display
8898 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8899 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8900 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8901
8902 @item set print vtbl off
8903 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8904
8905 @item show print vtbl
8906 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8907 @end table
8908
8909 @node Pretty Printing
8910 @section Pretty Printing
8911
8912 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8913 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8914 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8915
8916 @menu
8917 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8918 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8919 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8920 @end menu
8921
8922 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8923 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8924
8925 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8926 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8927 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8928
8929 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8930 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8931 pretty-printers with their names.
8932 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8933 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8934 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8935 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8936
8937 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8938 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8939 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8940 do anything special.
8941
8942 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8943
8944 @itemize @bullet
8945 @item
8946 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8947 all inferiors.
8948
8949 @item
8950 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8951 when debugging that program.
8952 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8953
8954 @item
8955 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8956 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8957 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8958 @end itemize
8959
8960 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8961 pretty-printers are selected,
8962
8963 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8964 for new types.
8965
8966 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8967 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8968
8969 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8970
8971 @smallexample
8972 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8973 $1 = @{
8974 static npos = 4294967295,
8975 _M_dataplus = @{
8976 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8977 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8978 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8979 @},
8980 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8981 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8982 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8983 @}
8984 @}
8985 @end smallexample
8986
8987 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8988
8989 @smallexample
8990 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8991 $2 = "abcd"
8992 @end smallexample
8993
8994 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8995 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8996 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8997
8998 @table @code
8999 @kindex info pretty-printer
9000 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9001 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9002 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9003
9004 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9005 whose pretty-printers to list.
9006 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9007 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9008 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9009 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9010 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9011
9012 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9013 to list.
9014
9015 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9016 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9017 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9018 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9019
9020 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9021 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9022 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9023 @end table
9024
9025 Example:
9026
9027 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9028 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9029 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9030 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9031
9032 @smallexample
9033 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9034 library1.so:
9035 foo
9036 library2.so:
9037 bar
9038 bar1
9039 bar2
9040 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9041 library2.so:
9042 bar
9043 bar1
9044 bar2
9045 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9046 1 printer disabled
9047 2 of 3 printers enabled
9048 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9049 library1.so:
9050 foo [disabled]
9051 library2.so:
9052 bar
9053 bar1
9054 bar2
9055 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9056 1 printer disabled
9057 1 of 3 printers enabled
9058 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9059 library1.so:
9060 foo [disabled]
9061 library2.so:
9062 bar
9063 bar1 [disabled]
9064 bar2
9065 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9066 1 printer disabled
9067 0 of 3 printers enabled
9068 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9069 library1.so:
9070 foo [disabled]
9071 library2.so:
9072 bar [disabled]
9073 bar1 [disabled]
9074 bar2
9075 @end smallexample
9076
9077 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9078 as can each individual subprinter.
9079
9080 @node Value History
9081 @section Value History
9082
9083 @cindex value history
9084 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9085 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9086 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9087 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9088 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9089 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9090 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9091 symbol table.
9092
9093 @cindex @code{$}
9094 @cindex @code{$$}
9095 @cindex history number
9096 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9097 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9098 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9099 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9100 history number.
9101
9102 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9103 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9104 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9105 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9106 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9107 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9108 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9109
9110 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9111 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9112
9113 @smallexample
9114 p *$
9115 @end smallexample
9116
9117 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9118 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9119
9120 @smallexample
9121 p *$.next
9122 @end smallexample
9123
9124 @noindent
9125 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9126 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9127
9128 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9129 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9130
9131 @smallexample
9132 print x
9133 set x=5
9134 @end smallexample
9135
9136 @noindent
9137 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9138 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9139
9140 @table @code
9141 @kindex show values
9142 @item show values
9143 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9144 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9145 values} does not change the history.
9146
9147 @item show values @var{n}
9148 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9149
9150 @item show values +
9151 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9152 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9153 @end table
9154
9155 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9156 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9157
9158 @node Convenience Vars
9159 @section Convenience Variables
9160
9161 @cindex convenience variables
9162 @cindex user-defined variables
9163 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9164 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9165 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9166 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9167 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9168
9169 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9170 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9171 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9172 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9173 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9174
9175 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9176 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9177 For example:
9178
9179 @smallexample
9180 set $foo = *object_ptr
9181 @end smallexample
9182
9183 @noindent
9184 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9185 @code{object_ptr}.
9186
9187 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9188 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9189 value with another assignment at any time.
9190
9191 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9192 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9193 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9194 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9195
9196 @table @code
9197 @kindex show convenience
9198 @cindex show all user variables
9199 @item show convenience
9200 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
9201 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9202
9203 @kindex init-if-undefined
9204 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9205 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9206 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9207 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9208 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9209 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9210 override default values used in a command script.
9211
9212 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9213 any side-effects do not occur.
9214 @end table
9215
9216 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9217 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9218 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9219
9220 @smallexample
9221 set $i = 0
9222 print bar[$i++]->contents
9223 @end smallexample
9224
9225 @noindent
9226 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9227
9228 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9229 values likely to be useful.
9230
9231 @table @code
9232 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9233 @item $_
9234 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9235 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9236 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9237 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9238 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9239 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9240 to the type of @code{$__}.
9241
9242 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9243 @item $__
9244 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9245 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9246 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9247
9248 @item $_exitcode
9249 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9250 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
9251 the program being debugged terminates.
9252
9253 @item $_probe_argc
9254 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9255 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9256
9257 @item $_sdata
9258 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9259 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9260 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9261 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9262 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9263
9264 @item $_siginfo
9265 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9266 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9267 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9268 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9269 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9270
9271 @item $_tlb
9272 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9273 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9274 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9275 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9276 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9277 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9278
9279 @end table
9280
9281 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9282 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9283 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9284
9285 @cindex convenience functions
9286 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9287 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9288 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9289 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9290 @value{GDBN}.
9291
9292 @table @code
9293 @item help function
9294 @kindex help function
9295 @cindex show all convenience functions
9296 Print a list of all convenience functions.
9297 @end table
9298
9299 @node Registers
9300 @section Registers
9301
9302 @cindex registers
9303 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9304 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9305 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9306 your machine.
9307
9308 @table @code
9309 @kindex info registers
9310 @item info registers
9311 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9312 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9313
9314 @kindex info all-registers
9315 @cindex floating point registers
9316 @item info all-registers
9317 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9318 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9319
9320 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
9321 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
9322 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
9323 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
9324 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
9325 @end table
9326
9327 @cindex stack pointer register
9328 @cindex program counter register
9329 @cindex process status register
9330 @cindex frame pointer register
9331 @cindex standard registers
9332 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
9333 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
9334 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
9335 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
9336 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
9337 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
9338 register that contains the processor status. For example,
9339 you could print the program counter in hex with
9340
9341 @smallexample
9342 p/x $pc
9343 @end smallexample
9344
9345 @noindent
9346 or print the instruction to be executed next with
9347
9348 @smallexample
9349 x/i $pc
9350 @end smallexample
9351
9352 @noindent
9353 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
9354 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
9355 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
9356 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
9357 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
9358 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
9359 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
9360
9361 @smallexample
9362 set $sp += 4
9363 @end smallexample
9364
9365 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
9366 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
9367 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
9368 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
9369 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
9370 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
9371 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9372
9373 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9374 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9375 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9376 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9377 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9378 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9379 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9380
9381 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9382 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9383 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9384 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9385 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9386 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9387 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9388 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9389 prints the data in both formats.
9390
9391 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
9392 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
9393 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9394 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9395 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9396 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9397 registers in @code{struct} notation:
9398
9399 @smallexample
9400 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9401 $1 = @{
9402 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9403 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9404 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9405 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9406 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9407 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9408 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9409 @}
9410 @end smallexample
9411
9412 @noindent
9413 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9414 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9415 value to a @code{struct} member:
9416
9417 @smallexample
9418 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9419 @end smallexample
9420
9421 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9422 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9423 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9424 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9425 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9426 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9427
9428 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9429 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9430 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9431 frame makes no difference.
9432
9433 @node Floating Point Hardware
9434 @section Floating Point Hardware
9435 @cindex floating point
9436
9437 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9438 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9439
9440 @table @code
9441 @kindex info float
9442 @item info float
9443 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9444 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9445 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9446 the ARM and x86 machines.
9447 @end table
9448
9449 @node Vector Unit
9450 @section Vector Unit
9451 @cindex vector unit
9452
9453 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9454 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9455
9456 @table @code
9457 @kindex info vector
9458 @item info vector
9459 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9460 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9461 @end table
9462
9463 @node OS Information
9464 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9465 @cindex OS information
9466
9467 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9468 you debug your program.
9469
9470 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
9471 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
9472 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
9473 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
9474 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
9475 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
9476 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
9477 structure.
9478
9479 @table @code
9480 @item info udot
9481 @kindex info udot
9482 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
9483 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
9484 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
9485 the @code{examine} command.
9486 @end table
9487
9488 @cindex auxiliary vector
9489 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9490 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9491 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9492 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9493 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9494 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9495 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9496 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9497 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9498 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9499 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9500 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9501
9502 @table @code
9503 @kindex info auxv
9504 @item info auxv
9505 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9506 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9507 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9508 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9509 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9510 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9511 an unrecognized tag.
9512 @end table
9513
9514 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
9515 information and show it to you. The types of information available
9516 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
9517 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
9518 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
9519 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9520 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9521
9522 @table @code
9523 @kindex info os
9524 @item info os @var{infotype}
9525
9526 Display OS information of the requested type.
9527
9528 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
9529
9530 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
9531 @table @code
9532 @kindex info os processes
9533 @item processes
9534 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9535 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
9536 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
9537 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
9538 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
9539 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
9540
9541 @kindex info os procgroups
9542 @item procgroups
9543 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
9544 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
9545 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
9546 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
9547 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
9548 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
9549 and the process group leader is listed first.
9550
9551 @kindex info os threads
9552 @item threads
9553 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
9554 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
9555 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
9556 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
9557 process is not listed.
9558
9559 @kindex info os files
9560 @item files
9561 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
9562 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
9563 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
9564 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
9565
9566 @kindex info os sockets
9567 @item sockets
9568 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
9569 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
9570 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
9571 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
9572 connection.
9573
9574 @kindex info os shm
9575 @item shm
9576 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
9577 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
9578 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
9579 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
9580 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
9581 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
9582 attached to, detach from, and changed.
9583
9584 @kindex info os semaphores
9585 @item semaphores
9586 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
9587 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
9588 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
9589 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
9590 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
9591
9592 @kindex info os msg
9593 @item msg
9594 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
9595 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
9596 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
9597 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
9598 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
9599 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
9600 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
9601 the message queue was last changed.
9602
9603 @kindex info os modules
9604 @item modules
9605 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
9606 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
9607 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
9608 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
9609 in memory.
9610 @end table
9611
9612 @item info os
9613 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
9614 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
9615 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
9616 types, this command will report an error.
9617 @end table
9618
9619 @node Memory Region Attributes
9620 @section Memory Region Attributes
9621 @cindex memory region attributes
9622
9623 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9624 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9625 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9626 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9627 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9628 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9629 user can override the fetched regions.
9630
9631 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9632 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9633 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9634 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9635 all memory.
9636
9637 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9638 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9639
9640 @table @code
9641 @kindex mem
9642 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9643 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9644 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9645 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9646 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9647 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9648
9649 @item mem auto
9650 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9651 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9652
9653 @kindex delete mem
9654 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9655 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9656 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9657
9658 @kindex disable mem
9659 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9660 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9661 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9662 It may be enabled again later.
9663
9664 @kindex enable mem
9665 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9666 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9667
9668 @kindex info mem
9669 @item info mem
9670 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9671 for each region:
9672
9673 @table @emph
9674 @item Memory Region Number
9675 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9676 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9677 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9678
9679 @item Lo Address
9680 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9681
9682 @item Hi Address
9683 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9684
9685 @item Attributes
9686 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9687 @end table
9688 @end table
9689
9690
9691 @subsection Attributes
9692
9693 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9694 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9695 write accesses to a memory region.
9696
9697 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9698 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9699 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9700
9701 @table @code
9702 @item ro
9703 Memory is read only.
9704 @item wo
9705 Memory is write only.
9706 @item rw
9707 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9708 @end table
9709
9710 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9711 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9712 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9713 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9714 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9715
9716 @table @code
9717 @item 8
9718 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9719 @item 16
9720 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9721 @item 32
9722 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9723 @item 64
9724 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9725 @end table
9726
9727 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9728 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9729 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9730 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
9731 @c
9732 @c @table @code
9733 @c @item hwbreak
9734 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
9735 @c @item swbreak (default)
9736 @c @end table
9737
9738 @subsubsection Data Cache
9739 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
9740 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
9741 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
9742 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
9743 registers.
9744
9745 @table @code
9746 @item cache
9747 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
9748 @item nocache
9749 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
9750 @end table
9751
9752 @subsection Memory Access Checking
9753 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
9754 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
9755 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
9756 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
9757
9758 @table @code
9759 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
9760 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
9761 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
9762 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
9763 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
9764 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
9765 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
9766 The default value is @code{on}.
9767 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
9768 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
9769 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
9770 @end table
9771
9772
9773 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
9774 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9775 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
9776 @c
9777 @c @table @code
9778 @c @item verify
9779 @c @item noverify (default)
9780 @c @end table
9781
9782 @node Dump/Restore Files
9783 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
9784 @cindex dump/restore files
9785 @cindex append data to a file
9786 @cindex dump data to a file
9787 @cindex restore data from a file
9788
9789 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
9790 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
9791 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
9792 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
9793 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
9794 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
9795 files.
9796
9797 @table @code
9798
9799 @kindex dump
9800 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9801 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9802 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9803 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
9804
9805 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
9806 @table @code
9807 @item binary
9808 Raw binary form.
9809 @item ihex
9810 Intel hex format.
9811 @item srec
9812 Motorola S-record format.
9813 @item tekhex
9814 Tektronix Hex format.
9815 @end table
9816
9817 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
9818 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
9819 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
9820 form.
9821
9822 @kindex append
9823 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9824 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9825 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9826 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
9827 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
9828
9829 @kindex restore
9830 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
9831 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
9832 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
9833 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
9834 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
9835
9836 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
9837 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
9838 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9839 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9840 from that location.
9841
9842 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9843 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9844 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9845 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9846
9847 @end table
9848
9849 @node Core File Generation
9850 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9851 @cindex dump core from inferior
9852
9853 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9854 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9855 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9856 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9857 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9858 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9859 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9860
9861 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9862 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9863 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9864
9865 @table @code
9866 @kindex gcore
9867 @kindex generate-core-file
9868 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9869 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9870 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9871 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9872 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9873 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9874
9875 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9876 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9877 @end table
9878
9879 @node Character Sets
9880 @section Character Sets
9881 @cindex character sets
9882 @cindex charset
9883 @cindex translating between character sets
9884 @cindex host character set
9885 @cindex target character set
9886
9887 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9888 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9889 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9890 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9891 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9892 @dfn{target character set}.
9893
9894 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9895 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9896 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9897 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9898 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9899 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9900 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9901 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9902 character and string literals in expressions.
9903
9904 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9905 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9906 target-charset} command, described below.
9907
9908 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9909 support:
9910
9911 @table @code
9912 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9913 @kindex set target-charset
9914 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9915 list of supported target character sets, type
9916 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9917
9918 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9919 @kindex set host-charset
9920 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9921
9922 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9923 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9924 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9925 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9926 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9927
9928 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9929 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9930 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9931
9932 @item set charset @var{charset}
9933 @kindex set charset
9934 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9935 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9936 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9937 for both host and target.
9938
9939 @item show charset
9940 @kindex show charset
9941 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9942
9943 @item show host-charset
9944 @kindex show host-charset
9945 Show the name of the current host character set.
9946
9947 @item show target-charset
9948 @kindex show target-charset
9949 Show the name of the current target character set.
9950
9951 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9952 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9953 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9954 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9955 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9956 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9957
9958 @item show target-wide-charset
9959 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9960 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9961 @end table
9962
9963 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9964 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9965 @file{charset-test.c}:
9966
9967 @smallexample
9968 #include <stdio.h>
9969
9970 char ascii_hello[]
9971 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9972 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9973 char ibm1047_hello[]
9974 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9975 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9976
9977 main ()
9978 @{
9979 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9980 @}
9981 @end smallexample
9982
9983 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9984 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9985 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9986
9987 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9988
9989 @smallexample
9990 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9991 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9992 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9993 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9994 @dots{}
9995 (@value{GDBP})
9996 @end smallexample
9997
9998 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9999 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10000 strings:
10001
10002 @smallexample
10003 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10004 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10005 (@value{GDBP})
10006 @end smallexample
10007
10008 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10009 initial character set:
10010 @smallexample
10011 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10012 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10013 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10014 (@value{GDBP})
10015 @end smallexample
10016
10017 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10018 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10019 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10020 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10021 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10022
10023 @smallexample
10024 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10025 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10026 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10027 $2 = 72 'H'
10028 (@value{GDBP})
10029 @end smallexample
10030
10031 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10032 literals you use in expressions:
10033
10034 @smallexample
10035 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10036 $3 = 43 '+'
10037 (@value{GDBP})
10038 @end smallexample
10039
10040 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10041 character.
10042
10043 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10044 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10045 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10046
10047 @smallexample
10048 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10049 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10050 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10051 $5 = 200 '\310'
10052 (@value{GDBP})
10053 @end smallexample
10054
10055 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10056 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10057
10058 @smallexample
10059 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10060 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10061 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10062 @end smallexample
10063
10064 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10065 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10066 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10067 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10068 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10069
10070 @smallexample
10071 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10072 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10073 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10074 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10075 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10076 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10077 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10078 $7 = 72 '\110'
10079 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10080 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10081 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10082 $9 = 200 'H'
10083 (@value{GDBP})
10084 @end smallexample
10085
10086 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10087 string literals you use in expressions:
10088
10089 @smallexample
10090 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10091 $10 = 78 '+'
10092 (@value{GDBP})
10093 @end smallexample
10094
10095 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10096 character.
10097
10098 @node Caching Remote Data
10099 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10100 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10101
10102 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10103 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10104 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10105 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10106 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10107 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10108 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10109 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10110 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10111 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10112 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10113 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10114 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10115 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10116 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10117
10118 @table @code
10119 @kindex set remotecache
10120 @item set remotecache on
10121 @itemx set remotecache off
10122 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10123 with old scripts.
10124
10125 @kindex show remotecache
10126 @item show remotecache
10127 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10128
10129 @kindex set stack-cache
10130 @item set stack-cache on
10131 @itemx set stack-cache off
10132 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10133 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10134
10135 @kindex show stack-cache
10136 @item show stack-cache
10137 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10138
10139 @kindex info dcache
10140 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10141 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10142 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10143 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10144 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10145 operation.
10146
10147 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10148 printed in hex.
10149
10150 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10151 @cindex dcache size
10152 @kindex set dcache size
10153 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10154
10155 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10156 @cindex dcache line-size
10157 @kindex set dcache line-size
10158 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10159 Must be a power of 2.
10160
10161 @item show dcache size
10162 @kindex show dcache size
10163 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10164
10165 @item show dcache line-size
10166 @kindex show dcache line-size
10167 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10168
10169 @end table
10170
10171 @node Searching Memory
10172 @section Search Memory
10173 @cindex searching memory
10174
10175 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10176 @code{find} command.
10177
10178 @table @code
10179 @kindex find
10180 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10181 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10182 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10183 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10184 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10185 @end table
10186
10187 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10188 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10189
10190 @table @r
10191 @item @var{s}, search query size
10192 The size of each search query value.
10193
10194 @table @code
10195 @item b
10196 bytes
10197 @item h
10198 halfwords (two bytes)
10199 @item w
10200 words (four bytes)
10201 @item g
10202 giant words (eight bytes)
10203 @end table
10204
10205 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10206 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10207 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10208
10209 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10210 value's type in the current language.
10211 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10212 pattern as a mixture of types.
10213 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10214 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10215 which is typically four bytes.
10216
10217 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10218 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10219 @end table
10220
10221 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10222 (@code{"}).
10223 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10224 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10225
10226 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10227 number of matches found.
10228
10229 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10230 @samp{$_}.
10231 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10232
10233 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10234
10235 @smallexample
10236 void
10237 hello ()
10238 @{
10239 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10240 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10241 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10242 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10243 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10244 @}
10245 @end smallexample
10246
10247 @noindent
10248 you get during debugging:
10249
10250 @smallexample
10251 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10252 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10253 1 pattern found
10254 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10255 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10256 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10257 2 patterns found
10258 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10259 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10260 1 pattern found
10261 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10262 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10263 1 pattern found
10264 (gdb) print $numfound
10265 $1 = 1
10266 (gdb) print $_
10267 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10268 @end smallexample
10269
10270 @node Optimized Code
10271 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10272 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10273 @cindex debugging optimized code
10274
10275 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10276 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10277 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10278 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10279 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10280 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10281 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10282
10283 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10284 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10285 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10286 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10287
10288 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10289 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10290 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10291 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10292 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10293 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10294
10295 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10296 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10297 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10298 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10299 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10300
10301 @menu
10302 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10303 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10304 @end menu
10305
10306 @node Inline Functions
10307 @section Inline Functions
10308 @cindex inline functions, debugging
10309
10310 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10311 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10312 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10313 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10314 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
10315 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
10316 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
10317 @code{info frame} command.
10318
10319 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
10320 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
10321 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
10322 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
10323 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
10324 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
10325 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
10326 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
10327 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
10328 local variables in the caller.
10329
10330 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
10331 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
10332 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
10333 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
10334 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
10335 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
10336 instructions are executed.
10337
10338 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
10339 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
10340 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
10341 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
10342
10343 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
10344 function calls are the same as normal calls:
10345
10346 @itemize @bullet
10347 @item
10348 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
10349 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
10350 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
10351 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
10352 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
10353 or inside the inlined function instead.
10354
10355 @item
10356 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
10357 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
10358 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
10359 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
10360
10361 @end itemize
10362
10363 @node Tail Call Frames
10364 @section Tail Call Frames
10365 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
10366
10367 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
10368 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
10369 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
10370 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
10371 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
10372
10373 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
10374 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
10375 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
10376 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
10377 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
10378 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
10379 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
10380
10381 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10382 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
10383 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10384 this information.
10385
10386 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
10387 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
10388
10389 @smallexample
10390 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
10391 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
10392 (gdb) info frame
10393 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
10394 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
10395 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
10396 source language c++.
10397 Arglist at unknown address.
10398 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
10399 @end smallexample
10400
10401 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
10402 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
10403 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
10404 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
10405 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
10406 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
10407
10408 @table @code
10409 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
10410 @item set debug entry-values
10411 @kindex set debug entry-values
10412 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
10413 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
10414 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
10415 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
10416 result.
10417
10418 @item show debug entry-values
10419 @kindex show debug entry-values
10420 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
10421 values at function entry and tail calls.
10422 @end table
10423
10424 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
10425 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
10426 reference by variable @code{x}):
10427
10428 @smallexample
10429 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
10430 void (*x) (void) = c;
10431 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10432 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
10433 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
10434
10435 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
10436 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
10437 a () at t.c:3
10438 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10439 (gdb) bt
10440 #0 a () at t.c:3
10441 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
10442 @end smallexample
10443
10444 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
10445
10446 @smallexample
10447 int i;
10448 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
10449 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10450 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10451 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10452 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10453 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10454 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10455 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10456
10457 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10458 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10459 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10460 (gdb) bt
10461 #0 f () at t.c:2
10462 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10463 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10464 @end smallexample
10465
10466 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10467 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10468
10469 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10470 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10471 @set ARROW @click{}
10472 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10473 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10474 @end ifset
10475 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10476 @set ARROW ->
10477 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
10478 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
10479 @end ifclear
10480
10481 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
10482 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
10483 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
10484
10485 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
10486 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
10487 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
10488 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
10489 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
10490 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
10491
10492 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
10493 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
10494 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
10495 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
10496 omitted.
10497
10498 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
10499 entry may fail:
10500
10501 @smallexample
10502 int v;
10503 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
10504 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
10505 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
10506 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
10507 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
10508 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
10509
10510 (gdb) bt
10511 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
10512 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
10513 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
10514 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
10515 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
10516 @end smallexample
10517
10518 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
10519 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
10520 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
10521 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
10522 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
10523
10524 @node Macros
10525 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10526
10527 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10528 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10529 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10530 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10531 where it was defined.
10532
10533 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10534 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10535 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10536 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10537
10538 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10539 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10540 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10541 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10542 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10543 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10544 see @ref{List}.
10545
10546 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10547 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10548 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10549
10550 @table @code
10551
10552 @kindex macro expand
10553 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10554 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10555 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10556 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10557 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10558 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10559 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10560 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10561 it can be any string of tokens.
10562
10563 @kindex macro exp1
10564 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10565 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10566 @cindex expand macro once
10567 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10568 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10569 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10570 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10571 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10572 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10573 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10574 can be any string of tokens.
10575
10576 @kindex info macro
10577 @cindex macro definition, showing
10578 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10579 @cindex macros, from debug info
10580 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10581 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10582 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10583 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10584 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10585 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10586
10587 @kindex info macros
10588 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10589 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10590 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10591 command-line where those definitions were established.
10592
10593 @kindex macro define
10594 @cindex user-defined macros
10595 @cindex defining macros interactively
10596 @cindex macros, user-defined
10597 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10598 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10599 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10600 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10601 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10602 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10603 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10604 @var{arglist}.
10605
10606 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10607 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10608 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10609 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10610 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10611
10612 @kindex macro undef
10613 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10614 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10615 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10616 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10617 in the program being debugged.
10618
10619 @kindex macro list
10620 @item macro list
10621 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10622 @end table
10623
10624 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10625 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10626 show our source files:
10627
10628 @smallexample
10629 $ cat sample.c
10630 #include <stdio.h>
10631 #include "sample.h"
10632
10633 #define M 42
10634 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10635
10636 main ()
10637 @{
10638 #define N 28
10639 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10640 #undef N
10641 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10642 #define N 1729
10643 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10644 @}
10645 $ cat sample.h
10646 #define Q <
10647 $
10648 @end smallexample
10649
10650 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10651 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10652 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10653 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10654 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10655 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10656 information.
10657
10658 @smallexample
10659 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10660 $
10661 @end smallexample
10662
10663 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10664
10665 @smallexample
10666 $ gdb -nw sample
10667 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10668 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10669 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10670 (@value{GDBP})
10671 @end smallexample
10672
10673 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10674 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10675 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10676
10677 @smallexample
10678 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10679 3
10680 4 #define M 42
10681 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10682 6
10683 7 main ()
10684 8 @{
10685 9 #define N 28
10686 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10687 11 #undef N
10688 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10689 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10690 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10691 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10692 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10693 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10694 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10695 #define Q <
10696 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10697 expands to: (42 + 1)
10698 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10699 expands to: once (M + 1)
10700 (@value{GDBP})
10701 @end smallexample
10702
10703 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10704 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10705 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10706 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10707
10708 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10709 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10710
10711 @smallexample
10712 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10713 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10714 (@value{GDBP}) run
10715 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10716
10717 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10718 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10719 (@value{GDBP})
10720 @end smallexample
10721
10722 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10723
10724 @smallexample
10725 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10726 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10727 #define N 28
10728 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10729 expands to: 28 < 42
10730 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10731 $1 = 1
10732 (@value{GDBP})
10733 @end smallexample
10734
10735 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
10736 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
10737 thereof) in force at each point:
10738
10739 @smallexample
10740 (@value{GDBP}) next
10741 Hello, world!
10742 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10743 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10744 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
10745 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
10746 (@value{GDBP}) next
10747 We're so creative.
10748 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10749 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10750 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
10751 #define N 1729
10752 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10753 expands to: 1729 < 42
10754 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10755 $2 = 0
10756 (@value{GDBP})
10757 @end smallexample
10758
10759 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
10760 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
10761 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
10762 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
10763
10764 @smallexample
10765 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
10766 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
10767 -D__STDC__=1
10768 (@value{GDBP})
10769 @end smallexample
10770
10771
10772 @node Tracepoints
10773 @chapter Tracepoints
10774 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
10775 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
10776
10777 @cindex tracepoints
10778 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
10779 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
10780 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
10781 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
10782 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
10783 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
10784 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
10785
10786 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
10787 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
10788 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
10789 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
10790 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
10791 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
10792 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
10793 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
10794 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
10795 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
10796 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
10797
10798 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
10799 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
10800 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
10801 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
10802 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
10803 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
10804 Packets}.
10805
10806 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
10807 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
10808 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
10809
10810 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
10811
10812 @menu
10813 * Set Tracepoints::
10814 * Analyze Collected Data::
10815 * Tracepoint Variables::
10816 * Trace Files::
10817 @end menu
10818
10819 @node Set Tracepoints
10820 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
10821
10822 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
10823 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
10824 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
10825 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
10826 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
10827 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
10828 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
10829
10830 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
10831 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
10832 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
10833 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
10834 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
10835 tracepoint was hit.
10836
10837 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
10838 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
10839 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
10840 either.
10841
10842 @cindex fast tracepoints
10843 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
10844 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
10845 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
10846
10847 @cindex static tracepoints
10848 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
10849 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
10850 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
10851 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
10852 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
10853 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
10854 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
10855 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
10856 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
10857 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
10858 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
10859 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
10860 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
10861 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
10862 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
10863 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
10864 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
10865 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
10866 static tracepoint marker.
10867
10868 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
10869 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
10870
10871 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
10872 conditions and actions.
10873
10874 @menu
10875 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
10876 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
10877 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
10878 * Tracepoint Conditions::
10879 * Trace State Variables::
10880 * Tracepoint Actions::
10881 * Listing Tracepoints::
10882 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
10883 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
10884 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
10885 @end menu
10886
10887 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
10888 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
10889
10890 @table @code
10891 @cindex set tracepoint
10892 @kindex trace
10893 @item trace @var{location}
10894 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
10895 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
10896 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
10897 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
10898 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
10899 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
10900 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
10901 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
10902 in tracing}).
10903 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
10904 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
10905 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
10906 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
10907 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
10908 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
10909 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
10910 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
10911 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
10912 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
10913 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
10914 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
10915
10916 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
10917
10918 @smallexample
10919 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
10920
10921 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
10922
10923 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
10924
10925 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
10926
10927 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
10928 @end smallexample
10929
10930 @noindent
10931 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
10932
10933 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
10934 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
10935 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
10936 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
10937 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
10938 information on tracepoint conditions.
10939
10940 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10941 @cindex set fast tracepoint
10942 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
10943 @kindex ftrace
10944 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
10945 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
10946 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
10947 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
10948 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
10949 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
10950 message.
10951
10952 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
10953 @code{trace}.
10954
10955 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
10956 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
10957 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
10958 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
10959 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
10960 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
10961 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
10962 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
10963
10964 @example
10965 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
10966 @end example
10967
10968 @noindent
10969 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
10970 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
10971
10972 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10973 @cindex set static tracepoint
10974 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
10975 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
10976 @kindex strace
10977 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
10978 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
10979 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
10980 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
10981 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
10982
10983 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
10984 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
10985 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
10986 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
10987 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
10988 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
10989 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
10990 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
10991 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
10992 tracing engine:
10993
10994 @smallexample
10995 main ()
10996 @{
10997 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
10998 @}
10999 @end smallexample
11000
11001 @noindent
11002 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11003 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11004
11005 @smallexample
11006 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11007 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11008 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11009 Data: "str %s"
11010 [etc...]
11011 @end smallexample
11012
11013 @noindent
11014 so you may probe the marker above with:
11015
11016 @smallexample
11017 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11018 @end smallexample
11019
11020 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11021 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11022 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11023 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11024 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11025 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11026 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11027 the @samp{Data:} field.
11028
11029 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11030 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11031 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11032
11033 @vindex $tpnum
11034 @cindex last tracepoint number
11035 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11036 @cindex tracepoint number
11037 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11038 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11039
11040 @kindex delete tracepoint
11041 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11042 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11043 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11044 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11045 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11046
11047 Examples:
11048
11049 @smallexample
11050 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11051
11052 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11053 @end smallexample
11054
11055 @noindent
11056 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11057 @end table
11058
11059 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11060 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11061
11062 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11063
11064 @table @code
11065 @kindex disable tracepoint
11066 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11067 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11068 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11069 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11070 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11071 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11072 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11073 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11074 next trace experiment.
11075
11076 @kindex enable tracepoint
11077 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11078 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11079 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11080 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11081 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11082 next time a trace experiment is run.
11083 @end table
11084
11085 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11086 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11087
11088 @table @code
11089 @kindex passcount
11090 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11091 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11092 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11093 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11094 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11095 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11096 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11097 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11098 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11099 user.
11100
11101 Examples:
11102
11103 @smallexample
11104 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11105 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11106
11107 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11108 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11109 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11110 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11111 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11112 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11113 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11114 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11115 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11116 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11117 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11118 @end smallexample
11119 @end table
11120
11121 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11122 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11123 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11124 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11125
11126 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11127 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11128 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11129 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11130 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11131 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11132 is true.
11133
11134 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11135 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11136 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11137 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11138 just as with breakpoints.
11139
11140 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11141 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11142 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11143 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11144 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11145 accesses, and so forth.
11146
11147 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11148 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11149 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11150 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11151 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11152 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11153 search through.
11154
11155 @smallexample
11156 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11157 @end smallexample
11158
11159 @node Trace State Variables
11160 @subsection Trace State Variables
11161 @cindex trace state variables
11162
11163 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11164 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11165 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11166 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11167 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11168 integers.
11169
11170 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11171 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11172 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11173 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11174
11175 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11176 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11177 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11178 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11179 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11180 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11181 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11182 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11183 variable with the same name.
11184
11185 @table @code
11186
11187 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11188 @kindex tvariable
11189 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11190 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11191 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11192 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11193 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11194 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11195 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11196 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11197 value. The default initial value is 0.
11198
11199 @item info tvariables
11200 @kindex info tvariables
11201 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11202 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11203 currently running.
11204
11205 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11206 @kindex delete tvariable
11207 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11208 are specified.
11209
11210 @end table
11211
11212 @node Tracepoint Actions
11213 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11214
11215 @table @code
11216 @kindex actions
11217 @cindex tracepoint actions
11218 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11219 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11220 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11221 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11222 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11223 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11224 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11225 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11226 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11227 @code{while-stepping}.
11228
11229 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11230 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11231 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11232
11233 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11234 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11235 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11236
11237 @smallexample
11238 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11239
11240 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11241
11242 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11243 @end smallexample
11244
11245 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11246 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11247 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11248 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11249 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11250 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11251 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11252 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11253
11254 @smallexample
11255 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11256 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11257 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11258 > collect bar,baz
11259 > collect $regs
11260 > while-stepping 12
11261 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11262 > end
11263 end
11264 @end smallexample
11265
11266 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11267 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11268 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11269 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11270 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11271 special arguments are supported:
11272
11273 @table @code
11274 @item $regs
11275 Collect all registers.
11276
11277 @item $args
11278 Collect all function arguments.
11279
11280 @item $locals
11281 Collect all local variables.
11282
11283 @item $_ret
11284 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11285 of a backtrace.
11286
11287 @item $_probe_argc
11288 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11289 tracepoint is located.
11290 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11291
11292 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11293 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11294 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11295 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11296
11297 @item $_sdata
11298 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11299 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11300 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11301 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11302 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11303 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11304 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11305 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11306 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11307
11308 @smallexample
11309 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11310 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11311 @end smallexample
11312
11313 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11314 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
11315 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
11316 @value{GDBN}.
11317 @end table
11318
11319 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
11320 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
11321 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
11322
11323 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
11324 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
11325 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
11326 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
11327 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
11328 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
11329 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
11330 @samp{mystr}.
11331
11332 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
11333 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
11334
11335 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
11336 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11337 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
11338 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
11339 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
11340 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
11341 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
11342 action were used.
11343
11344 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
11345 @item while-stepping @var{n}
11346 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
11347 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
11348 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
11349 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
11350
11351 @smallexample
11352 > while-stepping 12
11353 > collect $regs, myglobal
11354 > end
11355 >
11356 @end smallexample
11357
11358 @noindent
11359 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
11360 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
11361 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
11362 @code{stepping}.
11363
11364 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11365 @kindex set default-collect
11366 @cindex default collection action
11367 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
11368 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
11369 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
11370 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
11371 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
11372 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
11373
11374 @item show default-collect
11375 @kindex show default-collect
11376 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
11377 tracepoint hit.
11378
11379 @end table
11380
11381 @node Listing Tracepoints
11382 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
11383
11384 @table @code
11385 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11386 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11387 @cindex information about tracepoints
11388 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
11389 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
11390 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
11391 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
11392 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
11393 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
11394
11395 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
11396 tracing:
11397
11398 @itemize @bullet
11399 @item
11400 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
11401 @end itemize
11402
11403 @smallexample
11404 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
11405 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
11406 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
11407 while-stepping 20
11408 collect globfoo, $regs
11409 end
11410 collect globfoo2
11411 end
11412 pass count 1200
11413 (@value{GDBP})
11414 @end smallexample
11415
11416 @noindent
11417 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
11418 @end table
11419
11420 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11421 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11422
11423 @table @code
11424 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
11425 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
11426 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
11427 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
11428 program.
11429
11430 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
11431
11432 @table @emph
11433 @item Count
11434 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
11435 stable identifier.
11436 @item ID
11437 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
11438 @item Enabled or Disabled
11439 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
11440 that are not enabled.
11441 @item Address
11442 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
11443 @item What
11444 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
11445 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
11446 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
11447 will be left blank.
11448 @end table
11449
11450 @noindent
11451 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
11452
11453 @table @emph
11454 @item Data
11455 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
11456 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
11457 marker call.
11458 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
11459 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11460 @end table
11461
11462 @smallexample
11463 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11464 Cnt ID Enb Address What
11465 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
11466 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
11467 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
11468 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
11469 Data: str %s
11470 (@value{GDBP})
11471 @end smallexample
11472 @end table
11473
11474 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11475 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11476
11477 @table @code
11478 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
11479 @cindex start a new trace experiment
11480 @cindex collected data discarded
11481 @item tstart
11482 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
11483 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
11484 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
11485 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
11486 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
11487 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
11488 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
11489 information, and so forth.
11490
11491 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
11492 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
11493 @item tstop
11494 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
11495 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
11496 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
11497 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
11498 needs to be stopped quickly.
11499
11500 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
11501 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
11502 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
11503
11504 @kindex tstatus
11505 @cindex status of trace data collection
11506 @cindex trace experiment, status of
11507 @item tstatus
11508 This command displays the status of the current trace data
11509 collection.
11510 @end table
11511
11512 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
11513
11514 @smallexample
11515 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
11516 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11517 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
11518 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
11519 > while-stepping 11
11520 > collect $regs
11521 > end
11522 > end
11523 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11524 [time passes @dots{}]
11525 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
11526 @end smallexample
11527
11528 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
11529 @cindex disconnected tracing
11530 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
11531 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
11532 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
11533 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
11534 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
11535 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11536 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11537 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11538
11539 @table @code
11540 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11541 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11542 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11543 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11544 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11545 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11546 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11547 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11548
11549 @item show disconnected-tracing
11550 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11551 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11552
11553 @end table
11554
11555 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11556 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11557 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11558 it will continue after reconnection.
11559
11560 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11561 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11562 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11563 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11564 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11565 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11566 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11567 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11568 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11569 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11570
11571 @cindex circular trace buffer
11572 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11573 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11574 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11575 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11576 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11577 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11578 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11579 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11580 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11581 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11582 the next run.
11583
11584 @table @code
11585 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11586 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11587 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11588 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11589 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11590 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11591 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11592
11593 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11594 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11595 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11596 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11597 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11598 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11599
11600 @end table
11601
11602 @table @code
11603 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11604 @kindex set trace-user
11605
11606 @item show trace-user
11607 @kindex show trace-user
11608
11609 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11610 @kindex set trace-notes
11611 Set the trace run's notes.
11612
11613 @item show trace-notes
11614 @kindex show trace-notes
11615 Show the trace run's notes.
11616
11617 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11618 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11619 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11620 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11621 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11622
11623 @item show trace-stop-notes
11624 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11625 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11626
11627 @end table
11628
11629 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11630 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11631
11632 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11633 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11634 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11635 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11636 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11637 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11638 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11639 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11640 mentioned here.
11641
11642 @itemize @bullet
11643
11644 @item
11645 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11646 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11647 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11648 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11649 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11650 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11651 cannot be collected either.
11652
11653 @item
11654 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11655 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11656 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11657 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11658 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11659 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11660 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11661 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11662 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11663 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11664
11665 @item
11666 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11667 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11668 in a misleading way.
11669
11670 @item
11671 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11672 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11673 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11674 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11675 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11676 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11677 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11678 by @code{ptr}.
11679
11680 @item
11681 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11682 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11683 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11684 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11685 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11686 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11687 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11688 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11689 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11690 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11691 invalid address.
11692
11693 @item
11694 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11695 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11696 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11697 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11698 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11699 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11700 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
11701 it to zero.
11702
11703 @end itemize
11704
11705 @node Analyze Collected Data
11706 @section Using the Collected Data
11707
11708 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
11709 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
11710 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
11711 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
11712 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
11713 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
11714 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
11715 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
11716 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
11717 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
11718 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
11719 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
11720 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
11721 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
11722 the buffer will fail.
11723
11724 @menu
11725 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
11726 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
11727 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
11728 @end menu
11729
11730 @node tfind
11731 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
11732
11733 @kindex tfind
11734 @cindex select trace snapshot
11735 @cindex find trace snapshot
11736 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
11737 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
11738 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
11739 snapshot is selected.
11740
11741 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
11742
11743 @table @code
11744 @item tfind start
11745 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
11746 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
11747
11748 @item tfind none
11749 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
11750
11751 @item tfind end
11752 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
11753
11754 @item tfind
11755 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
11756
11757 @item tfind -
11758 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
11759 retracing earlier steps.
11760
11761 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
11762 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
11763 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
11764 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
11765 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
11766
11767 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
11768 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
11769 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
11770 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
11771 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
11772
11773 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11774 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
11775 addresses (exclusive).
11776
11777 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11778 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
11779 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
11780
11781 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
11782 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
11783 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
11784 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
11785 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
11786 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
11787 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
11788 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
11789 @end table
11790
11791 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
11792 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
11793 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
11794 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
11795 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
11796 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
11797 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
11798 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
11799 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
11800 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
11801 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
11802 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
11803 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
11804 tracepoint as the current one.
11805
11806 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
11807 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
11808 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
11809 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
11810 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
11811
11812 @smallexample
11813 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11814 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11815 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
11816 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
11817 > tfind
11818 > end
11819
11820 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
11821 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
11822 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
11823 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
11824 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
11825 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
11826 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
11827 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
11828 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
11829 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
11830 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
11831 @end smallexample
11832
11833 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
11834 the buffer:
11835
11836 @smallexample
11837 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11838 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11839 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
11840 > tfind line
11841 > end
11842
11843 Frame 0, X = 1
11844 Frame 7, X = 2
11845 Frame 13, X = 255
11846 @end smallexample
11847
11848 @node tdump
11849 @subsection @code{tdump}
11850 @kindex tdump
11851 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
11852 @cindex tracepoint data, display
11853
11854 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
11855 the current trace snapshot.
11856
11857 @smallexample
11858 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
11859 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11860 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
11861 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
11862 > end
11863
11864 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11865
11866 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
11867 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
11868 at gdb_test.c:444
11869 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
11870
11871 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
11872 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
11873 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
11874 d1 0x18 24
11875 d2 0x80 128
11876 d3 0x33 51
11877 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
11878 d5 0x22 34
11879 d6 0xe0 224
11880 d7 0x380035 3670069
11881 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
11882 a1 0x3000668 50333288
11883 a2 0x100 256
11884 a3 0x322000 3284992
11885 a4 0x3000698 50333336
11886 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
11887 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
11888 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
11889 ps 0x0 0
11890 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
11891 fpcontrol 0x0 0
11892 fpstatus 0x0 0
11893 fpiaddr 0x0 0
11894 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
11895 p1 = (void *) 0x11
11896 p2 = (void *) 0x22
11897 p3 = (void *) 0x33
11898 p4 = (void *) 0x44
11899 p5 = (void *) 0x55
11900 p6 = (void *) 0x66
11901 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
11902
11903 (@value{GDBP})
11904 @end smallexample
11905
11906 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
11907 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
11908 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
11909 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
11910
11911 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
11912 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
11913 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
11914 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
11915 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
11916 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
11917 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
11918 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
11919 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
11920 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
11921
11922 @node save tracepoints
11923 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
11924 @kindex save tracepoints
11925 @kindex save-tracepoints
11926 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
11927
11928 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
11929 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
11930 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
11931 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
11932 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
11933 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
11934
11935 @node Tracepoint Variables
11936 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
11937 @cindex tracepoint variables
11938 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
11939
11940 @table @code
11941 @vindex $trace_frame
11942 @item (int) $trace_frame
11943 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
11944 snapshot is selected.
11945
11946 @vindex $tracepoint
11947 @item (int) $tracepoint
11948 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
11949
11950 @vindex $trace_line
11951 @item (int) $trace_line
11952 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
11953
11954 @vindex $trace_file
11955 @item (char []) $trace_file
11956 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
11957
11958 @vindex $trace_func
11959 @item (char []) $trace_func
11960 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
11961 @end table
11962
11963 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
11964 use @code{output} instead.
11965
11966 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
11967 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
11968 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
11969 which are managed by the target.
11970
11971 @smallexample
11972 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11973
11974 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
11975 > output $trace_file
11976 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
11977 > tfind
11978 > end
11979 @end smallexample
11980
11981 @node Trace Files
11982 @section Using Trace Files
11983 @cindex trace files
11984
11985 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
11986 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
11987 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
11988 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
11989 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
11990
11991 @table @code
11992
11993 @kindex tsave
11994 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
11995 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
11996 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
11997 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
11998 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
11999 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12000 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12001 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12002 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12003
12004 @kindex target tfile
12005 @kindex tfile
12006 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12007 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
12008 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
12009 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
12010 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
12011 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
12012 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
12013
12014 @end table
12015
12016 @node Overlays
12017 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12018 @cindex overlays
12019
12020 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12021 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12022 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12023 use overlays.
12024
12025 @menu
12026 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12027 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12028 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12029 mapped by asking the inferior.
12030 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12031 @end menu
12032
12033 @node How Overlays Work
12034 @section How Overlays Work
12035 @cindex mapped overlays
12036 @cindex unmapped overlays
12037 @cindex load address, overlay's
12038 @cindex mapped address
12039 @cindex overlay area
12040
12041 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12042 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12043 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12044 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12045 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12046
12047 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12048 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12049 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12050 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12051 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12052 largest overlay as well.
12053
12054 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12055 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12056 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12057 there.
12058
12059 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12060 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12061 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12062
12063 @smallexample
12064 @group
12065 Data Instruction Larger
12066 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12067 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12068 | | | | | |
12069 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12070 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12071 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12072 | and heap | | | | | |
12073 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12074 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12075 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12076 | | | | | |
12077 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12078 address | | | | | |
12079 | overlay | <-' | | |
12080 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12081 | | <---. | | load address
12082 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12083 | | | |
12084 +-----------+ | |
12085 +-----------+
12086 | |
12087 +-----------+
12088
12089 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12090 @end group
12091 @end smallexample
12092
12093 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12094 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12095 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12096 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12097 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12098 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12099 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12100 program and the overlay area.
12101
12102 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12103 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12104 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12105 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12106 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12107 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12108 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12109
12110 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12111 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12112 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12113
12114 @itemize @bullet
12115
12116 @item
12117 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12118 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12119 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12120 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12121
12122 @item
12123 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12124 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12125 your program's performance.
12126
12127 @item
12128 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12129 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12130 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12131 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12132 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12133 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12134 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12135
12136 @item
12137 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12138 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12139 instruction and data spaces.
12140
12141 @end itemize
12142
12143 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12144 improved in many ways:
12145
12146 @itemize @bullet
12147
12148 @item
12149 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12150 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12151 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12152 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12153 area in the usual way.
12154
12155 @item
12156 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12157 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12158
12159 @item
12160 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12161 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12162 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12163 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12164 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12165 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12166 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12167
12168 @end itemize
12169
12170
12171 @node Overlay Commands
12172 @section Overlay Commands
12173
12174 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12175 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12176 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12177 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12178 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12179 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12180
12181 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12182 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12183
12184 @table @code
12185 @item overlay off
12186 @kindex overlay
12187 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12188 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12189 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12190 overlay support is disabled.
12191
12192 @item overlay manual
12193 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12194 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12195 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12196 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12197 commands described below.
12198
12199 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12200 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12201 @cindex map an overlay
12202 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12203 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12204 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12205 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12206 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12207 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12208
12209 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12210 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12211 @cindex unmap an overlay
12212 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12213 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12214 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12215 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12216
12217 @item overlay auto
12218 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12219 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12220 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12221 Overlay Debugging}.
12222
12223 @item overlay load-target
12224 @itemx overlay load
12225 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12226 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12227 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12228 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12229 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12230 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12231
12232 @item overlay list-overlays
12233 @itemx overlay list
12234 @cindex listing mapped overlays
12235 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12236 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12237
12238 @end table
12239
12240 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12241 of the function the address falls in:
12242
12243 @smallexample
12244 (@value{GDBP}) print main
12245 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12246 @end smallexample
12247 @noindent
12248 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12249 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12250 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12251 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12252
12253 @smallexample
12254 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12255 No sections are mapped.
12256 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12257 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
12258 @end smallexample
12259 @noindent
12260 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
12261 name normally:
12262
12263 @smallexample
12264 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12265 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
12266 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
12267 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12268 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
12269 @end smallexample
12270
12271 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
12272 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
12273 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
12274 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
12275 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
12276
12277 @itemize @bullet
12278 @item
12279 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
12280 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
12281 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
12282 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
12283 @item
12284 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
12285 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
12286 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
12287 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
12288 breakpoints properly.
12289 @end itemize
12290
12291
12292 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
12293 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
12294 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
12295
12296 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
12297 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
12298 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
12299 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
12300 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
12301 current state of the overlays.
12302
12303 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
12304 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
12305
12306 @table @asis
12307
12308 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
12309 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
12310
12311 @smallexample
12312 struct
12313 @{
12314 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
12315 unsigned long vma;
12316
12317 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
12318 unsigned long size;
12319
12320 /* The overlay's load address. */
12321 unsigned long lma;
12322
12323 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
12324 zero otherwise. */
12325 unsigned long mapped;
12326 @}
12327 @end smallexample
12328
12329 @item @code{_novlys}:
12330 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
12331 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
12332
12333 @end table
12334
12335 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
12336 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
12337 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
12338 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
12339 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
12340 currently mapped.
12341
12342 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
12343 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
12344 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
12345 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
12346 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
12347 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
12348 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
12349 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
12350 are not being executed.
12351
12352 @node Overlay Sample Program
12353 @section Overlay Sample Program
12354 @cindex overlay example program
12355
12356 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
12357 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
12358 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
12359 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
12360 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
12361 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
12362 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
12363
12364 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
12365 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
12366 suite. The program consists of the following files from
12367 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
12368
12369 @table @file
12370 @item overlays.c
12371 The main program file.
12372 @item ovlymgr.c
12373 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
12374 @item foo.c
12375 @itemx bar.c
12376 @itemx baz.c
12377 @itemx grbx.c
12378 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
12379 @item d10v.ld
12380 @itemx m32r.ld
12381 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
12382 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
12383 @end table
12384
12385 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
12386 cross-compiler like this:
12387
12388 @smallexample
12389 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
12390 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
12391 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
12392 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
12393 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
12394 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
12395 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
12396 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
12397 @end smallexample
12398
12399 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
12400 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
12401 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
12402
12403
12404 @node Languages
12405 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
12406 @cindex languages
12407
12408 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
12409 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
12410 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
12411 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
12412 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
12413 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
12414
12415 @cindex working language
12416 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
12417 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
12418 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
12419 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
12420 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
12421 language}.
12422
12423 @menu
12424 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
12425 * Show:: Displaying the language
12426 * Checks:: Type and range checks
12427 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
12428 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
12429 @end menu
12430
12431 @node Setting
12432 @section Switching Between Source Languages
12433
12434 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
12435 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
12436 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
12437 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
12438 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
12439 are printed, etc.
12440
12441 In addition to the working language, every source file that
12442 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
12443 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
12444 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
12445 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
12446 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
12447 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
12448 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
12449 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
12450 Displaying the Language}.
12451
12452 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
12453 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
12454 another language. In that case, make the
12455 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
12456 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
12457 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
12458
12459 @menu
12460 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
12461 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
12462 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
12463 @end menu
12464
12465 @node Filenames
12466 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
12467
12468 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
12469 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
12470
12471 @table @file
12472 @item .ada
12473 @itemx .ads
12474 @itemx .adb
12475 @itemx .a
12476 Ada source file.
12477
12478 @item .c
12479 C source file
12480
12481 @item .C
12482 @itemx .cc
12483 @itemx .cp
12484 @itemx .cpp
12485 @itemx .cxx
12486 @itemx .c++
12487 C@t{++} source file
12488
12489 @item .d
12490 D source file
12491
12492 @item .m
12493 Objective-C source file
12494
12495 @item .f
12496 @itemx .F
12497 Fortran source file
12498
12499 @item .mod
12500 Modula-2 source file
12501
12502 @item .s
12503 @itemx .S
12504 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
12505 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
12506 @end table
12507
12508 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
12509 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
12510
12511 @node Manually
12512 @subsection Setting the Working Language
12513
12514 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
12515 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
12516 your program.
12517
12518 @kindex set language
12519 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
12520 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
12521 a language, such as
12522 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
12523 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
12524
12525 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
12526 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
12527 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
12528 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
12529 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
12530 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
12531 command such as:
12532
12533 @smallexample
12534 print a = b + c
12535 @end smallexample
12536
12537 @noindent
12538 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12539 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12540 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12541 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12542
12543 @node Automatically
12544 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12545
12546 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12547 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12548 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12549 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12550 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12551 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12552 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12553 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12554 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12555
12556 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12557 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12558 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12559 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12560 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12561
12562 @node Show
12563 @section Displaying the Language
12564
12565 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12566 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12567
12568 @table @code
12569 @item show language
12570 @kindex show language
12571 Display the current working language. This is the
12572 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12573 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12574
12575 @item info frame
12576 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12577 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12578 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12579 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12580 information listed here.
12581
12582 @item info source
12583 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12584 Display the source language of this source file.
12585 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12586 information listed here.
12587 @end table
12588
12589 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12590 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12591 with a language explicitly:
12592
12593 @table @code
12594 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12595 @kindex set extension-language
12596 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12597 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12598
12599 @item info extensions
12600 @kindex info extensions
12601 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12602 @end table
12603
12604 @node Checks
12605 @section Type and Range Checking
12606
12607 @quotation
12608 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
12609 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
12610 section documents the intended facilities.
12611 @end quotation
12612 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
12613
12614 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12615 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12616 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
12617 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12618 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12619 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
12620 errors when your program is running.
12621
12622 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
12623 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
12624 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
12625 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
12626 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
12627 automatically based on your program's source language.
12628 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
12629 settings of supported languages.
12630
12631 @menu
12632 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12633 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12634 @end menu
12635
12636 @cindex type checking
12637 @cindex checks, type
12638 @node Type Checking
12639 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12640
12641 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12642 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12643 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12644 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12645
12646 @smallexample
12647 1 + 2 @result{} 3
12648 @exdent but
12649 @error{} 1 + 2.3
12650 @end smallexample
12651
12652 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
12653 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
12654
12655 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
12656 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
12657 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12658 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
12659 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
12660 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
12661 also issues a warning.
12662
12663 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
12664 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12665 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12666 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12667 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
12668 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
12669
12670 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
12671 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
12672 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
12673 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
12674 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
12675 details on specific languages.
12676
12677 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
12678
12679 @kindex set check type
12680 @kindex show check type
12681 @table @code
12682 @item set check type auto
12683 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
12684 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12685 each language.
12686
12687 @item set check type on
12688 @itemx set check type off
12689 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12690 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
12691 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
12692 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12693 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12694
12695 @item set check type warn
12696 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
12697 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
12698 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
12699 numbers and structures.
12700
12701 @item show type
12702 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
12703 is setting it automatically.
12704 @end table
12705
12706 @cindex range checking
12707 @cindex checks, range
12708 @node Range Checking
12709 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12710
12711 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12712 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12713 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12714 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12715 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12716
12717 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12718 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12719 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12720 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12721
12722 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12723 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12724 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
12725 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
12726 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
12727 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
12728
12729 @smallexample
12730 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
12731 @end smallexample
12732
12733 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
12734 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
12735 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
12736
12737 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
12738
12739 @kindex set check range
12740 @kindex show check range
12741 @table @code
12742 @item set check range auto
12743 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
12744 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12745 each language.
12746
12747 @item set check range on
12748 @itemx set check range off
12749 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12750 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
12751 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
12752 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
12753
12754 @item set check range warn
12755 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
12756 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
12757 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
12758 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
12759 systems).
12760
12761 @item show range
12762 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
12763 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
12764 @end table
12765
12766 @node Supported Languages
12767 @section Supported Languages
12768
12769 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
12770 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
12771 @c This is false ...
12772 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
12773 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
12774 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
12775 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
12776 language.
12777
12778 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
12779 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
12780 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
12781 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
12782 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
12783 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
12784 language reference or tutorial.
12785
12786 @menu
12787 * C:: C and C@t{++}
12788 * D:: D
12789 * Go:: Go
12790 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
12791 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
12792 * Fortran:: Fortran
12793 * Pascal:: Pascal
12794 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
12795 * Ada:: Ada
12796 @end menu
12797
12798 @node C
12799 @subsection C and C@t{++}
12800
12801 @cindex C and C@t{++}
12802 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
12803
12804 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
12805 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
12806 together.
12807
12808 @cindex C@t{++}
12809 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
12810 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
12811 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
12812 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
12813 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
12814 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
12815 compiler (@code{aCC}).
12816
12817 @menu
12818 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
12819 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
12820 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
12821 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
12822 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
12823 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
12824 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
12825 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
12826 @end menu
12827
12828 @node C Operators
12829 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
12830
12831 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
12832
12833 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12834 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12835 often defined on groups of types.
12836
12837 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
12838
12839 @itemize @bullet
12840
12841 @item
12842 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
12843 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
12844
12845 @item
12846 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
12847 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
12848
12849 @item
12850 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
12851
12852 @item
12853 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
12854
12855 @end itemize
12856
12857 @noindent
12858 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
12859 in order of increasing precedence:
12860
12861 @table @code
12862 @item ,
12863 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
12864 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
12865 expression being the last expression evaluated.
12866
12867 @item =
12868 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
12869 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
12870
12871 @item @var{op}=
12872 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
12873 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
12874 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
12875 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
12876 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
12877
12878 @item ?:
12879 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
12880 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
12881 integral type.
12882
12883 @item ||
12884 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12885
12886 @item &&
12887 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12888
12889 @item |
12890 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12891
12892 @item ^
12893 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12894
12895 @item &
12896 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12897
12898 @item ==@r{, }!=
12899 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
12900 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
12901
12902 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
12903 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
12904 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
12905 and non-zero for true.
12906
12907 @item <<@r{, }>>
12908 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
12909
12910 @item @@
12911 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12912
12913 @item +@r{, }-
12914 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
12915 pointer types.
12916
12917 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
12918 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
12919 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
12920 integral types.
12921
12922 @item ++@r{, }--
12923 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
12924 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
12925 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
12926 operation takes place.
12927
12928 @item *
12929 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
12930 @code{++}.
12931
12932 @item &
12933 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
12934
12935 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
12936 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
12937 to examine the address
12938 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
12939 stored.
12940
12941 @item -
12942 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
12943 precedence as @code{++}.
12944
12945 @item !
12946 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12947 @code{++}.
12948
12949 @item ~
12950 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12951 @code{++}.
12952
12953
12954 @item .@r{, }->
12955 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
12956 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
12957 pointer based on the stored type information.
12958 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
12959
12960 @item .*@r{, }->*
12961 Dereferences of pointers to members.
12962
12963 @item []
12964 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
12965 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12966
12967 @item ()
12968 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12969
12970 @item ::
12971 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
12972 and @code{class} types.
12973
12974 @item ::
12975 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
12976 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
12977 above.
12978 @end table
12979
12980 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
12981 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
12982 predefined meaning.
12983
12984 @node C Constants
12985 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
12986
12987 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
12988
12989 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
12990 following ways:
12991
12992 @itemize @bullet
12993 @item
12994 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
12995 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
12996 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
12997 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
12998 @code{long} value.
12999
13000 @item
13001 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13002 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13003 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13004 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13005 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13006 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13007 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13008 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13009 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13010 constant.
13011
13012 @item
13013 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13014 integral equivalents.
13015
13016 @item
13017 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13018 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13019 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13020 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13021 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13022 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13023 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13024 @samp{\n} for newline.
13025
13026 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13027 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13028 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13029 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13030
13031 @item
13032 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13033 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13034 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13035 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13036 characters.
13037
13038 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13039 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13040 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13041
13042 @item
13043 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13044 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13045
13046 @item
13047 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13048 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13049 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13050 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13051 @end itemize
13052
13053 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13054 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13055
13056 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13057 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13058
13059 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13060 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13061 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13062 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13063 @quotation
13064 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13065 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13066 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13067 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13068 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13069 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13070 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13071 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13072 @end quotation
13073
13074 @enumerate
13075
13076 @cindex member functions
13077 @item
13078 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13079
13080 @smallexample
13081 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13082 @end smallexample
13083
13084 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13085 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13086 @item
13087 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13088 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13089 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13090 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13091 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13092
13093 @cindex call overloaded functions
13094 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13095 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13096 @item
13097 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13098 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13099 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13100 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13101 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13102 default arguments.
13103
13104 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13105 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13106 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13107 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13108 number of function arguments.
13109
13110 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13111 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13112 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13113
13114 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13115 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13116 @smallexample
13117 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13118 @end smallexample
13119
13120 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13121 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13122
13123 @cindex reference declarations
13124 @item
13125 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13126 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13127 dereferenced.
13128
13129 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13130 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13131 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13132 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13133 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13134
13135 @item
13136 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13137 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13138 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13139 necessary, for example in an expression like
13140 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13141 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13142 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13143
13144 @item
13145 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13146 specification.
13147 @end enumerate
13148
13149 @node C Defaults
13150 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13151
13152 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13153
13154 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
13155 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13156 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13157 selects the working language.
13158
13159 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13160 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13161 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13162 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13163 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13164 for further details.
13165
13166 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
13167 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
13168 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
13169
13170 @node C Checks
13171 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13172
13173 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13174
13175 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
13176 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
13177 considers two variables type equivalent if:
13178
13179 @itemize @bullet
13180 @item
13181 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
13182 enumerated tag.
13183
13184 @item
13185 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
13186 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
13187
13188 @ignore
13189 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
13190 @c FIXME--beers?
13191 @item
13192 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
13193 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
13194 compilers.)
13195 @end ignore
13196 @end itemize
13197
13198 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13199 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13200 that is not itself an array.
13201
13202 @node Debugging C
13203 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13204
13205 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13206 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13207 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13208 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13209
13210 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13211 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13212 ,Expressions}.
13213
13214 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13215 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13216
13217 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13218
13219 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13220 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13221
13222 @table @code
13223 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13224 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13225 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13226 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13227 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13228 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13229
13230 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13231 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13232 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13233 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13234 classes.
13235 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13236
13237 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13238 @item catch throw
13239 @itemx catch catch
13240 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13241 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13242
13243 @cindex inheritance
13244 @item ptype @var{typename}
13245 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13246 @var{typename}.
13247 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13248
13249 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13250 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13251 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13252 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13253 multiple inheritance is in use.
13254
13255 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13256 @item set print demangle
13257 @itemx show print demangle
13258 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13259 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13260 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13261 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13262 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13263
13264 @item set print object
13265 @itemx show print object
13266 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13267 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13268
13269 @item set print vtbl
13270 @itemx show print vtbl
13271 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13272 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13273 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13274 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13275
13276 @kindex set overload-resolution
13277 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13278 @item set overload-resolution on
13279 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13280 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13281 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13282 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13283 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13284 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13285
13286 @item set overload-resolution off
13287 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13288 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13289 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13290 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13291 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13292 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13293 argument types.
13294
13295 @kindex show overload-resolution
13296 @item show overload-resolution
13297 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13298
13299 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13300 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13301 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13302 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13303 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13304 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13305 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13306 @end table
13307
13308 @node Decimal Floating Point
13309 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
13310 @cindex decimal floating point format
13311
13312 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
13313 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
13314 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
13315 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
13316
13317 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
13318 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
13319 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
13320 target.
13321
13322 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
13323 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
13324 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
13325
13326 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
13327 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
13328 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
13329
13330 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
13331 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
13332 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
13333
13334 @node D
13335 @subsection D
13336
13337 @cindex D
13338 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
13339 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
13340 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
13341
13342 @node Go
13343 @subsection Go
13344
13345 @cindex Go (programming language)
13346 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
13347 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
13348
13349 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
13350
13351 @table @code
13352 @cindex current Go package
13353 @item The current Go package
13354 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
13355 specifying global variables and functions.
13356
13357 For example, given the program:
13358
13359 @example
13360 package main
13361 var myglob = "Shall we?"
13362 func main () @{
13363 // ...
13364 @}
13365 @end example
13366
13367 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
13368
13369 @example
13370 (gdb) p myglob
13371 (gdb) p main.myglob
13372 @end example
13373
13374 @cindex builtin Go types
13375 @item Builtin Go types
13376 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
13377 as a string.
13378
13379 @cindex builtin Go functions
13380 @item Builtin Go functions
13381 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
13382 function and handles it internally.
13383
13384 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
13385 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
13386 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
13387 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
13388 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
13389 @end table
13390
13391 @node Objective-C
13392 @subsection Objective-C
13393
13394 @cindex Objective-C
13395 This section provides information about some commands and command
13396 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
13397 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
13398 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
13399
13400 @menu
13401 * Method Names in Commands::
13402 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
13403 @end menu
13404
13405 @node Method Names in Commands
13406 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
13407
13408 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
13409 names as line specifications:
13410
13411 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
13412 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
13413 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
13414 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
13415 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
13416 @itemize
13417 @item @code{clear}
13418 @item @code{break}
13419 @item @code{info line}
13420 @item @code{jump}
13421 @item @code{list}
13422 @end itemize
13423
13424 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
13425
13426 @smallexample
13427 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
13428 @end smallexample
13429
13430 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
13431 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
13432 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
13433 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
13434 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
13435 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
13436 debugged, enter:
13437
13438 @smallexample
13439 break -[Fruit create]
13440 @end smallexample
13441
13442 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
13443 enter:
13444
13445 @smallexample
13446 list +[NSText initialize]
13447 @end smallexample
13448
13449 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
13450 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
13451 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
13452 is also possible to specify just a method name:
13453
13454 @smallexample
13455 break create
13456 @end smallexample
13457
13458 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
13459 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
13460 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
13461 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
13462 none apply.
13463
13464 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
13465 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
13466
13467 @smallexample
13468 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
13469 @end smallexample
13470
13471 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
13472 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
13473 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
13474 @kindex print-object
13475 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
13476
13477 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
13478
13479 @smallexample
13480 print -[@var{object} hash]
13481 @end smallexample
13482
13483 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
13484 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
13485 @noindent
13486 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
13487 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
13488 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
13489 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
13490 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
13491 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
13492
13493 @node OpenCL C
13494 @subsection OpenCL C
13495
13496 @cindex OpenCL C
13497 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
13498
13499 @menu
13500 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
13501 * OpenCL C Expressions::
13502 * OpenCL C Operators::
13503 @end menu
13504
13505 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
13506 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
13507
13508 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
13509 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
13510 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
13511 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
13512 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
13513
13514 @node OpenCL C Expressions
13515 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
13516
13517 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
13518 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
13519 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
13520 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
13521
13522 @node OpenCL C Operators
13523 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
13524
13525 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
13526 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
13527 vector data types.
13528
13529 @node Fortran
13530 @subsection Fortran
13531 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
13532
13533 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
13534 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
13535
13536 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
13537 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
13538 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
13539 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
13540 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
13541 underscore.
13542
13543 @menu
13544 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
13545 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
13546 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
13547 @end menu
13548
13549 @node Fortran Operators
13550 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
13551
13552 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
13553
13554 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13555 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
13556 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
13557
13558 @table @code
13559 @item **
13560 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
13561 of the second one.
13562
13563 @item :
13564 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
13565 represent a section of array.
13566
13567 @item %
13568 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
13569 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
13570 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
13571 union type.
13572 @end table
13573
13574 @node Fortran Defaults
13575 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
13576
13577 @cindex Fortran Defaults
13578
13579 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
13580 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
13581 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
13582 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
13583
13584 @node Special Fortran Commands
13585 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
13586
13587 @cindex Special Fortran commands
13588
13589 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
13590 such as displaying common blocks.
13591
13592 @table @code
13593 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13594 @kindex info common
13595 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13596 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13597 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13598 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13599 printed.
13600 @end table
13601
13602 @node Pascal
13603 @subsection Pascal
13604
13605 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13606 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13607 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13608 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13609 syntax.
13610
13611 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13612 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13613 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13614
13615 @node Modula-2
13616 @subsection Modula-2
13617
13618 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13619
13620 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13621 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13622 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13623 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13624 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13625 table.
13626
13627 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13628 @menu
13629 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13630 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13631 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13632 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13633 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13634 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13635 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13636 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13637 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13638 @end menu
13639
13640 @node M2 Operators
13641 @subsubsection Operators
13642 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13643
13644 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13645 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13646 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13647 following definitions hold:
13648
13649 @itemize @bullet
13650
13651 @item
13652 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13653 their subranges.
13654
13655 @item
13656 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13657
13658 @item
13659 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13660
13661 @item
13662 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13663 @var{type}}.
13664
13665 @item
13666 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13667
13668 @item
13669 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13670
13671 @item
13672 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13673 @end itemize
13674
13675 @noindent
13676 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13677 increasing precedence:
13678
13679 @table @code
13680 @item ,
13681 Function argument or array index separator.
13682
13683 @item :=
13684 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13685 @var{value}.
13686
13687 @item <@r{, }>
13688 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13689 types.
13690
13691 @item <=@r{, }>=
13692 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13693 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13694 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13695
13696 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13697 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13698 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13699 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13700 comment character.
13701
13702 @item IN
13703 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13704 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13705
13706 @item OR
13707 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13708
13709 @item AND@r{, }&
13710 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13711
13712 @item @@
13713 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13714
13715 @item +@r{, }-
13716 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13717 and difference on set types.
13718
13719 @item *
13720 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13721 on set types.
13722
13723 @item /
13724 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13725 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13726
13727 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
13728 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13729 precedence as @code{*}.
13730
13731 @item -
13732 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13733
13734 @item ^
13735 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13736
13737 @item NOT
13738 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13739 @code{^}.
13740
13741 @item .
13742 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13743 precedence as @code{^}.
13744
13745 @item []
13746 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
13747
13748 @item ()
13749 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
13750 as @code{^}.
13751
13752 @item ::@r{, }.
13753 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
13754 @end table
13755
13756 @quotation
13757 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
13758 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
13759 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
13760 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
13761 @end quotation
13762
13763
13764 @node Built-In Func/Proc
13765 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
13766 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
13767
13768 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
13769 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
13770
13771 @table @var
13772
13773 @item a
13774 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
13775
13776 @item c
13777 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
13778
13779 @item i
13780 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
13781
13782 @item m
13783 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
13784 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
13785 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
13786
13787 @item n
13788 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
13789
13790 @item r
13791 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
13792
13793 @item t
13794 represents a type.
13795
13796 @item v
13797 represents a variable.
13798
13799 @item x
13800 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
13801 explanation of the function for details.
13802 @end table
13803
13804 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
13805
13806 @table @code
13807 @item ABS(@var{n})
13808 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
13809
13810 @item CAP(@var{c})
13811 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
13812 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
13813
13814 @item CHR(@var{i})
13815 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13816
13817 @item DEC(@var{v})
13818 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13819
13820 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
13821 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13822 new value.
13823
13824 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13825 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
13826 set.
13827
13828 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
13829 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
13830
13831 @item HIGH(@var{a})
13832 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
13833
13834 @item INC(@var{v})
13835 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13836
13837 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
13838 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13839 new value.
13840
13841 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13842 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
13843 there. Returns the new set.
13844
13845 @item MAX(@var{t})
13846 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
13847
13848 @item MIN(@var{t})
13849 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
13850
13851 @item ODD(@var{i})
13852 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
13853
13854 @item ORD(@var{x})
13855 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
13856 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
13857 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
13858 integral, character and enumerated types.
13859
13860 @item SIZE(@var{x})
13861 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13862
13863 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
13864 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
13865
13866 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
13867 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13868
13869 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
13870 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13871 @end table
13872
13873 @quotation
13874 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
13875 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
13876 an error.
13877 @end quotation
13878
13879 @cindex Modula-2 constants
13880 @node M2 Constants
13881 @subsubsection Constants
13882
13883 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
13884 ways:
13885
13886 @itemize @bullet
13887
13888 @item
13889 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
13890 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
13891 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
13892 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
13893
13894 @item
13895 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
13896 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
13897 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
13898 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
13899 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
13900 digits.
13901
13902 @item
13903 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
13904 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
13905 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
13906 followed by a @samp{C}.
13907
13908 @item
13909 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
13910 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
13911 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
13912 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
13913 sequences.
13914
13915 @item
13916 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
13917
13918 @item
13919 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
13920 @code{FALSE}.
13921
13922 @item
13923 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
13924
13925 @item
13926 Set constants are not yet supported.
13927 @end itemize
13928
13929 @node M2 Types
13930 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
13931 @cindex Modula-2 types
13932
13933 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
13934 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
13935 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
13936 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
13937 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
13938 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
13939
13940 The first example contains the following section of code:
13941
13942 @smallexample
13943 VAR
13944 s: SET OF CHAR ;
13945 r: [20..40] ;
13946 @end smallexample
13947
13948 @noindent
13949 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
13950 @code{r} and @code{s}.
13951
13952 @smallexample
13953 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13954 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
13955 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13956 SET OF CHAR
13957 (@value{GDBP}) print r
13958 21
13959 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
13960 [20..40]
13961 @end smallexample
13962
13963 @noindent
13964 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
13965
13966 @smallexample
13967 VAR
13968 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
13969 @end smallexample
13970
13971 @noindent
13972 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
13973
13974 @smallexample
13975 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13976 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
13977 @end smallexample
13978
13979 @noindent
13980 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
13981 expressions using the debugger.
13982
13983 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
13984 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
13985
13986 @smallexample
13987 VAR
13988 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
13989 @end smallexample
13990
13991 @smallexample
13992 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13993 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
13994 @end smallexample
13995
13996 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
13997 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
13998 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
13999 above.
14000
14001 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14002
14003 @smallexample
14004 TYPE
14005 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14006 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14007 VAR
14008 s: t ;
14009 BEGIN
14010 s := blue ;
14011 @end smallexample
14012
14013 @noindent
14014 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14015 and value of a variable.
14016
14017 @smallexample
14018 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14019 $1 = blue
14020 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14021 type = [blue..yellow]
14022 @end smallexample
14023
14024 @noindent
14025 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14026 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14027 their @code{C} counterparts.
14028
14029 @smallexample
14030 VAR
14031 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14032 BEGIN
14033 s[1] := 1 ;
14034 @end smallexample
14035
14036 @smallexample
14037 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14038 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14039 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14040 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14041 @end smallexample
14042
14043 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14044 pointer types as shown in this example:
14045
14046 @smallexample
14047 VAR
14048 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14049 BEGIN
14050 NEW(s) ;
14051 s^[1] := 1 ;
14052 @end smallexample
14053
14054 @noindent
14055 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14056
14057 @smallexample
14058 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14059 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14060 @end smallexample
14061
14062 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14063 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14064 types:
14065
14066 @smallexample
14067 TYPE
14068 foo = RECORD
14069 f1: CARDINAL ;
14070 f2: CHAR ;
14071 f3: myarray ;
14072 END ;
14073
14074 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14075 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14076 VAR
14077 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14078 @end smallexample
14079
14080 @noindent
14081 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14082 below.
14083
14084 @smallexample
14085 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14086 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14087 f1 : CARDINAL;
14088 f2 : CHAR;
14089 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14090 END
14091 @end smallexample
14092
14093 @node M2 Defaults
14094 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14095 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14096
14097 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14098 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14099 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14100 selected the working language.
14101
14102 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14103 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14104 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14105 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14106
14107 @node Deviations
14108 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14109 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14110
14111 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14112 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14113
14114 @itemize @bullet
14115 @item
14116 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14117 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14118 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14119 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14120 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14121 returned a pointer.)
14122
14123 @item
14124 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14125 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14126 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14127 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14128
14129 @item
14130 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14131 argument.
14132
14133 @item
14134 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14135 @end itemize
14136
14137 @node M2 Checks
14138 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14139 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14140
14141 @quotation
14142 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14143 range checking.
14144 @end quotation
14145 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14146
14147 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14148
14149 @itemize @bullet
14150 @item
14151 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14152 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14153
14154 @item
14155 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14156 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14157 @end itemize
14158
14159 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14160 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14161
14162 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14163 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14164
14165 @node M2 Scope
14166 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14167 @cindex scope
14168 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14169 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14170 @ifinfo
14171 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14172 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14173 @end ifinfo
14174 @ifnotinfo
14175 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14176 @end ifnotinfo
14177
14178 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14179 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14180 similar syntax:
14181
14182 @smallexample
14183
14184 @var{module} . @var{id}
14185 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14186 @end smallexample
14187
14188 @noindent
14189 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14190 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14191 identifier within your program, except another module.
14192
14193 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14194 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14195 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14196 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14197
14198 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14199 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14200 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14201 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14202 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14203 @var{module}.
14204
14205 @node GDB/M2
14206 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14207
14208 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14209 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14210 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14211 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14212 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14213 analogue in Modula-2.
14214
14215 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14216 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14217 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14218 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14219 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14220 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14221
14222 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14223 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14224 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14225
14226 @node Ada
14227 @subsection Ada
14228 @cindex Ada
14229
14230 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14231 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14232 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14233 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14234 to be difficult.
14235
14236
14237 @cindex expressions in Ada
14238 @menu
14239 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14240 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14241 in @value{GDBN}.
14242 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14243 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14244 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14245 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14246 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14247 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14248 Profile
14249 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14250 @end menu
14251
14252 @node Ada Mode Intro
14253 @subsubsection Introduction
14254 @cindex Ada mode, general
14255
14256 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14257 syntax, with some extensions.
14258 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14259
14260 @itemize @bullet
14261 @item
14262 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14263 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14264 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14265 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14266
14267 @item
14268 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14269 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14270
14271 @item
14272 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14273 @end itemize
14274
14275 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14276 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14277 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14278 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14279 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14280
14281 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14282 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14283 was translated from an Ada source file.
14284
14285 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14286 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14287 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14288 middle (to allow based literals).
14289
14290 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14291 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14292 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14293 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14294 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14295 functions to procedures elsewhere.
14296
14297 @node Omissions from Ada
14298 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14299 @cindex Ada, omissions from
14300
14301 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14302
14303 @itemize @bullet
14304 @item
14305 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14306
14307 @itemize @minus
14308 @item
14309 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
14310 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
14311
14312 @item
14313 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
14314
14315 @item
14316 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
14317
14318 @item
14319 @t{'Tag}.
14320
14321 @item
14322 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
14323 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
14324
14325 @item
14326 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
14327 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
14328
14329 @item
14330 @t{'Address}.
14331 @end itemize
14332
14333 @item
14334 The names in
14335 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
14336 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
14337 not currently available.
14338
14339 @item
14340 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
14341 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
14342 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
14343 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
14344 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
14345 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
14346 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
14347 indeterminate values.
14348
14349 @item
14350 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
14351 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
14352 are not implemented.
14353
14354 @item
14355 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
14356 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
14357 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
14358 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
14359 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
14360
14361 @smallexample
14362 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
14363 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
14364 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
14365 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
14366 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
14367 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
14368 @end smallexample
14369
14370 Changing a
14371 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
14372 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
14373 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
14374 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
14375 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
14376 declared to have a type such as:
14377
14378 @smallexample
14379 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
14380 Id : Integer;
14381 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
14382 end record;
14383 @end smallexample
14384
14385 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
14386 assignments:
14387
14388 @smallexample
14389 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
14390 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
14391 @end smallexample
14392
14393 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
14394 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
14395 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
14396 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
14397 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
14398 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
14399 redundant component associations, although which component values are
14400 assigned in such cases is not defined.
14401
14402 @item
14403 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
14404
14405 @item
14406 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
14407 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
14408 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
14409 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
14410 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
14411 the proper resolution.
14412
14413 @item
14414 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
14415
14416 @item
14417 Entry calls are not implemented.
14418
14419 @item
14420 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
14421 formats are not supported.
14422
14423 @item
14424 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
14425
14426 @item
14427 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
14428 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
14429 context.
14430 Should your program
14431 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
14432 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
14433 @end itemize
14434
14435 @node Additions to Ada
14436 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
14437 @cindex Ada, deviations from
14438
14439 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
14440 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
14441
14442 @itemize @bullet
14443 @item
14444 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
14445 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
14446 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
14447 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
14448 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
14449 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
14450 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
14451 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
14452
14453 @item
14454 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
14455 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
14456 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
14457
14458 @item
14459 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
14460 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
14461
14462 @item
14463 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
14464 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
14465 @end itemize
14466
14467 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
14468 additions specific to Ada:
14469
14470 @itemize @bullet
14471 @item
14472 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
14473 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
14474
14475 @smallexample
14476 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
14477 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
14478 @end smallexample
14479
14480 @item
14481 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
14482 the value of its right-hand operand.
14483 This allows, for example,
14484 complex conditional breaks:
14485
14486 @smallexample
14487 (@value{GDBP}) break f
14488 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
14489 @end smallexample
14490
14491 @item
14492 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
14493 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
14494 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
14495 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
14496 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
14497 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
14498 in strings. For example,
14499 @smallexample
14500 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
14501 @end smallexample
14502 @noindent
14503 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
14504 after each period.
14505
14506 @item
14507 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
14508 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
14509 to write
14510
14511 @smallexample
14512 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
14513 @end smallexample
14514
14515 @item
14516 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
14517 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
14518 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
14519 of 3 might print as
14520
14521 @smallexample
14522 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
14523 @end smallexample
14524
14525 @noindent
14526 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
14527 clause.
14528
14529 @item
14530 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
14531 multi-character subsequence of
14532 their names (an exact match gets preference).
14533 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
14534 in place of @t{a'length}.
14535
14536 @item
14537 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
14538 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
14539 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
14540 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
14541 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
14542 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
14543 For example,
14544 @smallexample
14545 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
14546 @end smallexample
14547
14548 @item
14549 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
14550 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
14551 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
14552 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
14553 object.
14554
14555 @end itemize
14556
14557 @node Stopping Before Main Program
14558 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
14559
14560 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
14561 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
14562 before reaching the main procedure.
14563 As defined in the Ada Reference
14564 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
14565 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
14566 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
14567 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
14568
14569 @node Ada Tasks
14570 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
14571 @cindex Ada, tasking
14572
14573 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
14574 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
14575
14576 @table @code
14577 @kindex info tasks
14578 @item info tasks
14579 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
14580
14581
14582 @smallexample
14583 @iftex
14584 @leftskip=0.5cm
14585 @end iftex
14586 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14587 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14588 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14589 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
14590 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
14591 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14592
14593 @end smallexample
14594
14595 @noindent
14596 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14597 task currently being inspected.
14598
14599 @table @asis
14600 @item ID
14601 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14602
14603 @item TID
14604 The Ada task ID.
14605
14606 @item P-ID
14607 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14608
14609 @item Pri
14610 The base priority of the task.
14611
14612 @item State
14613 Current state of the task.
14614
14615 @table @code
14616 @item Unactivated
14617 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14618 executing.
14619
14620 @item Runnable
14621 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14622 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14623
14624 @item Terminated
14625 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14626 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14627 terminated themselves.
14628
14629 @item Child Activation Wait
14630 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14631
14632 @item Accept Statement
14633 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14634
14635 @item Waiting on entry call
14636 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14637
14638 @item Async Select Wait
14639 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14640 select statement.
14641
14642 @item Delay Sleep
14643 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14644 alternative open.
14645
14646 @item Child Termination Wait
14647 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14648 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14649 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14650
14651 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14652 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14653 finish terminating.
14654
14655 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14656 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14657 @end table
14658
14659 @item Name
14660 Name of the task in the program.
14661
14662 @end table
14663
14664 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14665 @item info task @var{taskno}
14666 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14667 the following example:
14668 @smallexample
14669 @iftex
14670 @leftskip=0.5cm
14671 @end iftex
14672 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14673 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14674 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14675 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14676 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14677 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14678 Name: task_1
14679 Thread: 0x807f378
14680 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14681 Base Priority: 15
14682 State: Runnable
14683 @end smallexample
14684
14685 @item task
14686 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14687 @cindex current Ada task ID
14688 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14689
14690 @smallexample
14691 @iftex
14692 @leftskip=0.5cm
14693 @end iftex
14694 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14695 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14696 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14697 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14698 (@value{GDBP}) task
14699 [Current task is 2]
14700 @end smallexample
14701
14702 @item task @var{taskno}
14703 @cindex Ada task switching
14704 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14705 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14706 from the current task to the given task.
14707
14708 @smallexample
14709 @iftex
14710 @leftskip=0.5cm
14711 @end iftex
14712 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14713 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14714 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14715 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14716 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14717 [Switching to task 1]
14718 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14719 (@value{GDBP}) bt
14720 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14721 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14722 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14723 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14724 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14725 @end smallexample
14726
14727 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14728 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14729 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14730 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14731 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14732 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14733 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14734 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14735 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14736
14737 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14738 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14739 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14740 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14741 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14742
14743 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14744 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
14745 program.
14746
14747 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
14748 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
14749 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
14750
14751 For example,
14752
14753 @smallexample
14754 @iftex
14755 @leftskip=0.5cm
14756 @end iftex
14757 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14758 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14759 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14760 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
14761 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14762 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
14763 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
14764 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
14765 (@value{GDBP}) cont
14766 Continuing.
14767 task # 1 running
14768 task # 2 running
14769
14770 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
14771 15 flush;
14772 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14773 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14774 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14775 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
14776 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14777 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
14778 @end smallexample
14779 @end table
14780
14781 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
14782 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14783 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
14784
14785 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
14786 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
14787 the platform being used.
14788 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
14789 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
14790 as usual.
14791
14792 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
14793 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
14794 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
14795 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
14796 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
14797 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
14798
14799 @node Ravenscar Profile
14800 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
14801 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
14802
14803 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
14804 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
14805 requirements.
14806
14807 @table @code
14808 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
14809 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
14810 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
14811 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14812 Profile. This is the default.
14813
14814 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
14815 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
14816 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14817 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
14818 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
14819 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
14820 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
14821
14822 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
14823 @item show ravenscar task-switching
14824 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
14825 using the Ravenscar Profile.
14826
14827 @end table
14828
14829 @node Ada Glitches
14830 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
14831 @cindex Ada, problems
14832
14833 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
14834 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
14835 @value{GDBN},
14836 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
14837 and the GNU Ada compiler.
14838
14839 @itemize @bullet
14840 @item
14841 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
14842 storage are invisible to the debugger.
14843
14844 @item
14845 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
14846 argument lists are treated as positional).
14847
14848 @item
14849 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
14850
14851 @item
14852 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
14853 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
14854 the host machine.
14855
14856 @item
14857 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
14858 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
14859 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
14860 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
14861 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
14862 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
14863 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
14864 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
14865 you can usually resolve the confusion
14866 by qualifying the problematic names with package
14867 @code{Standard} explicitly.
14868 @end itemize
14869
14870 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
14871 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
14872 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
14873 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
14874 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
14875 enabled.
14876
14877 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14878 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14879 @table @code
14880
14881 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
14882 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
14883 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
14884 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
14885 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
14886 This is the default.
14887
14888 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
14889 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
14890 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
14891 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
14892 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
14893 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
14894 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
14895
14896 @end table
14897
14898 @node Unsupported Languages
14899 @section Unsupported Languages
14900
14901 @cindex unsupported languages
14902 @cindex minimal language
14903 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
14904 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
14905 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
14906 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
14907 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
14908 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
14909
14910 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
14911 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
14912 language.
14913
14914 @node Symbols
14915 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
14916
14917 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
14918 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
14919 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
14920 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
14921 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
14922 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
14923 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14924
14925 @cindex symbol names
14926 @cindex names of symbols
14927 @cindex quoting names
14928 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
14929 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
14930 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
14931 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
14932 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
14933 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
14934 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
14935 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
14936
14937 @smallexample
14938 p 'foo.c'::x
14939 @end smallexample
14940
14941 @noindent
14942 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
14943
14944 @table @code
14945 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
14946 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
14947 @kindex set case-sensitive
14948 @item set case-sensitive on
14949 @itemx set case-sensitive off
14950 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
14951 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
14952 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
14953 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
14954 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
14955 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
14956 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
14957 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
14958 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
14959 case-insensitive matches.
14960
14961 @kindex show case-sensitive
14962 @item show case-sensitive
14963 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
14964 lookups.
14965
14966 @kindex info address
14967 @cindex address of a symbol
14968 @item info address @var{symbol}
14969 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
14970 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
14971 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
14972 is always stored.
14973
14974 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
14975 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
14976 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
14977
14978 @kindex info symbol
14979 @cindex symbol from address
14980 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
14981 @item info symbol @var{addr}
14982 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
14983 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
14984 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
14985
14986 @smallexample
14987 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
14988 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
14989 @end smallexample
14990
14991 @noindent
14992 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
14993 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
14994
14995 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
14996 library containing the symbol is also printed:
14997
14998 @smallexample
14999 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15000 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15001 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15002 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15003 @end smallexample
15004
15005 @kindex whatis
15006 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
15007 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15008 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15009 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15010
15011 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15012 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15013 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15014
15015 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15016 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15017 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15018 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15019 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15020 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15021 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15022 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15023 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15024
15025 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15026 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15027 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15028 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15029 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15030 unroll it.
15031
15032 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15033 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15034 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15035
15036 @kindex ptype
15037 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
15038 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15039 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15040 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15041
15042 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15043 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15044 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15045 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15046 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15047 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15048 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15049 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15050
15051 For example, for this variable declaration:
15052
15053 @smallexample
15054 typedef double real_t;
15055 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15056 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15057 complex_t var;
15058 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15059 @end smallexample
15060
15061 @noindent
15062 the two commands give this output:
15063
15064 @smallexample
15065 @group
15066 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15067 type = complex_t
15068 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15069 type = struct complex @{
15070 real_t real;
15071 double imag;
15072 @}
15073 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15074 type = struct complex
15075 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15076 type = struct complex
15077 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15078 type = struct complex @{
15079 real_t real;
15080 double imag;
15081 @}
15082 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15083 type = real_t *
15084 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15085 type = double *
15086 @end group
15087 @end smallexample
15088
15089 @noindent
15090 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15091 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15092
15093 @cindex incomplete type
15094 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15095 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15096 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15097 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15098 given these declarations:
15099
15100 @smallexample
15101 struct foo;
15102 struct foo *fooptr;
15103 @end smallexample
15104
15105 @noindent
15106 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15107
15108 @smallexample
15109 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15110 $1 = <incomplete type>
15111 @end smallexample
15112
15113 @noindent
15114 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15115 completely specified.
15116
15117 @kindex info types
15118 @item info types @var{regexp}
15119 @itemx info types
15120 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15121 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15122 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15123 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15124 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15125 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15126 name is @code{value}.
15127
15128 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15129 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15130 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15131
15132 @kindex info scope
15133 @cindex local variables
15134 @item info scope @var{location}
15135 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15136 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15137 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15138 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15139 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15140
15141 @smallexample
15142 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15143 Scope for command_line_handler:
15144 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15145 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15146 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15147 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15148 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15149 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15150 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15151 @end smallexample
15152
15153 @noindent
15154 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15155 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15156 collect}.
15157
15158 @kindex info source
15159 @item info source
15160 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15161 the function containing the current point of execution:
15162 @itemize @bullet
15163 @item
15164 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15165 @item
15166 the directory it was compiled in,
15167 @item
15168 its length, in lines,
15169 @item
15170 which programming language it is written in,
15171 @item
15172 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15173 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15174 @item
15175 whether the debugging information includes information about
15176 preprocessor macros.
15177 @end itemize
15178
15179
15180 @kindex info sources
15181 @item info sources
15182 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15183 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15184 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15185
15186 @kindex info functions
15187 @item info functions
15188 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15189
15190 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15191 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15192 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15193 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15194 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15195 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15196 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15197 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15198
15199 @kindex info variables
15200 @item info variables
15201 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15202 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15203
15204 @item info variables @var{regexp}
15205 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15206 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15207 @var{regexp}.
15208
15209 @kindex info classes
15210 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15211 @item info classes
15212 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15213 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15214 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15215 expression.
15216
15217 @kindex info selectors
15218 @item info selectors
15219 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15220 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15221 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15222 expression.
15223
15224 @ignore
15225 This was never implemented.
15226 @kindex info methods
15227 @item info methods
15228 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
15229 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
15230 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
15231 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
15232 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
15233 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
15234 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
15235 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
15236 @end ignore
15237
15238 @cindex opaque data types
15239 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
15240 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
15241 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
15242 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
15243 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
15244 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
15245 another source file. The default is on.
15246
15247 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
15248 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
15249
15250 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
15251 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
15252 is printed as follows:
15253 @smallexample
15254 @{<no data fields>@}
15255 @end smallexample
15256
15257 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
15258 @item show opaque-type-resolution
15259 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
15260
15261 @kindex maint print symbols
15262 @cindex symbol dump
15263 @kindex maint print psymbols
15264 @cindex partial symbol dump
15265 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
15266 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
15267 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
15268 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
15269 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
15270 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
15271 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
15272 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
15273 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
15274 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
15275 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
15276 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
15277 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
15278 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
15279 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
15280 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
15281 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
15282
15283 @kindex maint info symtabs
15284 @kindex maint info psymtabs
15285 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
15286 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15287 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15288 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15289 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15290 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15291
15292 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
15293 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
15294 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
15295 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
15296 structure in more detail. For example:
15297
15298 @smallexample
15299 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
15300 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15301 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15302 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15303 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
15304 readin no
15305 fullname (null)
15306 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
15307 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
15308 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
15309 dependencies (none)
15310 @}
15311 @}
15312 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15313 (@value{GDBP})
15314 @end smallexample
15315 @noindent
15316 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
15317 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
15318 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
15319 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
15320 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
15321
15322 @smallexample
15323 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
15324 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
15325 line 1574.
15326 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15327 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15328 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15329 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15330 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
15331 dirname (null)
15332 fullname (null)
15333 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
15334 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
15335 debugformat DWARF 2
15336 @}
15337 @}
15338 (@value{GDBP})
15339 @end smallexample
15340 @end table
15341
15342
15343 @node Altering
15344 @chapter Altering Execution
15345
15346 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
15347 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
15348 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
15349 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
15350 program.
15351
15352 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
15353 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
15354 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
15355
15356 @menu
15357 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
15358 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
15359 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
15360 * Returning:: Returning from a function
15361 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
15362 * Patching:: Patching your program
15363 @end menu
15364
15365 @node Assignment
15366 @section Assignment to Variables
15367
15368 @cindex assignment
15369 @cindex setting variables
15370 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
15371 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
15372
15373 @smallexample
15374 print x=4
15375 @end smallexample
15376
15377 @noindent
15378 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
15379 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
15380 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
15381 information on operators in supported languages.
15382
15383 @kindex set variable
15384 @cindex variables, setting
15385 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
15386 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
15387 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
15388 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
15389 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
15390
15391 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
15392 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
15393 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
15394 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
15395 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
15396 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
15397 command @code{set width}:
15398
15399 @smallexample
15400 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
15401 type = double
15402 (@value{GDBP}) p width
15403 $4 = 13
15404 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
15405 Invalid syntax in expression.
15406 @end smallexample
15407
15408 @noindent
15409 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
15410 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
15411
15412 @smallexample
15413 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
15414 @end smallexample
15415
15416 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
15417 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
15418 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
15419 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
15420 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
15421 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
15422
15423 @smallexample
15424 @group
15425 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
15426 type = double
15427 (@value{GDBP}) p g
15428 $1 = 1
15429 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
15430 (@value{GDBP}) p g
15431 $2 = 1
15432 (@value{GDBP}) r
15433 The program being debugged has been started already.
15434 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
15435 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
15436 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
15437 Invalid bfd target.
15438 (@value{GDBP}) show g
15439 The current BFD target is "=4".
15440 @end group
15441 @end smallexample
15442
15443 @noindent
15444 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
15445 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
15446 @code{g}, use
15447
15448 @smallexample
15449 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
15450 @end smallexample
15451
15452 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
15453 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
15454 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
15455 same length or shorter.
15456 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
15457 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
15458
15459 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
15460 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
15461 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
15462 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
15463 and representation in memory), and
15464
15465 @smallexample
15466 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
15467 @end smallexample
15468
15469 @noindent
15470 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
15471
15472 @node Jumping
15473 @section Continuing at a Different Address
15474
15475 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
15476 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
15477 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
15478
15479 @table @code
15480 @kindex jump
15481 @item jump @var{linespec}
15482 @itemx jump @var{location}
15483 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
15484 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
15485 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
15486 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
15487 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
15488 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
15489
15490 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
15491 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
15492 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
15493 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
15494 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
15495 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
15496 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
15497 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
15498 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
15499 @end table
15500
15501 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
15502 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
15503 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
15504 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
15505 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
15506 example,
15507
15508 @smallexample
15509 set $pc = 0x485
15510 @end smallexample
15511
15512 @noindent
15513 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
15514 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
15515 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
15516
15517 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
15518 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
15519 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
15520 detail.
15521
15522 @c @group
15523 @node Signaling
15524 @section Giving your Program a Signal
15525 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
15526
15527 @table @code
15528 @kindex signal
15529 @item signal @var{signal}
15530 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
15531 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
15532 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
15533 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
15534
15535 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
15536 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
15537 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
15538 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
15539 signal.
15540
15541 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
15542 after executing the command.
15543 @end table
15544 @c @end group
15545
15546 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
15547 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
15548 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
15549 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
15550 passes the signal directly to your program.
15551
15552
15553 @node Returning
15554 @section Returning from a Function
15555
15556 @table @code
15557 @cindex returning from a function
15558 @kindex return
15559 @item return
15560 @itemx return @var{expression}
15561 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
15562 command. If you give an
15563 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
15564 value.
15565 @end table
15566
15567 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15568 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15569 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15570 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15571
15572 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15573 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15574 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15575 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15576 of functions.
15577
15578 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15579 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15580 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15581 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15582 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15583
15584 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15585 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15586 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15587 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15588 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15589 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15590 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15591 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15592 assignment into the right register(s).
15593
15594 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15595 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15596 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15597 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15598 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15599 into a @code{long long int}:
15600
15601 @smallexample
15602 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15603 29 return 31;
15604 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15605 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15606 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15607 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15608 (@value{GDBP})
15609 @end smallexample
15610
15611 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
15612 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
15613 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
15614 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
15615 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
15616 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
15617 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
15618 an appropriate cast explicitly:
15619
15620 @smallexample
15621 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
15622 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15623 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
15624 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
15625 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
15626 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
15627 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
15628 (@value{GDBP})
15629 @end smallexample
15630
15631 @node Calling
15632 @section Calling Program Functions
15633
15634 @table @code
15635 @cindex calling functions
15636 @cindex inferior functions, calling
15637 @item print @var{expr}
15638 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
15639 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
15640 debugged.
15641
15642 @kindex call
15643 @item call @var{expr}
15644 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15645 returned values.
15646
15647 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15648 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15649 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15650 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15651 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15652 value history.
15653 @end table
15654
15655 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15656 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15657 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15658 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15659
15660 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15661 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15662 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15663 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15664 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15665 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
15666 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
15667 in that case is controlled by the
15668 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
15669
15670 @table @code
15671 @item set unwindonsignal
15672 @kindex set unwindonsignal
15673 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
15674 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
15675 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
15676 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
15677 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
15678 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
15679 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
15680 received.
15681
15682 @item show unwindonsignal
15683 @kindex show unwindonsignal
15684 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15685 @value{GDBN}.
15686
15687 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15688 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15689 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
15690 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
15691 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
15692 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
15693 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
15694 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
15695 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
15696 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
15697
15698 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15699 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15700 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15701 @value{GDBN}.
15702
15703 @end table
15704
15705 @cindex weak alias functions
15706 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
15707 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
15708 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
15709 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
15710 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
15711 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
15712 function instead.
15713
15714 @node Patching
15715 @section Patching Programs
15716
15717 @cindex patching binaries
15718 @cindex writing into executables
15719 @cindex writing into corefiles
15720
15721 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
15722 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
15723 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
15724 patching your program's binary.
15725
15726 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
15727 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
15728 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
15729 repairs.
15730
15731 @table @code
15732 @kindex set write
15733 @item set write on
15734 @itemx set write off
15735 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
15736 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
15737 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
15738
15739 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
15740 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
15741 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
15742
15743 @item show write
15744 @kindex show write
15745 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
15746 as well as reading.
15747 @end table
15748
15749 @node GDB Files
15750 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
15751
15752 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
15753 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
15754 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
15755 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
15756
15757 @menu
15758 * Files:: Commands to specify files
15759 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
15760 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
15761 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
15762 * Data Files:: GDB data files
15763 @end menu
15764
15765 @node Files
15766 @section Commands to Specify Files
15767
15768 @cindex symbol table
15769 @cindex core dump file
15770
15771 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
15772 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
15773 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
15774 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
15775
15776 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
15777 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
15778 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
15779 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
15780 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
15781 new files are useful.
15782
15783 @table @code
15784 @cindex executable file
15785 @kindex file
15786 @item file @var{filename}
15787 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
15788 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
15789 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
15790 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
15791 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
15792 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
15793 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
15794 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
15795
15796 @cindex unlinked object files
15797 @cindex patching object files
15798 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
15799 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
15800 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
15801 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
15802 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
15803 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
15804 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
15805 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
15806
15807 @item file
15808 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
15809 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
15810
15811 @kindex exec-file
15812 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15813 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
15814 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
15815 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
15816 discard information on the executable file.
15817
15818 @kindex symbol-file
15819 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15820 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
15821 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
15822 table and program to run from the same file.
15823
15824 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
15825 program's symbol table.
15826
15827 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
15828 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
15829 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
15830 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
15831 @value{GDBN}.
15832
15833 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
15834 executing it once.
15835
15836 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
15837 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
15838 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
15839 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
15840 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
15841 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
15842 optimized code.
15843
15844 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
15845 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
15846 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
15847 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
15848 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
15849
15850 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
15851 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
15852 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
15853 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
15854 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
15855 Warnings and Messages}.)
15856
15857 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
15858 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
15859 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
15860 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
15861 in stabs format.
15862
15863 @kindex readnow
15864 @cindex reading symbols immediately
15865 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
15866 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15867 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15868 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
15869 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
15870 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
15871 entire symbol table available.
15872
15873 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
15874 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
15875 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
15876 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
15877 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
15878 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
15879 @c files.
15880
15881 @kindex core-file
15882 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
15883 @itemx core
15884 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
15885 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
15886 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
15887 executable file itself for other parts.
15888
15889 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
15890 to be used.
15891
15892 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
15893 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
15894 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
15895 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
15896 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
15897
15898 @kindex add-symbol-file
15899 @cindex dynamic linking
15900 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
15901 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
15902 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
15903 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
15904 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
15905 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
15906 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
15907 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
15908 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
15909 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
15910 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
15911 @var{address} as an expression.
15912
15913 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
15914 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
15915 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
15916 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
15917 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
15918
15919 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
15920 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
15921 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
15922 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
15923 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
15924 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
15925 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
15926 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
15927 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
15928
15929 @itemize @bullet
15930 @item
15931 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
15932 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
15933 @item
15934 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
15935 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
15936 @item
15937 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
15938 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15939 @end itemize
15940
15941 @noindent
15942 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
15943 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
15944 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
15945 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
15946 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
15947 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
15948 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
15949 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
15950 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
15951 way.
15952
15953 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
15954
15955 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
15956 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
15957 @cindex load symbols from memory
15958 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
15959 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
15960 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
15961 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
15962 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
15963 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
15964 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
15965 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
15966 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
15967
15968 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
15969 @kindex assf
15970 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
15971 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
15972 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
15973 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
15974 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
15975 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
15976 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
15977 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
15978 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
15979 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
15980
15981 @kindex section
15982 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
15983 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
15984 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
15985 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
15986 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
15987 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
15988 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
15989 their addresses.
15990
15991 @kindex info files
15992 @kindex info target
15993 @item info files
15994 @itemx info target
15995 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
15996 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
15997 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
15998 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
15999 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16000 current ones.
16001
16002 @kindex maint info sections
16003 @item maint info sections
16004 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16005 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16006 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16007 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16008 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16009 may be arbitrarily combined):
16010
16011 @table @code
16012 @item ALLOBJ
16013 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16014 @item @var{sections}
16015 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16016 @item @var{section-flags}
16017 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16018 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16019 @table @code
16020 @item ALLOC
16021 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16022 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16023 @item LOAD
16024 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16025 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16026 @item RELOC
16027 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16028 @item READONLY
16029 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16030 @item CODE
16031 Section contains executable code only.
16032 @item DATA
16033 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16034 @item ROM
16035 Section will reside in ROM.
16036 @item CONSTRUCTOR
16037 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16038 @item HAS_CONTENTS
16039 Section is not empty.
16040 @item NEVER_LOAD
16041 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16042 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16043 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16044 COFF shared library information.
16045 @item IS_COMMON
16046 Section contains common symbols.
16047 @end table
16048 @end table
16049 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16050 @cindex read-only sections
16051 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16052 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16053 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16054 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16055 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16056 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16057 enhancement to debugging performance.
16058
16059 The default is off.
16060
16061 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16062 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16063 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16064 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16065
16066 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16067 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16068 @end table
16069
16070 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16071 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16072 name and remembers it that way.
16073
16074 @cindex shared libraries
16075 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16076 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16077 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16078
16079 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16080 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16081
16082 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16083 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16084 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16085 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16086 debugging a core file).
16087
16088 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16089 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16090
16091 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16092 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16093 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16094
16095 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16096 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16097 particularly large or there are many of them.
16098
16099 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16100 commands:
16101
16102 @table @code
16103 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16104 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16105 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16106 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16107 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16108 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16109 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16110 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16111
16112 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16113 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16114 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16115 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16116 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16117 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16118 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16119 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16120 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16121
16122 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16123 @item show auto-solib-add
16124 Display the current autoloading mode.
16125 @end table
16126
16127 @cindex load shared library
16128 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16129 command:
16130
16131 @table @code
16132 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16133 @kindex info share
16134 @item info share @var{regex}
16135 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16136 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16137 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16138 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16139
16140 @kindex sharedlibrary
16141 @kindex share
16142 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16143 @itemx share @var{regex}
16144 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16145 Unix regular expression.
16146 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16147 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16148 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16149 loaded.
16150
16151 @item nosharedlibrary
16152 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16153 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16154 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16155 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16156 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16157 discarded.
16158 @end table
16159
16160 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16161 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16162 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16163 Catchpoints}).
16164
16165 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16166 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16167 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16168 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16169
16170 @table @code
16171 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16172 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16173 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16174 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16175 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16176 shared library.
16177
16178 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16179 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16180 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16181 library events happen.
16182 @end table
16183
16184 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16185 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16186 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16187 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16188 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16189 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16190 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16191 not.
16192
16193 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16194 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16195 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16196 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16197 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16198
16199 @table @code
16200 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
16201 @cindex system root, alternate
16202 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16203 @kindex set sysroot
16204 @item set sysroot @var{path}
16205 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16206 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16207 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16208 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16209 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16210 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16211 under @var{path}.
16212
16213 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16214 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16215 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16216 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16217 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16218 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16219 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16220 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16221 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16222
16223 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
16224 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
16225 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
16226 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
16227 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
16228
16229 @smallexample
16230 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
16231 @end smallexample
16232
16233 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
16234 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
16235 system:
16236
16237 @smallexample
16238 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
16239 @end smallexample
16240
16241 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
16242 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
16243 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
16244 colons:
16245
16246 @smallexample
16247 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
16248 @end smallexample
16249
16250 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
16251 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
16252 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
16253 @samp{z}):
16254
16255 @smallexample
16256 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
16257 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16258 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16259 @end smallexample
16260
16261 @noindent
16262 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
16263 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
16264 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
16265
16266 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
16267 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
16268
16269 @smallexample
16270 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
16271 @end smallexample
16272
16273 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
16274 if you don't want or need to.
16275
16276 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
16277 sysroot}.
16278
16279 @cindex default system root
16280 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
16281 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
16282 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
16283 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16284 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
16285 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16286 location.
16287
16288 @kindex show sysroot
16289 @item show sysroot
16290 Display the current shared library prefix.
16291
16292 @kindex set solib-search-path
16293 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
16294 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16295 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
16296 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
16297 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
16298 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
16299 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
16300 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
16301 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
16302 of shared library symbols.
16303
16304 @kindex show solib-search-path
16305 @item show solib-search-path
16306 Display the current shared library search path.
16307
16308 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
16309 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
16310 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
16311 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
16312 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
16313
16314 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
16315 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
16316 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
16317 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
16318 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
16319 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
16320 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
16321 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
16322 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
16323 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
16324 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
16325 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
16326 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
16327 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
16328 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
16329 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
16330 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
16331 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
16332 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
16333 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
16334 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
16335 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
16336
16337 @table @code
16338 @item unix
16339 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
16340 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
16341 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
16342 the forward slash.
16343
16344 @item dos-based
16345 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
16346 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
16347 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
16348 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
16349 considered directory separators.
16350
16351 @item auto
16352 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
16353 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
16354 This is the default.
16355 @end table
16356 @end table
16357
16358 @cindex file name canonicalization
16359 @cindex base name differences
16360 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
16361 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
16362 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
16363 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
16364 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
16365 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
16366 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
16367 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
16368 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
16369 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
16370 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
16371 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
16372 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
16373 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
16374 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
16375
16376 @table @code
16377 @item set basenames-may-differ
16378 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
16379 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16380
16381 @item show basenames-may-differ
16382 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
16383 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16384 @end table
16385
16386 @node Separate Debug Files
16387 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
16388 @cindex separate debugging information files
16389 @cindex debugging information in separate files
16390 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
16391 @cindex debugging information directory, global
16392 @cindex global debugging information directories
16393 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
16394 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
16395
16396 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
16397 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
16398 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
16399 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
16400 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
16401 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
16402 install only when they need to debug a problem.
16403
16404 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
16405 file:
16406
16407 @itemize @bullet
16408 @item
16409 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
16410 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
16411 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
16412 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
16413 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
16414 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
16415 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
16416 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
16417
16418 @item
16419 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
16420 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
16421 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
16422 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
16423 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
16424 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
16425 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
16426 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
16427 below.
16428 @end itemize
16429
16430 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
16431 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
16432
16433 @itemize @bullet
16434 @item
16435 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
16436 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
16437 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
16438 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
16439 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
16440
16441 @item
16442 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
16443 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
16444 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
16445 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
16446 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
16447 hex characters, not 10.)
16448 @end itemize
16449
16450 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
16451 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
16452 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
16453 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
16454 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
16455 debug information files, in the indicated order:
16456
16457 @itemize @minus
16458 @item
16459 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
16460 @item
16461 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
16462 @item
16463 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
16464 @item
16465 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
16466 @end itemize
16467
16468 You can set the global debugging info directories, and view the
16469 list @value{GDBN} is currently using.
16470
16471 @table @code
16472
16473 @kindex set debug-file-directory
16474 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
16475 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16476 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
16477 concatenating them by a path separator.
16478
16479 @kindex show debug-file-directory
16480 @item show debug-file-directory
16481 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16482 information files.
16483
16484 @end table
16485
16486 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
16487 @cindex debug link sections
16488 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
16489 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
16490
16491 @itemize
16492 @item
16493 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
16494 a zero byte,
16495 @item
16496 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
16497 boundary within the section, and
16498 @item
16499 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
16500 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
16501 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
16502 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
16503 @end itemize
16504
16505 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
16506 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
16507 described above.
16508
16509 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
16510 @cindex build ID sections
16511 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
16512 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
16513 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
16514 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
16515 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
16516 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
16517 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
16518 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
16519 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
16520
16521 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
16522 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
16523 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
16524 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
16525 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
16526 in an ordinary executable.
16527
16528 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
16529 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
16530 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
16531 following commands:
16532
16533 @smallexample
16534 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
16535 @kbd{strip -g foo}
16536 @end smallexample
16537
16538 @noindent
16539 These commands remove the debugging
16540 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
16541 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
16542 two files:
16543
16544 @itemize @bullet
16545 @item
16546 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
16547 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
16548
16549 @smallexample
16550 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
16551 @end smallexample
16552
16553 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
16554 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
16555 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
16556 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
16557
16558 @item
16559 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
16560 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
16561 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
16562 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
16563 @end itemize
16564
16565 @noindent
16566
16567 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
16568 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
16569 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
16570
16571 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16572 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16573 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16574 @c different ways!
16575 @ifhtml
16576 @display
16577 @html
16578 <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>
16579 + <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
16580 @end html
16581 @end display
16582 @end ifhtml
16583 @ifnothtml
16584 @display
16585 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16586 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16587 @end display
16588 @end ifnothtml
16589
16590 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16591 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16592 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16593 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16594 CRC.
16595
16596 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16597 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16598 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16599 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16600 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16601 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16602
16603 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16604 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16605 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
16606 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
16607 @code{0xffffffff}.
16608
16609 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
16610 @smallexample
16611 unsigned long
16612 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
16613 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
16614 @{
16615 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
16616 @{
16617 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
16618 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
16619 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
16620 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
16621 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
16622 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
16623 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
16624 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
16625 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
16626 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
16627 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
16628 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
16629 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
16630 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
16631 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
16632 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
16633 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
16634 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
16635 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
16636 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
16637 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
16638 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
16639 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
16640 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
16641 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
16642 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
16643 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
16644 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
16645 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
16646 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
16647 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
16648 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
16649 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16650 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16651 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16652 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16653 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16654 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16655 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16656 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16657 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16658 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16659 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16660 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16661 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
16662 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
16663 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
16664 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
16665 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
16666 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
16667 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
16668 0x2d02ef8d
16669 @};
16670 unsigned char *end;
16671
16672 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16673 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
16674 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
16675 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16676 @}
16677 @end smallexample
16678
16679 @noindent
16680 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
16681
16682
16683 @node Index Files
16684 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
16685 @cindex index files
16686 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
16687
16688 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
16689 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
16690 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
16691 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
16692 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
16693 startup.
16694
16695 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
16696 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
16697 using @command{objcopy}.
16698
16699 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
16700
16701 @table @code
16702 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
16703 @kindex save gdb-index
16704 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
16705 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
16706 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
16707 @var{directory}.
16708 @end table
16709
16710 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
16711 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
16712
16713 @smallexample
16714 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
16715 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
16716 @end smallexample
16717
16718 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
16719 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
16720 currently work for programs using Ada.
16721
16722 @node Symbol Errors
16723 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
16724
16725 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
16726 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
16727 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
16728 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
16729 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
16730 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
16731 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
16732 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
16733 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
16734 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16735 Messages}).
16736
16737 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
16738
16739 @table @code
16740 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
16741
16742 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
16743 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
16744 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
16745 in its outer scope blocks.
16746
16747 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
16748 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
16749 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
16750 function.
16751
16752 @item block at @var{address} out of order
16753
16754 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
16755 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
16756 do so.
16757
16758 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
16759 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
16760 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
16761 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16762 Messages}.)
16763
16764 @item bad block start address patched
16765
16766 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
16767 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
16768 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
16769
16770 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
16771 starting on the previous source line.
16772
16773 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
16774
16775 @cindex foo
16776 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
16777 larger than the size of the string table.
16778
16779 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
16780 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
16781 with this name.
16782
16783 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
16784
16785 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
16786 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
16787 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
16788
16789 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
16790 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
16791 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
16792 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
16793 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
16794 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
16795
16796 @item stub type has NULL name
16797
16798 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
16799
16800 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
16801 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
16802 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
16803 it.
16804
16805 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
16806
16807 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
16808
16809 @end table
16810
16811 @node Data Files
16812 @section GDB Data Files
16813
16814 @cindex prefix for data files
16815 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
16816 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
16817
16818 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
16819 is currently using.
16820
16821 @table @code
16822 @kindex set data-directory
16823 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
16824 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
16825 to @var{directory}.
16826
16827 @kindex show data-directory
16828 @item show data-directory
16829 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
16830 @end table
16831
16832 @cindex default data directory
16833 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
16834 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
16835 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
16836 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16837 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
16838 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16839 location.
16840
16841 The data directory may also be specified with the
16842 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
16843 @xref{Mode Options}.
16844
16845 @node Targets
16846 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
16847
16848 @cindex debugging target
16849 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
16850
16851 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
16852 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
16853 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
16854 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
16855 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
16856 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
16857 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
16858 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
16859
16860 @cindex target architecture
16861 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
16862 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
16863 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
16864 command.
16865
16866 @table @code
16867 @kindex set architecture
16868 @kindex show architecture
16869 @item set architecture @var{arch}
16870 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
16871 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
16872 supported architectures.
16873
16874 @item show architecture
16875 Show the current target architecture.
16876
16877 @item set processor
16878 @itemx processor
16879 @kindex set processor
16880 @kindex show processor
16881 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
16882 and @code{show architecture}.
16883 @end table
16884
16885 @menu
16886 * Active Targets:: Active targets
16887 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
16888 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
16889 @end menu
16890
16891 @node Active Targets
16892 @section Active Targets
16893
16894 @cindex stacking targets
16895 @cindex active targets
16896 @cindex multiple targets
16897
16898 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
16899 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
16900 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
16901 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
16902 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
16903 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
16904 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
16905 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
16906 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
16907
16908 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
16909 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
16910 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
16911 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
16912
16913 @node Target Commands
16914 @section Commands for Managing Targets
16915
16916 @table @code
16917 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
16918 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
16919 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
16920 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
16921 protocol of the target machine.
16922
16923 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
16924 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
16925 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
16926
16927 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
16928 after executing the command.
16929
16930 @kindex help target
16931 @item help target
16932 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
16933 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
16934 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16935
16936 @item help target @var{name}
16937 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
16938 select it.
16939
16940 @kindex set gnutarget
16941 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
16942 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
16943 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
16944 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
16945 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
16946 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
16947
16948 @quotation
16949 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
16950 you must know the actual BFD name.
16951 @end quotation
16952
16953 @noindent
16954 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
16955
16956 @kindex show gnutarget
16957 @item show gnutarget
16958 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
16959 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
16960 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
16961 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
16962 @end table
16963
16964 @cindex common targets
16965 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
16966 configuration):
16967
16968 @table @code
16969 @kindex target
16970 @item target exec @var{program}
16971 @cindex executable file target
16972 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
16973 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
16974
16975 @item target core @var{filename}
16976 @cindex core dump file target
16977 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
16978 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
16979
16980 @item target remote @var{medium}
16981 @cindex remote target
16982 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
16983 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
16984 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
16985
16986 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
16987 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
16988
16989 @smallexample
16990 target remote /dev/ttya
16991 @end smallexample
16992
16993 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
16994 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
16995 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
16996 clobbered by the download.
16997
16998 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
16999 @cindex built-in simulator target
17000 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17001 In general,
17002 @smallexample
17003 target sim
17004 load
17005 run
17006 @end smallexample
17007 @noindent
17008 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17009 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17010 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17011 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17012 Processors}.
17013
17014 @end table
17015
17016 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
17017
17018 @table @code
17019
17020 @item target nrom @var{dev}
17021 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
17022 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
17023
17024 @end table
17025
17026 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17027 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17028
17029 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17030 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17031 various aspects of this process.
17032
17033 @table @code
17034
17035 @item set hash
17036 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17037 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17038 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17039 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17040 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17041 monitor.
17042
17043 @item show hash
17044 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17045 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17046
17047 @item set debug monitor
17048 @kindex set debug monitor
17049 @cindex display remote monitor communications
17050 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17051 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17052
17053 @item show debug monitor
17054 @kindex show debug monitor
17055 Show the current status of displaying communications between
17056 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17057 @end table
17058
17059 @table @code
17060
17061 @kindex load @var{filename}
17062 @item load @var{filename}
17063 @anchor{load}
17064 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17065 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17066 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17067 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17068 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17069 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17070
17071 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17072 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17073 target is @dots{}}''
17074
17075 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17076 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17077 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17078 specifies a fixed address.
17079 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17080
17081 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17082 load programs into flash memory.
17083
17084 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17085 @end table
17086
17087 @node Byte Order
17088 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
17089
17090 @cindex choosing target byte order
17091 @cindex target byte order
17092
17093 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17094 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17095 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17096 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17097 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17098 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17099
17100 @table @code
17101 @kindex set endian
17102 @item set endian big
17103 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17104
17105 @item set endian little
17106 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17107
17108 @item set endian auto
17109 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17110 executable.
17111
17112 @item show endian
17113 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17114
17115 @end table
17116
17117 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17118 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17119 target system.
17120
17121
17122 @node Remote Debugging
17123 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17124 @cindex remote debugging
17125
17126 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17127 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17128 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17129 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17130 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17131
17132 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17133 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17134 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17135 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17136 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17137 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17138
17139 Other remote targets may be available in your
17140 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17141
17142 @menu
17143 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17144 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17145 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17146 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17147 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17148 @end menu
17149
17150 @node Connecting
17151 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
17152
17153 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
17154 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
17155 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
17156 program as the first argument.
17157
17158 @cindex @code{target remote}
17159 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
17160 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
17161 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
17162 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
17163 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
17164 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
17165
17166 @table @code
17167
17168 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
17169 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
17170 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
17171 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
17172
17173 @smallexample
17174 target remote /dev/ttyb
17175 @end smallexample
17176
17177 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
17178 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
17179 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
17180 @code{target} command.
17181
17182 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
17183 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17184 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
17185 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
17186 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
17187 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
17188 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
17189 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
17190 target.
17191
17192 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
17193 @code{manyfarms}:
17194
17195 @smallexample
17196 target remote manyfarms:2828
17197 @end smallexample
17198
17199 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
17200 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
17201 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
17202 port 1234 on your local machine:
17203
17204 @smallexample
17205 target remote :1234
17206 @end smallexample
17207 @noindent
17208
17209 Note that the colon is still required here.
17210
17211 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17212 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
17213 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
17214 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
17215
17216 @smallexample
17217 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
17218 @end smallexample
17219
17220 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
17221 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
17222 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
17223 cause havoc with your debugging session.
17224
17225 @item target remote | @var{command}
17226 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
17227 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
17228 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
17229 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
17230 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
17231 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
17232 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
17233 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
17234
17235 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
17236 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
17237 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
17238
17239 @end table
17240
17241 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
17242 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
17243 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
17244 need to use @kbd{run}.
17245
17246 @cindex interrupting remote programs
17247 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
17248 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
17249 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
17250 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
17251 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
17252 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
17253
17254 @smallexample
17255 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
17256 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
17257 @end smallexample
17258
17259 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
17260 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
17261 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
17262 goes back to waiting.
17263
17264 @table @code
17265 @kindex detach (remote)
17266 @item detach
17267 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
17268 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
17269 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
17270 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
17271 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
17272
17273 @kindex disconnect
17274 @item disconnect
17275 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
17276 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
17277 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
17278 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
17279 another target.
17280
17281 @cindex send command to remote monitor
17282 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
17283 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
17284 @kindex monitor
17285 @item monitor @var{cmd}
17286 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
17287 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
17288 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
17289 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
17290 and implement.
17291 @end table
17292
17293 @node File Transfer
17294 @section Sending files to a remote system
17295 @cindex remote target, file transfer
17296 @cindex file transfer
17297 @cindex sending files to remote systems
17298
17299 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
17300 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
17301 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
17302 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
17303 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
17304 the only way to upload or download files.
17305
17306 Not all remote targets support these commands.
17307
17308 @table @code
17309 @kindex remote put
17310 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
17311 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
17312 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
17313
17314 @kindex remote get
17315 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
17316 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
17317 on the host system.
17318
17319 @kindex remote delete
17320 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
17321 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
17322
17323 @end table
17324
17325 @node Server
17326 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
17327
17328 @kindex gdbserver
17329 @cindex remote connection without stubs
17330 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
17331 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
17332 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
17333
17334 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
17335 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
17336 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
17337 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
17338 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
17339 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
17340 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
17341 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
17342 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
17343 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
17344 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
17345 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
17346 choice for debugging.
17347
17348 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
17349 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
17350 protocol.
17351
17352 @quotation
17353 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
17354 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
17355 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
17356 target system with the same privileges as the user running
17357 @code{gdbserver}.
17358 @end quotation
17359
17360 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
17361 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
17362 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
17363
17364 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
17365 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
17366 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
17367 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
17368 system does all the symbol handling.
17369
17370 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
17371 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
17372 syntax is:
17373
17374 @smallexample
17375 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
17376 @end smallexample
17377
17378 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
17379 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
17380 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
17381 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
17382 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
17383 @file{/dev/com1}:
17384
17385 @smallexample
17386 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
17387 @end smallexample
17388
17389 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
17390 with it.
17391
17392 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
17393
17394 @smallexample
17395 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
17396 @end smallexample
17397
17398 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
17399 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
17400 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
17401 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
17402 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
17403 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
17404 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
17405 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
17406 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
17407 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
17408 @code{target remote} command.
17409
17410 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
17411 with ssh:
17412
17413 @smallexample
17414 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
17415 @end smallexample
17416
17417 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
17418 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
17419 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
17420 You could elide it if you want to.
17421
17422 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
17423 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
17424 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
17425 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
17426
17427 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
17428 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
17429 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
17430
17431 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
17432 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
17433
17434 @smallexample
17435 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
17436 @end smallexample
17437
17438 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
17439 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
17440
17441 @pindex pidof
17442 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
17443 @code{pidof} utility:
17444
17445 @smallexample
17446 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
17447 @end smallexample
17448
17449 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
17450 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
17451 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
17452
17453 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
17454 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
17455 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
17456
17457 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
17458 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
17459 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
17460 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
17461
17462 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
17463 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
17464 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
17465 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
17466 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
17467 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
17468 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
17469 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
17470 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
17471
17472 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
17473 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
17474 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
17475 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
17476 the program you want to debug.
17477
17478 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
17479 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
17480 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
17481 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
17482 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
17483 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
17484
17485 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
17486
17487 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
17488
17489 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
17490 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
17491 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
17492 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
17493 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
17494 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
17495 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
17496 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
17497
17498 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
17499 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
17500 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
17501
17502 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
17503 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
17504 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
17505 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
17506 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
17507 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
17508 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
17509 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
17510 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
17511 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
17512 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
17513 instance closes its port after the first connection.
17514
17515 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
17516
17517 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17518 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
17519 status information about the debugging process.
17520 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17521 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
17522 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
17523 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
17524
17525 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
17526 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
17527 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
17528 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
17529 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
17530
17531 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
17532 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
17533 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
17534 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
17535
17536 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
17537 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
17538 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
17539 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
17540
17541 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
17542 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
17543 environment:
17544
17545 @smallexample
17546 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
17547 @end smallexample
17548
17549 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
17550
17551 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
17552
17553 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
17554 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
17555 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
17556 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
17557
17558 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
17559 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
17560 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
17561 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
17562 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
17563 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
17564 programs.
17565
17566 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17567 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
17568 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
17569 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
17570 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
17571 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
17572 already on the target.
17573
17574 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
17575 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
17576 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
17577
17578 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
17579 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
17580 Here are the available commands.
17581
17582 @table @code
17583 @item monitor help
17584 List the available monitor commands.
17585
17586 @item monitor set debug 0
17587 @itemx monitor set debug 1
17588 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
17589
17590 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
17591 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
17592 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
17593 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
17594
17595 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
17596 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
17597 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17598 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
17599 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
17600 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
17601
17602 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
17603 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
17604
17605 @item monitor exit
17606 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
17607 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
17608 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
17609 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
17610 of a multi-process mode debug session.
17611
17612 @end table
17613
17614 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17615 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17616
17617 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
17618 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
17619
17620 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
17621 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
17622 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
17623 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
17624 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
17625 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
17626 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
17627 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
17628 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
17629 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
17630 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
17631 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
17632
17633 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
17634
17635 @table @code
17636 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
17637
17638 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
17639 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
17640 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
17641
17642 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
17643
17644 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
17645 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
17646 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
17647 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
17648 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
17649 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
17650
17651 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
17652
17653 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
17654 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
17655 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
17656 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
17657 command for that. For example:
17658
17659 @smallexample
17660 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
17661 @end smallexample
17662
17663 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
17664 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
17665 @end table
17666
17667 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
17668 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
17669 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
17670 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
17671 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
17672 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
17673 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
17674 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
17675 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
17676 @code{gdbserver} like so:
17677
17678 @smallexample
17679 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
17680 @end smallexample
17681
17682 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
17683
17684 @smallexample
17685 $ gdb myprogram
17686 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
17687 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
17688 (@value{GDBP}) b main
17689 (@value{GDBP}) continue
17690 @end smallexample
17691
17692 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
17693 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
17694 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
17695 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
17696 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
17697 tracing.
17698
17699 @node Remote Configuration
17700 @section Remote Configuration
17701
17702 @kindex set remote
17703 @kindex show remote
17704 This section documents the configuration options available when
17705 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
17706 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
17707 system-call-allowed}.
17708
17709 @table @code
17710 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
17711 @cindex address size for remote targets
17712 @cindex bits in remote address
17713 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
17714 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
17715 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
17716 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
17717
17718 @item show remoteaddresssize
17719 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
17720
17721 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
17722 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
17723 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
17724 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
17725 remote targets.
17726
17727 @item show remotebaud
17728 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
17729
17730 @item set remotebreak
17731 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17732 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
17733 @anchor{set remotebreak}
17734 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
17735 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
17736 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
17737 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
17738 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
17739
17740 @item show remotebreak
17741 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
17742 interrupt the remote program.
17743
17744 @item set remoteflow on
17745 @itemx set remoteflow off
17746 @kindex set remoteflow
17747 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
17748 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
17749
17750 @item show remoteflow
17751 @kindex show remoteflow
17752 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
17753
17754 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
17755 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
17756 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
17757 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
17758 @code{ascii}.
17759
17760 @item show remotelogbase
17761 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
17762 protocol.
17763
17764 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
17765 @cindex record serial communications on file
17766 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
17767 default is not to record at all.
17768
17769 @item show remotelogfile.
17770 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
17771 serial communications.
17772
17773 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
17774 @cindex timeout for serial communications
17775 @cindex remote timeout
17776 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
17777 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
17778
17779 @item show remotetimeout
17780 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
17781 responses.
17782
17783 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
17784 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
17785 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
17786 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
17787 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
17788 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
17789 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
17790 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
17791
17792 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
17793 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
17794 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
17795 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
17796 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
17797 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
17798 as unlimited.
17799
17800 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
17801 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
17802 a remote hardware watchpoint.
17803
17804 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
17805 @itemx show remote exec-file
17806 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
17807 @cindex executable file, for remote target
17808 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
17809 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
17810 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
17811 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
17812
17813 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
17814 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17815 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
17816 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
17817 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
17818 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
17819 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
17820 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
17821 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
17822 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
17823
17824 @item show interrupt-sequence
17825 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
17826 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
17827 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
17828 also known as Magic SysRq g.
17829
17830 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
17831 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
17832 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
17833 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
17834 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
17835 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
17836
17837 @item show interrupt-on-connect
17838 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
17839 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
17840
17841 @kindex set tcp
17842 @kindex show tcp
17843 @item set tcp auto-retry on
17844 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
17845 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
17846 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
17847 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
17848 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
17849 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
17850 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
17851 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
17852
17853 @item set tcp auto-retry off
17854 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
17855
17856 @item show tcp auto-retry
17857 Show the current auto-retry setting.
17858
17859 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
17860 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
17861 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
17862 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
17863 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
17864 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
17865 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
17866 value.
17867
17868 @item show tcp connect-timeout
17869 Show the current connection timeout setting.
17870 @end table
17871
17872 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
17873 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
17874 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
17875 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
17876 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
17877 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
17878 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
17879 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
17880 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
17881
17882 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
17883 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
17884 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
17885 @value{GDBN} developers.
17886
17887 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
17888 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
17889 are:
17890
17891 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
17892 @item Command Name
17893 @tab Remote Packet
17894 @tab Related Features
17895
17896 @item @code{fetch-register}
17897 @tab @code{p}
17898 @tab @code{info registers}
17899
17900 @item @code{set-register}
17901 @tab @code{P}
17902 @tab @code{set}
17903
17904 @item @code{binary-download}
17905 @tab @code{X}
17906 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
17907
17908 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
17909 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
17910 @tab @code{info auxv}
17911
17912 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
17913 @tab @code{qSymbol}
17914 @tab Detecting multiple threads
17915
17916 @item @code{attach}
17917 @tab @code{vAttach}
17918 @tab @code{attach}
17919
17920 @item @code{verbose-resume}
17921 @tab @code{vCont}
17922 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
17923
17924 @item @code{run}
17925 @tab @code{vRun}
17926 @tab @code{run}
17927
17928 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
17929 @tab @code{Z0}
17930 @tab @code{break}
17931
17932 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
17933 @tab @code{Z1}
17934 @tab @code{hbreak}
17935
17936 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
17937 @tab @code{Z2}
17938 @tab @code{watch}
17939
17940 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
17941 @tab @code{Z3}
17942 @tab @code{rwatch}
17943
17944 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
17945 @tab @code{Z4}
17946 @tab @code{awatch}
17947
17948 @item @code{target-features}
17949 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
17950 @tab @code{set architecture}
17951
17952 @item @code{library-info}
17953 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
17954 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
17955
17956 @item @code{memory-map}
17957 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
17958 @tab @code{info mem}
17959
17960 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
17961 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
17962 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
17963
17964 @item @code{read-spu-object}
17965 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
17966 @tab @code{info spu}
17967
17968 @item @code{write-spu-object}
17969 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
17970 @tab @code{info spu}
17971
17972 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
17973 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
17974 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
17975
17976 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
17977 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
17978 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
17979
17980 @item @code{threads}
17981 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
17982 @tab @code{info threads}
17983
17984 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
17985 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
17986 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
17987
17988 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
17989 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
17990 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
17991
17992 @item @code{search-memory}
17993 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
17994 @tab @code{find}
17995
17996 @item @code{supported-packets}
17997 @tab @code{qSupported}
17998 @tab Remote communications parameters
17999
18000 @item @code{pass-signals}
18001 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18002 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18003
18004 @item @code{program-signals}
18005 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18006 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18007
18008 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18009 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18010 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18011
18012 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18013 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18014 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18015
18016 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18017 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18018 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18019
18020 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18021 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18022 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18023
18024 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18025 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18026 @tab @code{remote delete}
18027
18028 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18029 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18030 @tab Host I/O
18031
18032 @item @code{noack-packet}
18033 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18034 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18035
18036 @item @code{osdata}
18037 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18038 @tab @code{info os}
18039
18040 @item @code{query-attached}
18041 @tab @code{qAttached}
18042 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
18043
18044 @item @code{traceframe-info}
18045 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18046 @tab Traceframe info
18047
18048 @item @code{install-in-trace}
18049 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18050 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18051
18052 @item @code{disable-randomization}
18053 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18054 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18055
18056 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18057 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18058 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18059 @end multitable
18060
18061 @node Remote Stub
18062 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
18063
18064 @cindex debugging stub, example
18065 @cindex remote stub, example
18066 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
18067 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18068 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18069 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18070 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18071 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18072 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18073 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18074
18075 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18076 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18077 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18078 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18079 program, you need:
18080
18081 @enumerate
18082 @item
18083 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18084 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18085 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18086
18087 @item
18088 A C subroutine library to support your program's
18089 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18090
18091 @item
18092 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18093 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18094 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18095 documentation.
18096 @end enumerate
18097
18098 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18099 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18100 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18101
18102 @table @emph
18103 @item On the host,
18104 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18105 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18106 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18107
18108 @item On the target,
18109 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18110 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18111 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18112
18113 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18114 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18115 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18116 @end table
18117
18118 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18119 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18120 @sc{sparc} boards.
18121
18122 @cindex remote serial stub list
18123 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18124
18125 @table @code
18126
18127 @item i386-stub.c
18128 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18129 @cindex Intel
18130 @cindex i386
18131 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18132
18133 @item m68k-stub.c
18134 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18135 @cindex Motorola 680x0
18136 @cindex m680x0
18137 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18138
18139 @item sh-stub.c
18140 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
18141 @cindex Renesas
18142 @cindex SH
18143 For Renesas SH architectures.
18144
18145 @item sparc-stub.c
18146 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
18147 @cindex Sparc
18148 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
18149
18150 @item sparcl-stub.c
18151 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
18152 @cindex Fujitsu
18153 @cindex SparcLite
18154 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
18155
18156 @end table
18157
18158 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
18159 recently added stubs.
18160
18161 @menu
18162 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
18163 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
18164 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
18165 @end menu
18166
18167 @node Stub Contents
18168 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
18169
18170 @cindex remote serial stub
18171 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
18172 subroutines:
18173
18174 @table @code
18175 @item set_debug_traps
18176 @findex set_debug_traps
18177 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
18178 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
18179 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
18180 program's startup code.
18181
18182 @item handle_exception
18183 @findex handle_exception
18184 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
18185 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
18186 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
18187 run when a trap is triggered.
18188
18189 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
18190 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
18191 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
18192 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
18193 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
18194 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
18195 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
18196 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
18197 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
18198 machine.
18199
18200 @item breakpoint
18201 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
18202 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
18203 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
18204 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
18205 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
18206 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
18207 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
18208 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
18209 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
18210 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
18211 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
18212
18213 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
18214 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
18215 start of your debugging session.
18216 @end table
18217
18218 @node Bootstrapping
18219 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
18220
18221 @cindex remote stub, support routines
18222 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
18223 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
18224 debugging target machine.
18225
18226 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
18227 serial port.
18228
18229 @table @code
18230 @item int getDebugChar()
18231 @findex getDebugChar
18232 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
18233 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
18234 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18235
18236 @item void putDebugChar(int)
18237 @findex putDebugChar
18238 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
18239 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
18240 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18241 @end table
18242
18243 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
18244 @cindex interrupting remote targets
18245 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
18246 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
18247 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
18248 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
18249 remote system to stop.
18250
18251 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
18252 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
18253 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
18254 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
18255
18256 Other routines you need to supply are:
18257
18258 @table @code
18259 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
18260 @findex exceptionHandler
18261 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
18262 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
18263 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
18264 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
18265 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
18266 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
18267 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
18268 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
18269 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
18270 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
18271 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
18272 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
18273 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
18274
18275 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
18276 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
18277 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
18278 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
18279 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
18280
18281 @item void flush_i_cache()
18282 @findex flush_i_cache
18283 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
18284 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
18285 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
18286
18287 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
18288 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
18289 @end table
18290
18291 @noindent
18292 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
18293
18294 @table @code
18295 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
18296 @findex memset
18297 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
18298 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
18299 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
18300 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
18301 @end table
18302
18303 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
18304 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
18305 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
18306 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
18307
18308
18309 @node Debug Session
18310 @subsection Putting it All Together
18311
18312 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
18313 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
18314 steps.
18315
18316 @enumerate
18317 @item
18318 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
18319 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
18320 @display
18321 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
18322 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
18323 @end display
18324
18325 @item
18326 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
18327 procedure is called:
18328
18329 @smallexample
18330 set_debug_traps();
18331 breakpoint();
18332 @end smallexample
18333
18334 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
18335 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
18336 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
18337 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
18338 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
18339 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
18340 progress.
18341
18342 @item
18343 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
18344 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
18345
18346 @smallexample
18347 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
18348 @end smallexample
18349
18350 @noindent
18351 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
18352 function in your program, that function is called when
18353 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
18354 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
18355 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
18356
18357 @item
18358 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
18359 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
18360
18361 @item
18362 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
18363 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
18364
18365 @item
18366 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
18367 @c document that. FIXME.
18368 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
18369 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
18370
18371 @item
18372 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
18373 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18374
18375 @end enumerate
18376
18377 @node Configurations
18378 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
18379
18380 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
18381 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
18382 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
18383
18384 There are three major categories of configurations: native
18385 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
18386 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
18387 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
18388 are quite different from each other.
18389
18390 @menu
18391 * Native::
18392 * Embedded OS::
18393 * Embedded Processors::
18394 * Architectures::
18395 @end menu
18396
18397 @node Native
18398 @section Native
18399
18400 This section describes details specific to particular native
18401 configurations.
18402
18403 @menu
18404 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
18405 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
18406 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
18407 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
18408 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
18409 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
18410 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
18411 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
18412 @end menu
18413
18414 @node HP-UX
18415 @subsection HP-UX
18416
18417 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
18418 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
18419 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
18420
18421
18422 @node BSD libkvm Interface
18423 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
18424
18425 @cindex libkvm
18426 @cindex kernel memory image
18427 @cindex kernel crash dump
18428
18429 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
18430 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
18431 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
18432 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
18433 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
18434 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
18435 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
18436 @code{kvm} target:
18437
18438 @smallexample
18439 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
18440 @end smallexample
18441
18442 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
18443 argument:
18444
18445 @smallexample
18446 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
18447 @end smallexample
18448
18449 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
18450 available:
18451
18452 @table @code
18453 @kindex kvm
18454 @item kvm pcb
18455 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
18456
18457 @item kvm proc
18458 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
18459 modern FreeBSD systems.
18460 @end table
18461
18462 @node SVR4 Process Information
18463 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
18464 @cindex /proc
18465 @cindex examine process image
18466 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
18467
18468 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
18469 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
18470 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
18471 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
18472 proc} is available to report information about the process running
18473 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
18474 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
18475 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
18476 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
18477
18478 @table @code
18479 @kindex info proc
18480 @cindex process ID
18481 @item info proc
18482 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
18483 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
18484 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
18485 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
18486 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
18487 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
18488 executable file's absolute file name.
18489
18490 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
18491 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
18492 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
18493 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
18494 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
18495 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
18496
18497 @item info proc mappings
18498 @cindex memory address space mappings
18499 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
18500 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
18501 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
18502 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
18503 memory access rights to that range.
18504
18505 @item info proc stat
18506 @itemx info proc status
18507 @cindex process detailed status information
18508 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
18509 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
18510 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
18511 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
18512 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
18513 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
18514 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
18515
18516 @item info proc all
18517 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
18518 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
18519
18520 @ignore
18521 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
18522 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
18523 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
18524 @kindex info proc times
18525 @item info proc times
18526 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
18527 its children.
18528
18529 @kindex info proc id
18530 @item info proc id
18531 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
18532 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
18533 @end ignore
18534
18535 @item set procfs-trace
18536 @kindex set procfs-trace
18537 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
18538 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
18539
18540 @item show procfs-trace
18541 @kindex show procfs-trace
18542 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
18543
18544 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
18545 @kindex set procfs-file
18546 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
18547 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
18548 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
18549 standard output.
18550
18551 @item show procfs-file
18552 @kindex show procfs-file
18553 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
18554
18555 @item proc-trace-entry
18556 @itemx proc-trace-exit
18557 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
18558 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
18559 @kindex proc-trace-entry
18560 @kindex proc-trace-exit
18561 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
18562 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
18563 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
18564 from the @code{syscall} interface.
18565
18566 @item info pidlist
18567 @kindex info pidlist
18568 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
18569 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
18570 processes and all the threads within each process.
18571
18572 @item info meminfo
18573 @kindex info meminfo
18574 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
18575 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
18576 @end table
18577
18578 @node DJGPP Native
18579 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
18580 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
18581 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
18582 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
18583
18584 @cindex DPMI
18585 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
18586 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
18587 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
18588 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
18589
18590 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
18591 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
18592 subsection describes those commands.
18593
18594 @table @code
18595 @kindex info dos
18596 @item info dos
18597 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
18598 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18599
18600 @kindex sysinfo
18601 @cindex MS-DOS system info
18602 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
18603 @item info dos sysinfo
18604 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
18605 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
18606 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
18607
18608 @cindex GDT
18609 @cindex LDT
18610 @cindex IDT
18611 @cindex segment descriptor tables
18612 @cindex descriptor tables display
18613 @item info dos gdt
18614 @itemx info dos ldt
18615 @itemx info dos idt
18616 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
18617 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
18618 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
18619 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
18620 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
18621 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
18622 rights.
18623
18624 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
18625 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
18626 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
18627 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
18628 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
18629
18630 @cindex garbled pointers
18631 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
18632 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
18633 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
18634 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
18635 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
18636 debugged program's data segment:
18637
18638 @smallexample
18639 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
18640 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
18641 @end smallexample
18642
18643 @noindent
18644 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
18645 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
18646
18647 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
18648 @item info dos pde
18649 @itemx info dos pte
18650 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
18651 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
18652 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
18653 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
18654 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
18655 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
18656 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
18657 that is currently in use.
18658
18659 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
18660 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
18661 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
18662 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
18663 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
18664 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
18665 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
18666
18667 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
18668 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
18669 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
18670 controller.
18671
18672 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
18673
18674 @cindex physical address from linear address
18675 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
18676 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
18677 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
18678 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
18679 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
18680 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
18681 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
18682
18683 @smallexample
18684 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
18685 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
18686 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
18687 @end smallexample
18688
18689 @noindent
18690 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
18691 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
18692 attributes of that page.
18693
18694 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
18695 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
18696 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
18697 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
18698 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
18699 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
18700
18701 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
18702 transfer buffer:
18703
18704 @smallexample
18705 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
18706 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
18707 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
18708 @end smallexample
18709
18710 @noindent
18711 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
18712 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
18713 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
18714 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
18715 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
18716
18717 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
18718 @end table
18719
18720 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
18721 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
18722 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
18723 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
18724
18725 @table @code
18726 @kindex set com1base
18727 @kindex set com1irq
18728 @kindex set com2base
18729 @kindex set com2irq
18730 @kindex set com3base
18731 @kindex set com3irq
18732 @kindex set com4base
18733 @kindex set com4irq
18734 @item set com1base @var{addr}
18735 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
18736 port.
18737
18738 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
18739 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
18740 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
18741
18742 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
18743 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
18744 other 3 COM ports.
18745
18746 @kindex show com1base
18747 @kindex show com1irq
18748 @kindex show com2base
18749 @kindex show com2irq
18750 @kindex show com3base
18751 @kindex show com3irq
18752 @kindex show com4base
18753 @kindex show com4irq
18754 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
18755 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
18756 lines used by the COM ports.
18757
18758 @item info serial
18759 @kindex info serial
18760 @cindex DOS serial port status
18761 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
18762 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
18763 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
18764 counts of various errors encountered so far.
18765 @end table
18766
18767
18768 @node Cygwin Native
18769 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
18770 @cindex MS Windows debugging
18771 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
18772 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
18773
18774 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
18775 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
18776
18777 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
18778 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
18779 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
18780 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
18781 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
18782 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
18783 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
18784 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
18785
18786 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
18787 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
18788 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
18789
18790 @table @code
18791 @kindex info w32
18792 @item info w32
18793 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
18794 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18795
18796 @item info w32 selector
18797 This command displays information returned by
18798 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
18799 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
18800 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
18801 Without argument, this command displays information
18802 about the six segment registers.
18803
18804 @item info w32 thread-information-block
18805 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
18806 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
18807 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
18808
18809 @kindex info dll
18810 @item info dll
18811 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
18812
18813 @kindex dll-symbols
18814 @item dll-symbols
18815 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
18816 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
18817
18818 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
18819 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
18820 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
18821 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
18822 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
18823 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
18824 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
18825 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
18826 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
18827 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
18828 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
18829
18830 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
18831 @item show cygwin-exceptions
18832 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
18833 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
18834
18835 @kindex set new-console
18836 @item set new-console @var{mode}
18837 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
18838 be started in a new console on next start.
18839 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
18840 be started in the same console as the debugger.
18841
18842 @kindex show new-console
18843 @item show new-console
18844 Displays whether a new console is used
18845 when the debuggee is started.
18846
18847 @kindex set new-group
18848 @item set new-group @var{mode}
18849 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
18850 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
18851 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
18852 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
18853
18854 @kindex show new-group
18855 @item show new-group
18856 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
18857
18858 @kindex set debugevents
18859 @item set debugevents
18860 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
18861 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
18862 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
18863 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
18864 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
18865
18866 @kindex set debugexec
18867 @item set debugexec
18868 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
18869 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
18870
18871 @kindex set debugexceptions
18872 @item set debugexceptions
18873 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
18874 debuggee seen by the debugger.
18875
18876 @kindex set debugmemory
18877 @item set debugmemory
18878 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
18879 and writes by the debugger.
18880
18881 @kindex set shell
18882 @item set shell
18883 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
18884 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
18885
18886 @kindex show shell
18887 @item show shell
18888 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
18889
18890 @end table
18891
18892 @menu
18893 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
18894 @end menu
18895
18896 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
18897 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
18898 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
18899 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
18900
18901 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
18902 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
18903 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
18904 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
18905 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
18906 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
18907 ``minimal symbols''.
18908
18909 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
18910 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
18911 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
18912 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
18913 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
18914 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
18915 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
18916 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
18917 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
18918 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
18919
18920 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
18921
18922 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
18923 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
18924 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
18925 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
18926 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
18927 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
18928 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
18929 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
18930 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
18931
18932 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
18933 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
18934 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
18935 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
18936 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
18937 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
18938
18939 @smallexample
18940 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
18941 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
18942
18943 Non-debugging symbols:
18944 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
18945 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
18946 @end smallexample
18947
18948 @smallexample
18949 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
18950 All functions matching regular expression "!":
18951
18952 Non-debugging symbols:
18953 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
18954 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
18955 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
18956 [etc...]
18957 @end smallexample
18958
18959 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
18960
18961 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
18962 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
18963 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
18964 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
18965 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
18966 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
18967 a function within a DLL without a running program.
18968
18969 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
18970 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
18971 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
18972 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
18973 problem:
18974
18975 @smallexample
18976 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
18977 $1 = 268572168
18978 @end smallexample
18979
18980 @smallexample
18981 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
18982 0x10021610: "\230y\""
18983 @end smallexample
18984
18985 And two possible solutions:
18986
18987 @smallexample
18988 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
18989 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18990 @end smallexample
18991
18992 @smallexample
18993 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
18994 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
18995 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
18996 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
18997 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
18998 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18999 @end smallexample
19000
19001 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19002 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19003 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19004 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19005 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19006
19007 @smallexample
19008 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19009 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19010 @end smallexample
19011
19012 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19013 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19014 safe.
19015
19016 @node Hurd Native
19017 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19018 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19019
19020 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19021 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19022
19023 @table @code
19024 @item set signals
19025 @itemx set sigs
19026 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19027 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19028 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19029 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19030 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19031 @code{signals}.
19032
19033 @item show signals
19034 @itemx show sigs
19035 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19036 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19037 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19038
19039 @item set signal-thread
19040 @itemx set sigthread
19041 @kindex set signal-thread
19042 @kindex set sigthread
19043 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19044 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19045 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19046 signal-thread}.
19047
19048 @item show signal-thread
19049 @itemx show sigthread
19050 @kindex show signal-thread
19051 @kindex show sigthread
19052 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19053 delivered a signal.
19054
19055 @item set stopped
19056 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19057 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19058 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19059 continued by delivering a signal to it.
19060
19061 @item show stopped
19062 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19063 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19064 stopped.
19065
19066 @item set exceptions
19067 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19068 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19069 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19070 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19071 trapping on.
19072
19073 @item show exceptions
19074 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19075 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19076
19077 @item set task pause
19078 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19079 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19080 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19081 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19082 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19083 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19084 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19085 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19086 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19087
19088 @item show task pause
19089 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19090 Show the current state of task suspension.
19091
19092 @item set task detach-suspend-count
19093 @cindex task suspend count
19094 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19095 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
19096 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
19097
19098 @item show task detach-suspend-count
19099 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
19100
19101 @item set task exception-port
19102 @itemx set task excp
19103 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19104 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19105 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19106 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19107
19108 @item set noninvasive
19109 @cindex noninvasive task options
19110 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19111 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19112 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19113 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19114
19115 @item info send-rights
19116 @itemx info receive-rights
19117 @itemx info port-rights
19118 @itemx info port-sets
19119 @itemx info dead-names
19120 @itemx info ports
19121 @itemx info psets
19122 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19123 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19124 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19125 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19126 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19127 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
19128 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
19129 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
19130 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
19131
19132 @item set thread pause
19133 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
19134 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19135 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19136 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
19137 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
19138 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
19139 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
19140 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
19141 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
19142 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
19143 only the current thread.
19144
19145 @item show thread pause
19146 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
19147 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
19148
19149 @item set thread run
19150 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19151
19152 @item show thread run
19153 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19154
19155 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
19156 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19157 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19158 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
19159 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
19160 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
19161 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
19162
19163 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
19164 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
19165 detaching.
19166
19167 @item set thread exception-port
19168 @itemx set thread excp
19169 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
19170 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
19171 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
19172
19173 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
19174 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
19175 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
19176 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
19177
19178 @item set thread default
19179 @itemx show thread default
19180 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19181 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
19182 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
19183 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
19184 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
19185 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
19186 the non-default commands.
19187 @end table
19188
19189
19190 @node Neutrino
19191 @subsection QNX Neutrino
19192 @cindex QNX Neutrino
19193
19194 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
19195 Neutrino target:
19196
19197 @table @code
19198 @item set debug nto-debug
19199 @kindex set debug nto-debug
19200 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
19201 Neutrino support.
19202
19203 @item show debug nto-debug
19204 @kindex show debug nto-debug
19205 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
19206 @end table
19207
19208 @node Darwin
19209 @subsection Darwin
19210 @cindex Darwin
19211
19212 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
19213
19214 @table @code
19215 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
19216 @kindex set debug darwin
19217 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
19218 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
19219
19220 @item show debug darwin
19221 @kindex show debug darwin
19222 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
19223
19224 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
19225 @kindex set debug mach-o
19226 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
19227 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
19228 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
19229 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
19230 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
19231 usage.
19232
19233 @item show debug mach-o
19234 @kindex show debug mach-o
19235 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
19236
19237 @item set mach-exceptions on
19238 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
19239 @kindex set mach-exceptions
19240 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
19241 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
19242 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
19243 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
19244
19245 @item show mach-exceptions
19246 @kindex show mach-exceptions
19247 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
19248 @end table
19249
19250
19251 @node Embedded OS
19252 @section Embedded Operating Systems
19253
19254 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
19255 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
19256 architectures.
19257
19258 @menu
19259 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19260 @end menu
19261
19262 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
19263 various real-time operating systems.
19264
19265 @node VxWorks
19266 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19267
19268 @cindex VxWorks
19269
19270 @table @code
19271
19272 @kindex target vxworks
19273 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
19274 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
19275 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
19276
19277 @end table
19278
19279 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
19280 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
19281
19282 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
19283 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
19284 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19285 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
19286 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
19287 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
19288 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
19289
19290 @table @code
19291 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
19292 @kindex vxworks-timeout
19293 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
19294 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19295 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
19296 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
19297 of a thin network line.
19298 @end table
19299
19300 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
19301 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
19302 procedures.
19303
19304 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
19305 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
19306 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
19307 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
19308 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
19309 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
19310 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
19311 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
19312 manual.
19313 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
19314
19315 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
19316 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19317 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
19318 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
19319
19320 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19321
19322 @smallexample
19323 (vxgdb)
19324 @end smallexample
19325
19326 @menu
19327 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
19328 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
19329 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
19330 @end menu
19331
19332 @node VxWorks Connection
19333 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
19334
19335 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
19336 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
19337
19338 @smallexample
19339 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
19340 @end smallexample
19341
19342 @need 750
19343 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19344
19345 @smallexample
19346 Attaching remote machine across net...
19347 Connected to tt.
19348 @end smallexample
19349
19350 @need 1000
19351 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
19352 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
19353 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
19354 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
19355 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
19356
19357 @smallexample
19358 prog.o: No such file or directory.
19359 @end smallexample
19360
19361 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
19362 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
19363 command again.
19364
19365 @node VxWorks Download
19366 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
19367
19368 @cindex download to VxWorks
19369 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
19370 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
19371 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
19372 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
19373 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
19374 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
19375 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
19376 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
19377 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
19378 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
19379 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
19380 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
19381 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
19382 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
19383 program, type this on VxWorks:
19384
19385 @smallexample
19386 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
19387 @end smallexample
19388
19389 @noindent
19390 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19391
19392 @smallexample
19393 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
19394 (vxgdb) load prog.o
19395 @end smallexample
19396
19397 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
19398
19399 @smallexample
19400 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
19401 @end smallexample
19402
19403 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
19404 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
19405 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
19406 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
19407 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
19408 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
19409 table.)
19410
19411 @node VxWorks Attach
19412 @subsubsection Running Tasks
19413
19414 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
19415 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
19416 follows:
19417
19418 @smallexample
19419 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
19420 @end smallexample
19421
19422 @noindent
19423 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
19424 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
19425 the time of attachment.
19426
19427 @node Embedded Processors
19428 @section Embedded Processors
19429
19430 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
19431 configurations.
19432
19433 @cindex send command to simulator
19434 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
19435 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
19436
19437 @table @code
19438 @item sim @var{command}
19439 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
19440 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
19441 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
19442 acceptable commands.
19443 @end table
19444
19445
19446 @menu
19447 * ARM:: ARM RDI
19448 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
19449 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
19450 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
19451 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
19452 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
19453 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
19454 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
19455 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
19456 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
19457 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
19458 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
19459 * CRIS:: CRIS
19460 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
19461 @end menu
19462
19463 @node ARM
19464 @subsection ARM
19465 @cindex ARM RDI
19466
19467 @table @code
19468 @kindex target rdi
19469 @item target rdi @var{dev}
19470 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
19471 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
19472 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
19473
19474 @kindex target rdp
19475 @item target rdp @var{dev}
19476 ARM Demon monitor.
19477
19478 @end table
19479
19480 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
19481
19482 @table @code
19483 @item set arm disassembler
19484 @kindex set arm
19485 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
19486 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
19487
19488 @item show arm disassembler
19489 @kindex show arm
19490 Show the current disassembly style.
19491
19492 @item set arm apcs32
19493 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
19494 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
19495
19496 @item show arm apcs32
19497 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
19498
19499 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
19500 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
19501 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
19502
19503 @table @code
19504 @item auto
19505 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
19506 @item softfpa
19507 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
19508 processors.
19509 @item fpa
19510 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
19511 @item softvfp
19512 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
19513 @item vfp
19514 VFP co-processor.
19515 @end table
19516
19517 @item show arm fpu
19518 Show the current type of the FPU.
19519
19520 @item set arm abi
19521 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
19522
19523 @item show arm abi
19524 Show the currently used ABI.
19525
19526 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19527 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
19528 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
19529 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
19530 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
19531 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
19532 register).
19533
19534 @item show arm fallback-mode
19535 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
19536
19537 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19538 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
19539 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
19540 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
19541 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
19542
19543 @item show arm force-mode
19544 Show the current forced instruction mode.
19545
19546 @item set debug arm
19547 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
19548 target support subsystem.
19549
19550 @item show debug arm
19551 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
19552 @end table
19553
19554 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
19555 using the RDI interface:
19556
19557 @table @code
19558 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19559 @kindex rdilogfile
19560 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
19561 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
19562 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
19563 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
19564 @file{rdi.log}.
19565
19566 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
19567 @kindex rdilogenable
19568 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
19569 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
19570 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
19571 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
19572 are logged to a file.
19573
19574 @item set rdiromatzero
19575 @kindex set rdiromatzero
19576 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
19577 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
19578 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
19579 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
19580 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
19581
19582 @item show rdiromatzero
19583 @kindex show rdiromatzero
19584 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
19585
19586 @item set rdiheartbeat
19587 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
19588 @cindex RDI heartbeat
19589 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
19590 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
19591 well as the Angel monitor.
19592
19593 @item show rdiheartbeat
19594 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
19595 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
19596 @end table
19597
19598 @table @code
19599 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19600 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
19601
19602 @table @code
19603 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
19604 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
19605 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
19606 The default value is @code{all}.
19607
19608 @table @code
19609 @item none
19610 @item demon
19611 @item angel
19612 @item redboot
19613 @item all
19614 @end table
19615 @end table
19616 @end table
19617
19618 @node M32R/D
19619 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
19620
19621 @table @code
19622 @kindex target m32r
19623 @item target m32r @var{dev}
19624 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
19625
19626 @kindex target m32rsdi
19627 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
19628 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
19629 @end table
19630
19631 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
19632
19633 @table @code
19634 @item set download-path @var{path}
19635 @kindex set download-path
19636 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
19637 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19638
19639 @item show download-path
19640 @kindex show download-path
19641 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19642
19643 @item set board-address @var{addr}
19644 @kindex set board-address
19645 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
19646 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
19647
19648 @item show board-address
19649 @kindex show board-address
19650 Show the current IP address of the target board.
19651
19652 @item set server-address @var{addr}
19653 @kindex set server-address
19654 @cindex download server address (M32R)
19655 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
19656 host machine.
19657
19658 @item show server-address
19659 @kindex show server-address
19660 Display the IP address of the download server.
19661
19662 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19663 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
19664 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
19665 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
19666 executable file is uploaded.
19667
19668 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19669 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
19670 Test the @code{upload} command.
19671 @end table
19672
19673 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
19674
19675 @table @code
19676 @item sdireset
19677 @kindex sdireset
19678 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
19679 This command resets the SDI connection.
19680
19681 @item sdistatus
19682 @kindex sdistatus
19683 This command shows the SDI connection status.
19684
19685 @item debug_chaos
19686 @kindex debug_chaos
19687 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
19688 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
19689
19690 @item use_debug_dma
19691 @kindex use_debug_dma
19692 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
19693
19694 @item use_mon_code
19695 @kindex use_mon_code
19696 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
19697
19698 @item use_ib_break
19699 @kindex use_ib_break
19700 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
19701
19702 @item use_dbt_break
19703 @kindex use_dbt_break
19704 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
19705 @end table
19706
19707 @node M68K
19708 @subsection M68k
19709
19710 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
19711 target command for the following ROM monitor.
19712
19713 @table @code
19714
19715 @kindex target dbug
19716 @item target dbug @var{dev}
19717 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
19718
19719 @end table
19720
19721 @node MicroBlaze
19722 @subsection MicroBlaze
19723 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
19724 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
19725
19726 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
19727 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
19728 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
19729 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
19730 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
19731 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
19732 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
19733 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
19734 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
19735 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
19736 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
19737
19738 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
19739
19740 @table @code
19741 @item target remote :1234
19742 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
19743 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
19744
19745 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
19746 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
19747 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
19748
19749 @item load
19750 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
19751
19752 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
19753 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
19754
19755 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
19756 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
19757 @end table
19758
19759 @node MIPS Embedded
19760 @subsection MIPS Embedded
19761
19762 @cindex MIPS boards
19763 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
19764 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
19765 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
19766
19767 @need 1000
19768 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
19769
19770 @table @code
19771 @item target mips @var{port}
19772 @kindex target mips @var{port}
19773 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
19774 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
19775 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
19776 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
19777 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
19778 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
19779
19780 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
19781 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
19782 debugger:
19783
19784 @smallexample
19785 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
19786 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
19787 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
19788 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
19789 (@value{GDBP}) run
19790 @end smallexample
19791
19792 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
19793 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
19794 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
19795 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
19796 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
19797
19798 @item target pmon @var{port}
19799 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
19800 PMON ROM monitor.
19801
19802 @item target ddb @var{port}
19803 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
19804 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
19805
19806 @item target lsi @var{port}
19807 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
19808 LSI variant of PMON.
19809
19810 @kindex target r3900
19811 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
19812 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
19813
19814 @kindex target array
19815 @item target array @var{dev}
19816 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
19817
19818 @end table
19819
19820
19821 @noindent
19822 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
19823
19824 @table @code
19825 @item set mipsfpu double
19826 @itemx set mipsfpu single
19827 @itemx set mipsfpu none
19828 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
19829 @itemx show mipsfpu
19830 @kindex set mipsfpu
19831 @kindex show mipsfpu
19832 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
19833 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
19834 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
19835 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
19836 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
19837 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
19838 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
19839 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
19840 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
19841 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
19842 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
19843 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
19844 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
19845
19846 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
19847 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
19848 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
19849
19850 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
19851 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
19852
19853 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
19854 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
19855 @itemx show timeout
19856 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
19857 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
19858 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
19859 @kindex set timeout
19860 @kindex show timeout
19861 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
19862 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
19863 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
19864 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
19865 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
19866 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
19867 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
19868 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
19869 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
19870 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
19871
19872 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
19873 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
19874 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
19875 to run before stopping.
19876
19877 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
19878 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19879 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
19880 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
19881 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
19882 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
19883
19884 @item show syn-garbage-limit
19885 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19886 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
19887 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
19888
19889 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
19890 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19891 @cindex remote monitor prompt
19892 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
19893 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
19894 @table @asis
19895 @item pmon target
19896 @samp{PMON}
19897 @item ddb target
19898 @samp{NEC010}
19899 @item lsi target
19900 @samp{PMON>}
19901 @end table
19902
19903 @item show monitor-prompt
19904 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19905 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
19906 remote monitor.
19907
19908 @item set monitor-warnings
19909 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19910 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
19911 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
19912 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
19913 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
19914
19915 @item show monitor-warnings
19916 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19917 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
19918
19919 @item pmon @var{command}
19920 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
19921 @cindex send PMON command
19922 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
19923 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
19924 @end table
19925
19926 @node OpenRISC 1000
19927 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
19928 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
19929
19930 @cindex or1k boards
19931 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
19932 about platform and commands.
19933
19934 @table @code
19935
19936 @kindex target jtag
19937 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
19938
19939 Connects to remote JTAG server.
19940 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
19941 connected via parallel port to the board.
19942
19943 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
19944
19945 @kindex or1ksim
19946 @item or1ksim @var{command}
19947 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
19948 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
19949
19950 @kindex info or1k spr
19951 @item info or1k spr
19952 Displays spr groups.
19953
19954 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
19955 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
19956 Displays register names in selected group.
19957
19958 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
19959 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
19960 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
19961 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
19962 Shows information about specified spr register.
19963
19964 @kindex spr
19965 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
19966 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
19967 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
19968 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
19969 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
19970 @end table
19971
19972 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
19973 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
19974 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
19975 triggers can be set using:
19976 @table @code
19977 @item $LEA/$LDATA
19978 Load effective address/data
19979 @item $SEA/$SDATA
19980 Store effective address/data
19981 @item $AEA/$ADATA
19982 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
19983 @item $FETCH
19984 Fetch data
19985 @end table
19986
19987 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
19988 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
19989
19990 @code{htrace} commands:
19991 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
19992 @table @code
19993 @kindex hwatch
19994 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
19995 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
19996 or Data. For example:
19997
19998 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19999
20000 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
20001
20002 @kindex htrace
20003 @item htrace info
20004 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
20005
20006 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
20007 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
20008
20009 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
20010 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
20011
20012 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
20013 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
20014
20015 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
20016 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
20017 triggered.
20018
20019 @item htrace enable
20020 @itemx htrace disable
20021 Enables/disables the HW trace.
20022
20023 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
20024 Clears currently recorded trace data.
20025
20026 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
20027 will be written there.
20028
20029 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
20030 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
20031
20032 @item htrace mode continuous
20033 Set continuous trace mode.
20034
20035 @item htrace mode suspend
20036 Set suspend trace mode.
20037
20038 @end table
20039
20040 @node PowerPC Embedded
20041 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20042
20043 @cindex DVC register
20044 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20045 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20046
20047 @smallexample
20048 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20049 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20050 @end smallexample
20051
20052 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20053 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20054 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20055 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20056 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20057 or newer.
20058
20059 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20060 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20061 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20062 watching variables of scalar types.
20063
20064 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20065 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20066
20067 @smallexample
20068 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20069 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20070 @end smallexample
20071
20072 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20073 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20074
20075 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20076 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20077 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20078 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20079 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20080 use the @code{break-range} command.
20081
20082 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20083
20084 @table @code
20085 @kindex break-range
20086 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20087 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20088 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20089 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20090 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20091 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20092 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20093 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20094 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20095
20096 @kindex set powerpc
20097 @item set powerpc soft-float
20098 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20099 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20100 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20101 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20102
20103 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20104 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20105 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20106 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20107 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20108 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20109 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20110 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20111
20112 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20113 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20114 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20115 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20116 address of its first byte.
20117
20118 @kindex target dink32
20119 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20120 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20121
20122 @kindex target ppcbug
20123 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20124 @kindex target ppcbug1
20125 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20126 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20127
20128 @kindex target sds
20129 @item target sds @var{dev}
20130 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20131 @end table
20132
20133 @cindex SDS protocol
20134 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20135 by @value{GDBN}:
20136
20137 @table @code
20138 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20139 @kindex set sdstimeout
20140 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20141 default is 2 seconds.
20142
20143 @item show sdstimeout
20144 @kindex show sdstimeout
20145 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20146
20147 @item sds @var{command}
20148 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20149 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20150 @end table
20151
20152
20153 @node PA
20154 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20155
20156 @table @code
20157
20158 @kindex target op50n
20159 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20160 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20161
20162 @kindex target w89k
20163 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20164 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20165
20166 @end table
20167
20168 @node Sparclet
20169 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20170
20171 @cindex Sparclet
20172
20173 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20174 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20175 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20176 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20177 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20178
20179 @table @code
20180 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20181 @kindex remotetimeout
20182 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20183 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20184 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20185 @end table
20186
20187 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20188 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20189 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20190 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20191 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20192
20193 @smallexample
20194 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20195 @end smallexample
20196
20197 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20198
20199 @smallexample
20200 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20201 @end smallexample
20202
20203 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20204 Once you have set
20205 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20206 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20207 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20208
20209 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20210
20211 @smallexample
20212 (gdbslet)
20213 @end smallexample
20214
20215 @menu
20216 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20217 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20218 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20219 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20220 @end menu
20221
20222 @node Sparclet File
20223 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20224
20225 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20226
20227 @smallexample
20228 (gdbslet) file prog
20229 @end smallexample
20230
20231 @need 1000
20232 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20233 @value{GDBN} locates
20234 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20235 path.
20236 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20237 files will be searched as well.
20238 @value{GDBN} locates
20239 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20240 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20241 If it fails
20242 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20243
20244 @smallexample
20245 prog: No such file or directory.
20246 @end smallexample
20247
20248 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20249 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20250 @code{target} command again.
20251
20252 @node Sparclet Connection
20253 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20254
20255 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
20256 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
20257
20258 @smallexample
20259 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
20260 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
20261 main () at ../prog.c:3
20262 @end smallexample
20263
20264 @need 750
20265 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20266
20267 @smallexample
20268 Connected to ttya.
20269 @end smallexample
20270
20271 @node Sparclet Download
20272 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
20273
20274 @cindex download to Sparclet
20275 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
20276 you can use the @value{GDBN}
20277 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
20278 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
20279 command.
20280 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
20281 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
20282 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
20283 of each of the file's sections.
20284 For instance, if the program
20285 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
20286 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20287
20288 @smallexample
20289 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
20290 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
20291 @end smallexample
20292
20293 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
20294 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
20295 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
20296
20297 @node Sparclet Execution
20298 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
20299
20300 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
20301 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
20302 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
20303 manual for the list of commands.
20304
20305 @smallexample
20306 (gdbslet) b main
20307 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
20308 (gdbslet) run
20309 Starting program: prog
20310 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
20311 3 char *symarg = 0;
20312 (gdbslet) step
20313 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
20314 (gdbslet)
20315 @end smallexample
20316
20317 @node Sparclite
20318 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
20319
20320 @table @code
20321
20322 @kindex target sparclite
20323 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
20324 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
20325 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
20326 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
20327 remote protocol.
20328
20329 @end table
20330
20331 @node Z8000
20332 @subsection Zilog Z8000
20333
20334 @cindex Z8000
20335 @cindex simulator, Z8000
20336 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
20337
20338 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
20339 a Z8000 simulator.
20340
20341 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
20342 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
20343 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
20344 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
20345
20346 @table @code
20347 @item target sim @var{args}
20348 @kindex sim
20349 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
20350 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
20351 options, specify them via @var{args}.
20352 @end table
20353
20354 @noindent
20355 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
20356 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
20357 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
20358 to run your program, and so on.
20359
20360 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
20361 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
20362 additional items of information as specially named registers:
20363
20364 @table @code
20365
20366 @item cycles
20367 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
20368
20369 @item insts
20370 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
20371
20372 @item time
20373 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
20374
20375 @end table
20376
20377 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
20378 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
20379 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
20380 simulated clock ticks.
20381
20382 @node AVR
20383 @subsection Atmel AVR
20384 @cindex AVR
20385
20386 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
20387 following AVR-specific commands:
20388
20389 @table @code
20390 @item info io_registers
20391 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
20392 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
20393 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
20394 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
20395 @end table
20396
20397 @node CRIS
20398 @subsection CRIS
20399 @cindex CRIS
20400
20401 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
20402 following CRIS-specific commands:
20403
20404 @table @code
20405 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
20406 @cindex CRIS version
20407 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
20408 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
20409 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
20410
20411 @item show cris-version
20412 Show the current CRIS version.
20413
20414 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
20415 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
20416 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
20417 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
20418 @code{R59}.
20419
20420 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
20421 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
20422
20423 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
20424 @cindex CRIS mode
20425 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
20426 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
20427 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
20428
20429 @item show cris-mode
20430 Show the current CRIS mode.
20431 @end table
20432
20433 @node Super-H
20434 @subsection Renesas Super-H
20435 @cindex Super-H
20436
20437 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
20438 commands:
20439
20440 @table @code
20441 @item regs
20442 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
20443 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
20444
20445 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
20446 @kindex set sh calling-convention
20447 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
20448 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
20449 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
20450 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
20451 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
20452 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
20453 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
20454 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
20455 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
20456 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
20457
20458 @item show sh calling-convention
20459 @kindex show sh calling-convention
20460 Show the current calling convention setting.
20461
20462 @end table
20463
20464
20465 @node Architectures
20466 @section Architectures
20467
20468 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
20469 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
20470
20471 @menu
20472 * i386::
20473 * Alpha::
20474 * MIPS::
20475 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
20476 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20477 * PowerPC::
20478 @end menu
20479
20480 @node i386
20481 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
20482
20483 @table @code
20484 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
20485 @kindex set struct-convention
20486 @cindex struct return convention
20487 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
20488 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
20489 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
20490 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
20491 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
20492 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
20493 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
20494 be returned in a register.
20495
20496 @item show struct-convention
20497 @kindex show struct-convention
20498 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
20499 from functions.
20500 @end table
20501
20502 @node Alpha
20503 @subsection Alpha
20504
20505 See the following section.
20506
20507 @node MIPS
20508 @subsection MIPS
20509
20510 @cindex stack on Alpha
20511 @cindex stack on MIPS
20512 @cindex Alpha stack
20513 @cindex MIPS stack
20514 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
20515 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
20516 find the beginning of a function.
20517
20518 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
20519 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
20520 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
20521 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
20522 commands:
20523
20524 @table @code
20525 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
20526 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
20527 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
20528 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
20529 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
20530 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
20531 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
20532 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
20533
20534 @item show heuristic-fence-post
20535 Display the current limit.
20536 @end table
20537
20538 @noindent
20539 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
20540 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
20541
20542 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
20543 programs:
20544
20545 @table @code
20546 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
20547 @kindex set mips abi
20548 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
20549 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
20550 values of @var{arg} are:
20551
20552 @table @samp
20553 @item auto
20554 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
20555 default).
20556 @item o32
20557 @item o64
20558 @item n32
20559 @item n64
20560 @item eabi32
20561 @item eabi64
20562 @end table
20563
20564 @item show mips abi
20565 @kindex show mips abi
20566 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20567
20568 @item set mipsfpu
20569 @itemx show mipsfpu
20570 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20571
20572 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20573 @kindex set mips mask-address
20574 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
20575 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20576 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20577 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20578 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20579
20580 @item show mips mask-address
20581 @kindex show mips mask-address
20582 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
20583 not.
20584
20585 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20586 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20587 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
20588 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
20589 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20590 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20591
20592 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20593 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20594 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
20595
20596 @item set debug mips
20597 @kindex set debug mips
20598 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
20599 target code in @value{GDBN}.
20600
20601 @item show debug mips
20602 @kindex show debug mips
20603 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
20604 @end table
20605
20606
20607 @node HPPA
20608 @subsection HPPA
20609 @cindex HPPA support
20610
20611 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
20612 following special commands:
20613
20614 @table @code
20615 @item set debug hppa
20616 @kindex set debug hppa
20617 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
20618 messages are to be displayed.
20619
20620 @item show debug hppa
20621 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
20622
20623 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
20624 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
20625 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
20626 given @var{address}.
20627
20628 @end table
20629
20630
20631 @node SPU
20632 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20633 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
20634 @cindex SPU
20635
20636 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
20637 it provides the following special commands:
20638
20639 @table @code
20640 @item info spu event
20641 @kindex info spu
20642 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
20643 and pending event status.
20644
20645 @item info spu signal
20646 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
20647 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
20648 notification channels.
20649
20650 @item info spu mailbox
20651 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
20652 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
20653 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
20654
20655 @item info spu dma
20656 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20657 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20658 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20659
20660 @item info spu proxydma
20661 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20662 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20663 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20664
20665 @end table
20666
20667 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
20668 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
20669 special commands:
20670
20671 @table @code
20672 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
20673 @kindex set spu
20674 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
20675 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
20676 function. The default is @code{off}.
20677
20678 @item show spu stop-on-load
20679 @kindex show spu
20680 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
20681
20682 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
20683 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
20684 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
20685 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
20686 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
20687 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
20688
20689 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
20690 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
20691
20692 @end table
20693
20694 @node PowerPC
20695 @subsection PowerPC
20696 @cindex PowerPC architecture
20697
20698 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
20699 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
20700 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
20701 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
20702 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
20703
20704 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
20705 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
20706 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
20707
20708 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
20709 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
20710
20711
20712 @node Controlling GDB
20713 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
20714
20715 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
20716 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
20717 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
20718 described here.
20719
20720 @menu
20721 * Prompt:: Prompt
20722 * Editing:: Command editing
20723 * Command History:: Command history
20724 * Screen Size:: Screen size
20725 * Numbers:: Numbers
20726 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
20727 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
20728 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
20729 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
20730 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
20731 @end menu
20732
20733 @node Prompt
20734 @section Prompt
20735
20736 @cindex prompt
20737
20738 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
20739 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
20740 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
20741 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
20742 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
20743 which one you are talking to.
20744
20745 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
20746 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
20747 or a prompt that does not.
20748
20749 @table @code
20750 @kindex set prompt
20751 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
20752 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
20753
20754 @kindex show prompt
20755 @item show prompt
20756 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
20757 @end table
20758
20759 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
20760 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
20761 are:
20762
20763 @table @code
20764 @kindex set extended-prompt
20765 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
20766 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
20767 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
20768 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
20769 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
20770 is displayed.
20771
20772 For example:
20773
20774 @smallexample
20775 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
20776 @end smallexample
20777
20778 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
20779 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
20780
20781 @kindex show extended-prompt
20782 @item show extended-prompt
20783 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
20784 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
20785 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
20786 @end table
20787
20788 @node Editing
20789 @section Command Editing
20790 @cindex readline
20791 @cindex command line editing
20792
20793 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
20794 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
20795 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
20796 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
20797 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
20798 debugging sessions.
20799
20800 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
20801 command @code{set}.
20802
20803 @table @code
20804 @kindex set editing
20805 @cindex editing
20806 @item set editing
20807 @itemx set editing on
20808 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
20809
20810 @item set editing off
20811 Disable command line editing.
20812
20813 @kindex show editing
20814 @item show editing
20815 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
20816 @end table
20817
20818 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20819 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
20820 @end ifset
20821 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20822 @xref{Command Line Editing},
20823 @end ifclear
20824 for more details about the Readline
20825 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
20826 encouraged to read that chapter.
20827
20828 @node Command History
20829 @section Command History
20830 @cindex command history
20831
20832 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
20833 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
20834 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
20835 history facility.
20836
20837 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
20838 package, to provide the history facility.
20839 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20840 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
20841 @end ifset
20842 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20843 @xref{Using History Interactively},
20844 @end ifclear
20845 for the detailed description of the History library.
20846
20847 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
20848 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
20849 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
20850 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
20851 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
20852 pressed on a line by itself.
20853
20854 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
20855 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
20856 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
20857 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
20858
20859 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
20860 history.
20861
20862 @table @code
20863 @cindex history substitution
20864 @cindex history file
20865 @kindex set history filename
20866 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
20867 @item set history filename @var{fname}
20868 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
20869 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
20870 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
20871 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
20872 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
20873 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
20874 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
20875 is not set.
20876
20877 @cindex save command history
20878 @kindex set history save
20879 @item set history save
20880 @itemx set history save on
20881 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
20882 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
20883
20884 @item set history save off
20885 Stop recording command history in a file.
20886
20887 @cindex history size
20888 @kindex set history size
20889 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
20890 @item set history size @var{size}
20891 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
20892 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
20893 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
20894 @end table
20895
20896 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
20897 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20898 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
20899 @end ifset
20900 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20901 @xref{Event Designators},
20902 @end ifclear
20903 for more details.
20904
20905 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
20906 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
20907 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
20908 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
20909 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
20910 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
20911 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
20912 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
20913
20914 The commands to control history expansion are:
20915
20916 @table @code
20917 @item set history expansion on
20918 @itemx set history expansion
20919 @kindex set history expansion
20920 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
20921
20922 @item set history expansion off
20923 Disable history expansion.
20924
20925 @c @group
20926 @kindex show history
20927 @item show history
20928 @itemx show history filename
20929 @itemx show history save
20930 @itemx show history size
20931 @itemx show history expansion
20932 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
20933 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
20934 @c @end group
20935 @end table
20936
20937 @table @code
20938 @kindex show commands
20939 @cindex show last commands
20940 @cindex display command history
20941 @item show commands
20942 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
20943
20944 @item show commands @var{n}
20945 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
20946
20947 @item show commands +
20948 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
20949 @end table
20950
20951 @node Screen Size
20952 @section Screen Size
20953 @cindex size of screen
20954 @cindex pauses in output
20955
20956 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
20957 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
20958 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
20959 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
20960 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
20961 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
20962 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
20963 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
20964
20965 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
20966 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
20967 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
20968 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
20969 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
20970 width} commands:
20971
20972 @table @code
20973 @kindex set height
20974 @kindex set width
20975 @kindex show width
20976 @kindex show height
20977 @item set height @var{lpp}
20978 @itemx show height
20979 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
20980 @itemx show width
20981 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
20982 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
20983 commands display the current settings.
20984
20985 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
20986 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
20987 file or to an editor buffer.
20988
20989 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
20990 from wrapping its output.
20991
20992 @item set pagination on
20993 @itemx set pagination off
20994 @kindex set pagination
20995 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
20996 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
20997 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
20998 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
20999
21000 @item show pagination
21001 @kindex show pagination
21002 Show the current pagination mode.
21003 @end table
21004
21005 @node Numbers
21006 @section Numbers
21007 @cindex number representation
21008 @cindex entering numbers
21009
21010 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21011 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21012 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21013 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21014 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21015 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21016 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21017 both input and output with the commands described below.
21018
21019 @table @code
21020 @kindex set input-radix
21021 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21022 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21023 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21024 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21025 example, any of
21026
21027 @smallexample
21028 set input-radix 012
21029 set input-radix 10.
21030 set input-radix 0xa
21031 @end smallexample
21032
21033 @noindent
21034 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21035 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21036 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21037 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21038 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21039 change the radix.
21040
21041 @kindex set output-radix
21042 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21043 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21044 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21045 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21046
21047 @kindex show input-radix
21048 @item show input-radix
21049 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21050
21051 @kindex show output-radix
21052 @item show output-radix
21053 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21054
21055 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21056 @itemx show radix
21057 @kindex set radix
21058 @kindex show radix
21059 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21060 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21061 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21062 default value of 10.
21063
21064 @end table
21065
21066 @node ABI
21067 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21068
21069 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21070 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21071 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21072 current ABI.
21073
21074 @cindex OS ABI
21075 @kindex set osabi
21076 @kindex show osabi
21077
21078 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21079 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21080 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21081 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21082 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21083 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21084 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21085 platform provides.
21086
21087 @table @code
21088 @item show osabi
21089 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21090
21091 @item set osabi
21092 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21093
21094 @item set osabi @var{abi}
21095 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21096 @end table
21097
21098 @cindex float promotion
21099
21100 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21101 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21102 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21103 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21104 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21105 @code{double} and then passed.
21106
21107 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21108 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21109 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21110
21111 @table @code
21112 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21113 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21114 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21115 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21116 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21117
21118 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21119 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21120 functions.
21121
21122 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21123 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21124 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21125 @end table
21126
21127 @kindex set cp-abi
21128 @kindex show cp-abi
21129 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21130 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21131 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21132 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21133 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21134 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21135 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21136 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21137 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21138 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21139 ``auto''.
21140
21141 @table @code
21142 @item show cp-abi
21143 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21144
21145 @item set cp-abi
21146 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21147
21148 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21149 @itemx set cp-abi auto
21150 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21151 @end table
21152
21153 @node Auto-loading
21154 @section Automatically loading associated files
21155 @cindex auto-loading
21156
21157 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21158 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21159 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21160 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21161 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21162 sources).
21163
21164 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21165 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21166 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21167
21168 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21169 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21170
21171 @table @code
21172 @anchor{set auto-load off}
21173 @kindex set auto-load off
21174 @item set auto-load off
21175 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21176 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21177 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
21178 @smallexample
21179 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
21180 @end smallexample
21181
21182 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
21183 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
21184 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
21185 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
21186 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
21187 @code{set auto-load no}.
21188
21189 @anchor{show auto-load}
21190 @kindex show auto-load
21191 @item show auto-load
21192 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
21193 or disabled.
21194
21195 @smallexample
21196 (gdb) show auto-load
21197 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
21198 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
21199 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
21200 is on.
21201 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
21202 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21203 is $ddir/auto-load.
21204 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
21205 is $ddir/auto-load.
21206 @end smallexample
21207
21208 @anchor{info auto-load}
21209 @kindex info auto-load
21210 @item info auto-load
21211 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
21212 not.
21213
21214 @smallexample
21215 (gdb) info auto-load
21216 gdb-scripts:
21217 Loaded Script
21218 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
21219 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
21220 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
21221 loaded.
21222 python-scripts:
21223 Loaded Script
21224 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
21225 @end smallexample
21226 @end table
21227
21228 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
21229
21230 @itemize @bullet
21231 @item
21232 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21233 @item
21234 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21235 @item
21236 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
21237 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21238 @item
21239 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
21240 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21241 @item
21242 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21243 @end itemize
21244
21245 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
21246
21247 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
21248 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
21249 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
21250 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
21251 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
21252 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
21253 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
21254 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21255 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21256 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21257 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21258 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21259 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21260 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21261 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21262 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
21263 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21264 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
21265 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21266 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21267 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21268 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
21269 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21270 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21271 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
21272 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21273 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
21274 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21275 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
21276 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21277 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
21278 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
21279 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
21280 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
21281 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
21282 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
21283 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
21284 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
21285 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
21286 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
21287 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
21288 @end multitable
21289
21290 @menu
21291 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21292 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
21293 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
21294 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
21295 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
21296 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
21297 @end menu
21298
21299 @node Init File in the Current Directory
21300 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
21301 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
21302
21303 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
21304 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
21305 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
21306
21307 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
21308 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21309
21310 @table @code
21311 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
21312 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
21313 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
21314 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
21315 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
21316
21317 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
21318 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
21319 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
21320 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21321 current directory is enabled or disabled.
21322
21323 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21324 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
21325 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
21326 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21327 current directory have been auto-loaded.
21328 @end table
21329
21330 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
21331 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
21332 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
21333
21334 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
21335
21336 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
21337 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
21338
21339 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
21340 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
21341 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
21342 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
21343 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
21344 library.
21345
21346 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
21347 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21348
21349 @table @code
21350 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
21351 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
21352 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
21353 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
21354
21355 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
21356 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
21357 @item show auto-load libthread-db
21358 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
21359 enabled or disabled.
21360
21361 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
21362 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
21363 @item info auto-load libthread-db
21364 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
21365 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
21366 @end table
21367
21368 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
21369 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
21370 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
21371
21372 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
21373 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
21374 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
21375
21376 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
21377 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21378
21379 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
21380 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
21381
21382 @table @code
21383 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
21384 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
21385 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
21386 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
21387
21388 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
21389 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
21390 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
21391 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
21392 disabled.
21393
21394 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
21395 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
21396 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
21397 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
21398 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
21399 auto-loaded.
21400 @end table
21401
21402 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
21403 matching names are printed.
21404
21405 @node Auto-loading safe path
21406 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
21407 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
21408
21409 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
21410 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
21411 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
21412 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
21413
21414 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
21415 get loaded:
21416
21417 @smallexample
21418 $ ./gdb -q ./gdb
21419 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
21420 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
21421 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "$ddir/auto-load".
21422 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
21423 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "$ddir/auto-load".
21424 @end smallexample
21425
21426 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
21427
21428 @table @code
21429 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
21430 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
21431 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
21432 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
21433 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
21434 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
21435 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
21436
21437 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
21438 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
21439 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
21440
21441 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
21442 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
21443 @item show auto-load safe-path
21444 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
21445 scripts.
21446
21447 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
21448 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
21449 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
21450 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
21451 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
21452 host platform path separator in use.
21453 @end table
21454
21455 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
21456 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$ddir} substituation applies the same
21457 as for @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21458 The default @code{set
21459 auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN} configuration
21460 option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
21461
21462 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
21463 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
21464 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
21465 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
21466 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
21467 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
21468 init file in the current directory
21469 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
21470
21471 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
21472 example, you could use one of the following ways:
21473
21474 @table @asis
21475 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
21476 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
21477 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
21478 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
21479
21480 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
21481 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
21482 @value{GDBN} session.
21483
21484 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
21485 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21486 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
21487 from trusted sources.
21488
21489 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
21490 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
21491 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
21492 trusted sources.
21493 @end table
21494
21495 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
21496 also suppresses any such warning messages:
21497
21498 @table @asis
21499 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
21500 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21501
21502 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
21503 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
21504 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
21505 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
21506 @end table
21507
21508 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
21509 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
21510 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
21511 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
21512 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
21513 recommended to be entered.
21514
21515 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
21516 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
21517 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
21518
21519 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
21520 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
21521 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
21522 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
21523 be printed.
21524
21525 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21526 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
21527 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
21528
21529 @smallexample
21530 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
21531 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
21532 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
21533 for objfile "/tmp/true".
21534 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
21535 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
21536 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
21537 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
21538 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
21539 @end smallexample
21540
21541 @table @code
21542 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
21543 @kindex set debug auto-load
21544 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
21545 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
21546
21547 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
21548 @kindex show debug auto-load
21549 @item show debug auto-load
21550 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
21551 on or off.
21552 @end table
21553
21554 @node Messages/Warnings
21555 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
21556
21557 @cindex verbose operation
21558 @cindex optional warnings
21559 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
21560 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
21561 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
21562 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
21563
21564 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
21565 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
21566 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
21567
21568 @table @code
21569 @kindex set verbose
21570 @item set verbose on
21571 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21572
21573 @item set verbose off
21574 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21575
21576 @kindex show verbose
21577 @item show verbose
21578 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
21579 @end table
21580
21581 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
21582 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
21583 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
21584 Symbol Files}).
21585
21586 @table @code
21587
21588 @kindex set complaints
21589 @item set complaints @var{limit}
21590 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
21591 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
21592 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
21593 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
21594
21595 @kindex show complaints
21596 @item show complaints
21597 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
21598
21599 @end table
21600
21601 @anchor{confirmation requests}
21602 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
21603 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
21604 you try to run a program which is already running:
21605
21606 @smallexample
21607 (@value{GDBP}) run
21608 The program being debugged has been started already.
21609 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
21610 @end smallexample
21611
21612 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
21613 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
21614
21615 @table @code
21616
21617 @kindex set confirm
21618 @cindex flinching
21619 @cindex confirmation
21620 @cindex stupid questions
21621 @item set confirm off
21622 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
21623 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
21624 automatically disables confirmation requests.
21625
21626 @item set confirm on
21627 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
21628
21629 @kindex show confirm
21630 @item show confirm
21631 Displays state of confirmation requests.
21632
21633 @end table
21634
21635 @cindex command tracing
21636 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
21637 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
21638 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
21639 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
21640
21641 @table @code
21642 @kindex set trace-commands
21643 @cindex command scripts, debugging
21644 @item set trace-commands on
21645 Enable command tracing.
21646 @item set trace-commands off
21647 Disable command tracing.
21648 @item show trace-commands
21649 Display the current state of command tracing.
21650 @end table
21651
21652 @node Debugging Output
21653 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
21654 @cindex optional debugging messages
21655
21656 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
21657 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
21658 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
21659 section documents those commands.
21660
21661 @table @code
21662 @kindex set exec-done-display
21663 @item set exec-done-display
21664 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
21665 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
21666 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
21667 @kindex show exec-done-display
21668 @item show exec-done-display
21669 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
21670 notification.
21671 @kindex set debug
21672 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
21673 @cindex architecture debugging info
21674 @item set debug arch
21675 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
21676 @kindex show debug
21677 @item show debug arch
21678 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
21679 @item set debug aix-thread
21680 @cindex AIX threads
21681 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
21682 module.
21683 @item show debug aix-thread
21684 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
21685 @item set debug check-physname
21686 @cindex physname
21687 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
21688 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
21689 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
21690 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
21691 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
21692 both ways and display any discrepancies.
21693 @item show debug check-physname
21694 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
21695 @item set debug dwarf2-die
21696 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
21697 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
21698 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
21699 A value of zero turns off the display.
21700 @item show debug dwarf2-die
21701 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
21702 @item set debug displaced
21703 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
21704 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
21705 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
21706 @item show debug displaced
21707 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
21708 related to displaced stepping.
21709 @item set debug event
21710 @cindex event debugging info
21711 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
21712 default is off.
21713 @item show debug event
21714 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
21715 info.
21716 @item set debug expression
21717 @cindex expression debugging info
21718 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
21719 expression parsing. The default is off.
21720 @item show debug expression
21721 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
21722 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
21723 @item set debug frame
21724 @cindex frame debugging info
21725 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
21726 default is off.
21727 @item show debug frame
21728 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
21729 info.
21730 @item set debug gnu-nat
21731 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
21732 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
21733 @item show debug gnu-nat
21734 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
21735 @item set debug infrun
21736 @cindex inferior debugging info
21737 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
21738 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
21739 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
21740 @item show debug infrun
21741 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
21742 @item set debug jit
21743 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
21744 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
21745 @item show debug jit
21746 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
21747 @item set debug lin-lwp
21748 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
21749 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
21750 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
21751 @item show debug lin-lwp
21752 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
21753 @item set debug observer
21754 @cindex observer debugging info
21755 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
21756 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
21757 @item show debug observer
21758 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
21759 @item set debug overload
21760 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
21761 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
21762 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
21763 is off.
21764 @item show debug overload
21765 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
21766 debugging info.
21767 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
21768 @cindex debug expression parser
21769 @item set debug parser
21770 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
21771 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
21772 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
21773 details. The default is off.
21774 @item show debug parser
21775 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
21776 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
21777 @cindex serial connections, debugging
21778 @cindex debug remote protocol
21779 @cindex remote protocol debugging
21780 @cindex display remote packets
21781 @item set debug remote
21782 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
21783 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
21784 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
21785 @item show debug remote
21786 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
21787 @item set debug serial
21788 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
21789 default is off.
21790 @item show debug serial
21791 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
21792 info.
21793 @item set debug solib-frv
21794 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
21795 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
21796 @item show debug solib-frv
21797 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
21798 messages.
21799 @item set debug target
21800 @cindex target debugging info
21801 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
21802 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
21803 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
21804 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
21805 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
21806 @item show debug target
21807 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
21808 info.
21809 @item set debug timestamp
21810 @cindex timestampping debugging info
21811 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
21812 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
21813 message.
21814 @item show debug timestamp
21815 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
21816 debugging info.
21817 @item set debugvarobj
21818 @cindex variable object debugging info
21819 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
21820 info. The default is off.
21821 @item show debugvarobj
21822 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
21823 debugging info.
21824 @item set debug xml
21825 @cindex XML parser debugging
21826 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
21827 @item show debug xml
21828 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
21829 @end table
21830
21831 @node Other Misc Settings
21832 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
21833 @cindex miscellaneous settings
21834
21835 @table @code
21836 @kindex set interactive-mode
21837 @item set interactive-mode
21838 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
21839 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
21840 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
21841 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
21842 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
21843 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
21844 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
21845 is, non-interactively otherwise.
21846
21847 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
21848 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
21849 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
21850 inside a cygwin window.
21851
21852 @kindex show interactive-mode
21853 @item show interactive-mode
21854 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
21855 @end table
21856
21857 @node Extending GDB
21858 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
21859 @cindex extending GDB
21860
21861 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
21862 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
21863 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
21864 existing commands.
21865
21866 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
21867 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
21868 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
21869 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
21870 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21871 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
21872
21873 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
21874 setting:
21875
21876 @table @code
21877 @kindex set script-extension
21878 @kindex show script-extension
21879 @item set script-extension off
21880 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21881
21882 @item set script-extension soft
21883 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21884 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
21885 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
21886 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
21887
21888 @item set script-extension strict
21889 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21890 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
21891 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
21892
21893 @item show script-extension
21894 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
21895
21896 @end table
21897
21898 @menu
21899 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
21900 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21901 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
21902 @end menu
21903
21904 @node Sequences
21905 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
21906
21907 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
21908 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
21909 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
21910 files.
21911
21912 @menu
21913 * Define:: How to define your own commands
21914 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
21915 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
21916 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
21917 @end menu
21918
21919 @node Define
21920 @subsection User-defined Commands
21921
21922 @cindex user-defined command
21923 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
21924 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
21925 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
21926 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
21927 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
21928 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
21929
21930 @smallexample
21931 define adder
21932 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21933 end
21934 @end smallexample
21935
21936 @noindent
21937 To execute the command use:
21938
21939 @smallexample
21940 adder 1 2 3
21941 @end smallexample
21942
21943 @noindent
21944 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
21945 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
21946 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
21947 functions calls.
21948
21949 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
21950 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
21951 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
21952 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
21953
21954 @smallexample
21955 define adder
21956 if $argc == 2
21957 print $arg0 + $arg1
21958 end
21959 if $argc == 3
21960 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21961 end
21962 end
21963 @end smallexample
21964
21965 @table @code
21966
21967 @kindex define
21968 @item define @var{commandname}
21969 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
21970 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
21971 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
21972 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
21973 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
21974 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
21975
21976 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
21977 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
21978 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21979
21980 @kindex document
21981 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
21982 @item document @var{commandname}
21983 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
21984 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
21985 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
21986 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
21987 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
21988 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
21989
21990 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
21991 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
21992 does not change the documentation.
21993
21994 @kindex dont-repeat
21995 @cindex don't repeat command
21996 @item dont-repeat
21997 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
21998 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
21999 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22000
22001 @kindex help user-defined
22002 @item help user-defined
22003 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22004 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22005 included (if any).
22006
22007 @kindex show user
22008 @item show user
22009 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
22010 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22011 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22012 definitions for all user-defined commands.
22013 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22014
22015 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22016 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
22017 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
22018 @item show max-user-call-depth
22019 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
22020 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22021 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22022 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22023 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22024 @end table
22025
22026 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22027 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22028
22029 When user-defined commands are executed, the
22030 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22031 stops execution of the user-defined command.
22032
22033 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22034 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22035 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22036 messages when used in a user-defined command.
22037
22038 @node Hooks
22039 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22040 @cindex command hooks
22041 @cindex hooks, for commands
22042 @cindex hooks, pre-command
22043
22044 @kindex hook
22045 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22046 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22047 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22048 before that command.
22049
22050 @cindex hooks, post-command
22051 @kindex hookpost
22052 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22053 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22054 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22055 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22056 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22057
22058 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22059 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22060
22061 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22062 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22063
22064 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22065 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22066 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22067 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22068 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22069
22070 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22071 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22072 you could define:
22073
22074 @smallexample
22075 define hook-stop
22076 handle SIGALRM nopass
22077 end
22078
22079 define hook-run
22080 handle SIGALRM pass
22081 end
22082
22083 define hook-continue
22084 handle SIGALRM pass
22085 end
22086 @end smallexample
22087
22088 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
22089 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
22090 you could define:
22091
22092 @smallexample
22093 define hook-echo
22094 echo <<<---
22095 end
22096
22097 define hookpost-echo
22098 echo --->>>\n
22099 end
22100
22101 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22102 <<<---Hello World--->>>
22103 (@value{GDBP})
22104
22105 @end smallexample
22106
22107 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22108 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22109 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22110 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22111 @c or not?
22112 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22113 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
22114 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
22115
22116 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
22117 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
22118 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
22119
22120 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
22121 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
22122
22123 @node Command Files
22124 @subsection Command Files
22125
22126 @cindex command files
22127 @cindex scripting commands
22128 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
22129 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
22130 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
22131 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
22132 terminal.
22133
22134 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
22135 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
22136 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
22137 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
22138 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
22139
22140 @table @code
22141 @kindex source
22142 @cindex execute commands from a file
22143 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
22144 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
22145 @end table
22146
22147 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
22148 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
22149 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
22150 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
22151 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
22152
22153 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
22154 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
22155 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
22156 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
22157 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
22158 is not relevant to scripts.
22159
22160 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
22161 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
22162 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
22163 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
22164 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22165 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
22166 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
22167 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
22168 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22169 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
22170 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
22171 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
22172 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
22173 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
22174
22175 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
22176 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
22177 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
22178
22179 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
22180 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
22181 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
22182 when called from command files.
22183
22184 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
22185 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
22186 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
22187 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
22188 the next command.
22189
22190 @smallexample
22191 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
22192 @end smallexample
22193
22194 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
22195 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
22196 would be directed to @file{log}.
22197
22198 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
22199 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
22200 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
22201 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
22202 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
22203 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
22204 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
22205 conditionally, etc.
22206
22207 @table @code
22208 @kindex if
22209 @kindex else
22210 @item if
22211 @itemx else
22212 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
22213 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
22214 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
22215 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
22216 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
22217 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
22218 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22219
22220 @kindex while
22221 @item while
22222 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
22223 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
22224 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
22225 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
22226 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
22227 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
22228
22229 @kindex loop_break
22230 @item loop_break
22231 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
22232 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
22233 line.
22234
22235 @kindex loop_continue
22236 @item loop_continue
22237 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
22238 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
22239 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
22240 the controlling expression.
22241
22242 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
22243 @item end
22244 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
22245 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
22246 @end table
22247
22248
22249 @node Output
22250 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
22251
22252 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
22253 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
22254 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
22255 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
22256 want.
22257
22258 @table @code
22259 @kindex echo
22260 @item echo @var{text}
22261 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
22262 @c because it is not in ANSI.
22263 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
22264 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
22265 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
22266 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
22267 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
22268 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
22269 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
22270 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
22271 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
22272
22273 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
22274 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
22275
22276 @smallexample
22277 echo This is some text\n\
22278 which is continued\n\
22279 onto several lines.\n
22280 @end smallexample
22281
22282 produces the same output as
22283
22284 @smallexample
22285 echo This is some text\n
22286 echo which is continued\n
22287 echo onto several lines.\n
22288 @end smallexample
22289
22290 @kindex output
22291 @item output @var{expression}
22292 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
22293 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
22294 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
22295 on expressions.
22296
22297 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
22298 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
22299 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
22300 Formats}, for more information.
22301
22302 @kindex printf
22303 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22304 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22305 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
22306 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
22307 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
22308 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
22309 executing the code below:
22310
22311 @smallexample
22312 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
22313 @end smallexample
22314
22315 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
22316 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
22317 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
22318 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
22319 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
22320 printed.
22321
22322 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
22323
22324 @smallexample
22325 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
22326 @end smallexample
22327
22328 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
22329 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
22330 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
22331
22332 @itemize @bullet
22333 @item
22334 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
22335
22336 @item
22337 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
22338 width.
22339
22340 @item
22341 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
22342 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
22343
22344 @item
22345 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
22346 supported.
22347
22348 @item
22349 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
22350
22351 @item
22352 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
22353 @end itemize
22354
22355 @noindent
22356 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
22357 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
22358 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
22359 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
22360
22361 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
22362 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
22363 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
22364 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
22365 supported.
22366
22367 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
22368 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
22369 together with a floating point specifier.
22370 letters:
22371
22372 @itemize @bullet
22373 @item
22374 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
22375
22376 @item
22377 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
22378
22379 @item
22380 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
22381 @end itemize
22382
22383 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
22384 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
22385 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
22386
22387 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
22388 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
22389
22390 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
22391 @smallexample
22392 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
22393 @end smallexample
22394
22395 @kindex eval
22396 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22397 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22398 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
22399
22400 @end table
22401
22402 @node Python
22403 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22404 @cindex python scripting
22405 @cindex scripting with python
22406
22407 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
22408 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
22409 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
22410
22411 @cindex python directory
22412 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
22413 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
22414 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
22415 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
22416 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
22417 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
22418
22419 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
22420 are written in Python and are located in the
22421 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
22422 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
22423 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
22424
22425 @menu
22426 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
22427 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
22428 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
22429 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
22430 @end menu
22431
22432 @node Python Commands
22433 @subsection Python Commands
22434 @cindex python commands
22435 @cindex commands to access python
22436
22437 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
22438 and one related setting:
22439
22440 @table @code
22441 @kindex python
22442 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
22443 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
22444
22445 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
22446 argument as a Python command. For example:
22447
22448 @smallexample
22449 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
22450 23
22451 @end smallexample
22452
22453 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
22454 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
22455 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
22456 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
22457 containing @code{end}. For example:
22458
22459 @smallexample
22460 (@value{GDBP}) python
22461 Type python script
22462 End with a line saying just "end".
22463 >print 23
22464 >end
22465 23
22466 @end smallexample
22467
22468 @kindex set python print-stack
22469 @item set python print-stack
22470 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
22471 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
22472 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
22473 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
22474 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
22475 the message component of the error is printed.
22476 @end table
22477
22478 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
22479 interpreter:
22480
22481 @table @code
22482 @item source @file{script-name}
22483 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
22484 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
22485 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
22486
22487 @item python execfile ("script-name")
22488 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
22489 and thus is always available.
22490 @end table
22491
22492 @node Python API
22493 @subsection Python API
22494 @cindex python api
22495 @cindex programming in python
22496
22497 @cindex python stdout
22498 @cindex python pagination
22499 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
22500 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
22501 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
22502 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
22503 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
22504
22505 @menu
22506 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
22507 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
22508 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
22509 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
22510 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
22511 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
22512 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
22513 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
22514 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
22515 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
22516 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
22517 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
22518 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
22519 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
22520 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
22521 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22522 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22523 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
22524 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
22525 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
22526 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
22527 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
22528 using Python.
22529 @end menu
22530
22531 @node Basic Python
22532 @subsubsection Basic Python
22533
22534 @cindex python functions
22535 @cindex python module
22536 @cindex gdb module
22537 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
22538 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
22539 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
22540 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
22541
22542 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
22543 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
22544 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
22545 @end defvar
22546
22547 @findex gdb.execute
22548 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
22549 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
22550 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
22551 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
22552
22553 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
22554 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
22555 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
22556
22557 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
22558 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
22559 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
22560 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
22561 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
22562 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
22563 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
22564 @end defun
22565
22566 @findex gdb.breakpoints
22567 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
22568 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
22569 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
22570 @end defun
22571
22572 @findex gdb.parameter
22573 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
22574 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
22575 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
22576 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
22577 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
22578
22579 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
22580 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
22581 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
22582 type, and returned.
22583 @end defun
22584
22585 @findex gdb.history
22586 @defun gdb.history (number)
22587 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
22588 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
22589 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
22590 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
22591 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
22592 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
22593 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
22594 raised.
22595
22596 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
22597 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
22598 @end defun
22599
22600 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
22601 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
22602 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
22603 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
22604 @var{expression} must be a string.
22605
22606 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
22607 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
22608 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
22609 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
22610 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
22611 @end defun
22612
22613 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
22614 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
22615 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
22616 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
22617 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
22618 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
22619 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
22620 @end defun
22621
22622 @findex gdb.post_event
22623 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
22624 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
22625 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
22626 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
22627 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
22628 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
22629 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
22630
22631 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
22632 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
22633 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
22634 this. For example:
22635
22636 @smallexample
22637 (@value{GDBP}) python
22638 >import threading
22639 >
22640 >class Writer():
22641 > def __init__(self, message):
22642 > self.message = message;
22643 > def __call__(self):
22644 > gdb.write(self.message)
22645 >
22646 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
22647 > def run (self):
22648 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
22649 >
22650 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
22651 > def run (self):
22652 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
22653 >
22654 >MyThread1().start()
22655 >MyThread2().start()
22656 >end
22657 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
22658 @end smallexample
22659 @end defun
22660
22661 @findex gdb.write
22662 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
22663 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
22664 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
22665 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
22666 values are:
22667
22668 @table @code
22669 @findex STDOUT
22670 @findex gdb.STDOUT
22671 @item gdb.STDOUT
22672 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
22673
22674 @findex STDERR
22675 @findex gdb.STDERR
22676 @item gdb.STDERR
22677 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
22678
22679 @findex STDLOG
22680 @findex gdb.STDLOG
22681 @item gdb.STDLOG
22682 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
22683 @end table
22684
22685 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
22686 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
22687 relevant stream.
22688 @end defun
22689
22690 @findex gdb.flush
22691 @defun gdb.flush ()
22692 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
22693 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
22694 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
22695 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
22696 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
22697 stream values are:
22698
22699 @table @code
22700 @findex STDOUT
22701 @findex gdb.STDOUT
22702 @item gdb.STDOUT
22703 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
22704
22705 @findex STDERR
22706 @findex gdb.STDERR
22707 @item gdb.STDERR
22708 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
22709
22710 @findex STDLOG
22711 @findex gdb.STDLOG
22712 @item gdb.STDLOG
22713 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
22714
22715 @end table
22716
22717 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
22718 call this function for the relevant stream.
22719 @end defun
22720
22721 @findex gdb.target_charset
22722 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
22723 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
22724 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
22725 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
22726 @end defun
22727
22728 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
22729 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
22730 Return the name of the current target wide character set
22731 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
22732 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
22733 never returned.
22734 @end defun
22735
22736 @findex gdb.solib_name
22737 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
22738 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
22739 as a string, or @code{None}.
22740 @end defun
22741
22742 @findex gdb.decode_line
22743 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
22744 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
22745 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
22746 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
22747 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
22748 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
22749 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
22750 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
22751 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
22752 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
22753 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
22754 @end defun
22755
22756 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
22757 @anchor{prompt_hook}
22758
22759 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
22760 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
22761 @value{GDBN}.
22762
22763 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
22764 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
22765 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
22766 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
22767 the current prompt.
22768
22769 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
22770 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
22771 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
22772 @end defun
22773
22774 @node Exception Handling
22775 @subsubsection Exception Handling
22776 @cindex python exceptions
22777 @cindex exceptions, python
22778
22779 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
22780 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
22781 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
22782 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
22783 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
22784 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
22785 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
22786
22787 @smallexample
22788 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
22789 Traceback (most recent call last):
22790 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
22791 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
22792 @end smallexample
22793
22794 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
22795 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
22796 Python exception depends on the error.
22797
22798 @ftable @code
22799 @item gdb.error
22800 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
22801 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
22802 versions of @value{GDBN}.
22803
22804 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
22805 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
22806
22807 @item gdb.MemoryError
22808 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
22809 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
22810
22811 @item KeyboardInterrupt
22812 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
22813 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
22814 @end ftable
22815
22816 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
22817 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
22818 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
22819 traceback.
22820
22821 @findex gdb.GdbError
22822 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
22823 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
22824 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
22825 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
22826 to handle this case. Example:
22827
22828 @smallexample
22829 (gdb) python
22830 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
22831 > """Greet the whole world."""
22832 > def __init__ (self):
22833 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
22834 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
22835 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
22836 > if len (argv) != 0:
22837 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
22838 > print "Hello, World!"
22839 >HelloWorld ()
22840 >end
22841 (gdb) hello-world 42
22842 hello-world takes no arguments
22843 @end smallexample
22844
22845 @node Values From Inferior
22846 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
22847 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
22848 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
22849
22850 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
22851 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
22852 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
22853 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
22854 fetching values when necessary.
22855
22856 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
22857 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
22858 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
22859
22860 @smallexample
22861 bar = some_val + 2
22862 @end smallexample
22863
22864 @noindent
22865 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
22866 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
22867
22868 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
22869 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
22870 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
22871 can access its @code{foo} element with:
22872
22873 @smallexample
22874 bar = some_val['foo']
22875 @end smallexample
22876
22877 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
22878
22879 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
22880 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
22881 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
22882 by that prototype.
22883
22884 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
22885 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
22886 execute this function, call it like so:
22887
22888 @smallexample
22889 result = some_val (10,20)
22890 @end smallexample
22891
22892 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
22893 @code{gdb.Value}.
22894
22895 The following attributes are provided:
22896
22897 @table @code
22898 @defvar Value.address
22899 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
22900 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
22901 this attribute holds @code{None}.
22902 @end defvar
22903
22904 @cindex optimized out value in Python
22905 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
22906 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
22907 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
22908 @end defvar
22909
22910 @defvar Value.type
22911 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
22912 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
22913 @end defvar
22914
22915 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
22916 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
22917 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
22918 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
22919 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
22920 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
22921 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
22922 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
22923 type.
22924
22925 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
22926 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
22927 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
22928 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
22929 @end defvar
22930
22931 @defvar Value.is_lazy
22932 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
22933 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
22934 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
22935 For example:
22936
22937 @smallexample
22938 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
22939 @end smallexample
22940
22941 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
22942 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
22943 method is invoked.
22944 @end defvar
22945 @end table
22946
22947 The following methods are provided:
22948
22949 @table @code
22950 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
22951 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
22952 this object initializer. Specifically:
22953
22954 @table @asis
22955 @item Python boolean
22956 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
22957 language.
22958
22959 @item Python integer
22960 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
22961 current architecture.
22962
22963 @item Python long
22964 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
22965 current architecture.
22966
22967 @item Python float
22968 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
22969 current architecture.
22970
22971 @item Python string
22972 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
22973 target encoding.
22974
22975 @item @code{gdb.Value}
22976 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
22977
22978 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
22979 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
22980 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
22981 its result is used.
22982 @end table
22983 @end defun
22984
22985 @defun Value.cast (type)
22986 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
22987 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
22988 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
22989 reason, this method throws an exception.
22990 @end defun
22991
22992 @defun Value.dereference ()
22993 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
22994 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
22995 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
22996
22997 @smallexample
22998 int *foo;
22999 @end smallexample
23000
23001 @noindent
23002 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23003 @code{foo} points to like this:
23004
23005 @smallexample
23006 bar = foo.dereference ()
23007 @end smallexample
23008
23009 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23010 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23011
23012 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23013 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23014 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23015 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23016 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23017 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23018 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23019 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23020 as
23021
23022 @smallexample
23023 typedef int *intptr;
23024 ...
23025 int val = 10;
23026 intptr ptr = &val;
23027 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23028 @end smallexample
23029
23030 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23031 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23032 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23033 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23034 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23035 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
23036
23037 @smallexample
23038 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
23039 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
23040 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
23041 @end smallexample
23042
23043 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23044 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
23045 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
23046 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
23047 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
23048 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
23049 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
23050 example). The results are however identical when applied on
23051 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
23052 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
23053 @end defun
23054
23055 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
23056 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
23057 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
23058 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
23059 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
23060 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
23061 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
23062 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
23063 in your C@t{++} program as
23064
23065 @smallexample
23066 int val = 10;
23067 int &ref = val;
23068 @end smallexample
23069
23070 @noindent
23071 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
23072 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
23073 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
23074 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
23075
23076 @smallexample
23077 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
23078 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
23079 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
23080 @end smallexample
23081
23082 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23083 corresponding to @code{val}.
23084 @end defun
23085
23086 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
23087 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
23088 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23089 @end defun
23090
23091 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
23092 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
23093 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23094 @end defun
23095
23096 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
23097 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23098 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
23099 throw an exception.
23100
23101 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
23102 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
23103 language.
23104
23105 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
23106 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
23107 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
23108 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
23109 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
23110
23111 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23112 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
23113 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
23114 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
23115 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
23116 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
23117 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
23118 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
23119 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
23120
23121 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
23122 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
23123
23124 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23125 fetched and converted to the given length.
23126 @end defun
23127
23128 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
23129 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23130 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
23131 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
23132
23133 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23134 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
23135 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
23136 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
23137 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
23138
23139 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
23140 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
23141 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
23142 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
23143 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
23144 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
23145
23146 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23147 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
23148 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
23149 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
23150 @end defun
23151
23152 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
23153 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
23154 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
23155 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
23156 will produce a Python exception.
23157
23158 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
23159 has no effect.
23160
23161 This method does not return a value.
23162 @end defun
23163
23164 @end table
23165
23166 @node Types In Python
23167 @subsubsection Types In Python
23168 @cindex types in Python
23169 @cindex Python, working with types
23170
23171 @tindex gdb.Type
23172 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
23173 @code{gdb.Type}.
23174
23175 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23176 module:
23177
23178 @findex gdb.lookup_type
23179 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
23180 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
23181 type to look up. It must be a string.
23182
23183 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23184 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23185
23186 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
23187 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
23188 @end defun
23189
23190 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
23191 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
23192 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
23193 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
23194
23195 @smallexample
23196 bar = some_type['foo']
23197 @end smallexample
23198
23199 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
23200 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
23201 @code{gdb.Field} class.
23202
23203 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
23204
23205 @table @code
23206 @defvar Type.code
23207 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
23208 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
23209 @end defvar
23210
23211 @defvar Type.sizeof
23212 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
23213 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
23214 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
23215 @end defvar
23216
23217 @defvar Type.tag
23218 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
23219 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
23220 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
23221 @code{None} is returned.
23222 @end defvar
23223 @end table
23224
23225 The following methods are provided:
23226
23227 @table @code
23228 @defun Type.fields ()
23229 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
23230 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
23231 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
23232 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
23233 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
23234 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
23235
23236 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
23237 @table @code
23238 @item bitpos
23239 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
23240 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
23241 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
23242 enumeration member's integer representation.
23243
23244 @item name
23245 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
23246
23247 @item artificial
23248 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
23249 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
23250 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
23251
23252 @item is_base_class
23253 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
23254 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
23255 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
23256 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
23257
23258 @item bitsize
23259 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
23260 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
23261 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
23262
23263 @item type
23264 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
23265 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
23266 @end table
23267 @end defun
23268
23269 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23270 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
23271 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23272 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23273 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
23274 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
23275 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23276 @end defun
23277
23278 @defun Type.const ()
23279 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23280 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
23281 @end defun
23282
23283 @defun Type.volatile ()
23284 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23285 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
23286 @end defun
23287
23288 @defun Type.unqualified ()
23289 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
23290 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
23291 @code{volatile}.
23292 @end defun
23293
23294 @defun Type.range ()
23295 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
23296 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
23297 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
23298 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23299 @end defun
23300
23301 @defun Type.reference ()
23302 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
23303 type.
23304 @end defun
23305
23306 @defun Type.pointer ()
23307 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
23308 type.
23309 @end defun
23310
23311 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
23312 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
23313 after removing all layers of typedefs.
23314 @end defun
23315
23316 @defun Type.target ()
23317 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
23318 of this type.
23319
23320 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
23321 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
23322 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
23323 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
23324 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
23325 target type is the aliased type.
23326
23327 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
23328 exception.
23329 @end defun
23330
23331 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
23332 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
23333 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
23334 @var{n}th template argument.
23335
23336 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
23337 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
23338
23339 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23340 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23341 @end defun
23342 @end table
23343
23344
23345 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
23346 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
23347 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23348
23349 @table @code
23350 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
23351 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23352 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23353 The type is a pointer.
23354
23355 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23356 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23357 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23358 The type is an array.
23359
23360 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23361 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23362 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23363 The type is a structure.
23364
23365 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
23366 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23367 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23368 The type is a union.
23369
23370 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23371 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23372 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23373 The type is an enum.
23374
23375 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23376 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23377 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23378 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
23379
23380 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23381 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23382 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23383 The type is a function.
23384
23385 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
23386 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23387 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23388 The type is an integer type.
23389
23390 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
23391 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23392 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23393 A floating point type.
23394
23395 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
23396 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23397 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23398 The special type @code{void}.
23399
23400 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
23401 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23402 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23403 A Pascal set type.
23404
23405 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23406 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23407 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23408 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
23409
23410 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
23411 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23412 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23413 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
23414 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
23415
23416 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23417 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23418 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23419 A string of bits.
23420
23421 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23422 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23423 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23424 An unknown or erroneous type.
23425
23426 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23427 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23428 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23429 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
23430
23431 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23432 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23433 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23434 A pointer-to-member-function.
23435
23436 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23437 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23438 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23439 A pointer-to-member.
23440
23441 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
23442 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23443 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23444 A reference type.
23445
23446 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23447 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23448 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23449 A character type.
23450
23451 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23452 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23453 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23454 A boolean type.
23455
23456 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23457 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23458 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23459 A complex float type.
23460
23461 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23462 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23463 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23464 A typedef to some other type.
23465
23466 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23467 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23468 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23469 A C@t{++} namespace.
23470
23471 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23472 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23473 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23474 A decimal floating point type.
23475
23476 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23477 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23478 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23479 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
23480 convenience functions.
23481 @end table
23482
23483 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
23484 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
23485
23486 @node Pretty Printing API
23487 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
23488
23489 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
23490
23491 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
23492 specific interface, defined here.
23493
23494 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
23495 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
23496 children of the pretty-printer's value.
23497
23498 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
23499 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
23500 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
23501 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
23502 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
23503
23504 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
23505 as though the value has no children.
23506 @end defun
23507
23508 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
23509 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
23510 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
23511 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
23512 printed.
23513
23514 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
23515 string.
23516
23517 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
23518
23519 @table @samp
23520 @item array
23521 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
23522 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
23523 @code{set print array}.
23524
23525 @item map
23526 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
23527 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
23528 values.
23529
23530 @item string
23531 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
23532 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
23533 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
23534 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
23535 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
23536 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
23537 @end table
23538 @end defun
23539
23540 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
23541 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
23542 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
23543
23544 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
23545 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
23546 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
23547 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
23548 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
23549 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
23550 the result of @code{children}.
23551
23552 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
23553
23554 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
23555 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
23556 another pretty-printer.
23557
23558 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
23559 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
23560 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
23561 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
23562 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
23563
23564 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
23565 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
23566
23567 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
23568 @end defun
23569
23570 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
23571 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
23572
23573 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
23574 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
23575 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
23576 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
23577 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
23578 @end defun
23579
23580 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
23581 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
23582
23583 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
23584 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
23585 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
23586 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
23587 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
23588 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
23589 attribute.
23590
23591 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
23592 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
23593 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
23594 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
23595 @code{None}.
23596
23597 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
23598 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
23599 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
23600 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
23601 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
23602 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
23603 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
23604 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
23605 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
23606 object is returned.
23607
23608 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
23609 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
23610 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
23611 object is returned.
23612
23613 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
23614 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
23615 the pretty-printer is out of date.
23616
23617 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
23618 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
23619 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
23620 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
23621 with a broken printer.
23622
23623 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
23624 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
23625 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
23626 the printer is enabled.
23627
23628 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
23629 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
23630 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
23631
23632 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
23633 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
23634
23635 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
23636 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
23637 must provide.
23638
23639 @smallexample
23640 class StdStringPrinter(object):
23641 "Print a std::string"
23642
23643 def __init__(self, val):
23644 self.val = val
23645
23646 def to_string(self):
23647 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
23648
23649 def display_hint(self):
23650 return 'string'
23651 @end smallexample
23652
23653 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
23654 example above might be written.
23655
23656 @smallexample
23657 def str_lookup_function(val):
23658 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
23659 if lookup_tag == None:
23660 return None
23661 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
23662 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
23663 return StdStringPrinter(val)
23664 return None
23665 @end smallexample
23666
23667 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
23668 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
23669 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
23670 returns @code{None}.
23671
23672 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
23673 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
23674 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
23675 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
23676 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
23677 different names.
23678
23679 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
23680 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
23681 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
23682 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
23683 the current objfile.
23684
23685 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
23686 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
23687 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
23688 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
23689 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
23690 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
23691 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
23692 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
23693 inferior.
23694
23695 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
23696 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
23697
23698 @smallexample
23699 def register_printers(objfile):
23700 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
23701 @end smallexample
23702
23703 @noindent
23704 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
23705
23706 @smallexample
23707 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
23708 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
23709 @end smallexample
23710
23711 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
23712 There are a few things that can be improved on.
23713 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
23714 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
23715 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
23716
23717 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
23718 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
23719 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
23720 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
23721 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
23722 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
23723
23724 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
23725 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
23726 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
23727
23728 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
23729
23730 @smallexample
23731 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
23732 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
23733 @end smallexample
23734
23735 Here are the printers:
23736
23737 @smallexample
23738 class fooPrinter:
23739 """Print a foo object."""
23740
23741 def __init__(self, val):
23742 self.val = val
23743
23744 def to_string(self):
23745 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
23746 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
23747
23748 class barPrinter:
23749 """Print a bar object."""
23750
23751 def __init__(self, val):
23752 self.val = val
23753
23754 def to_string(self):
23755 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
23756 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
23757 @end smallexample
23758
23759 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
23760 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
23761 the object that handles the lookup.
23762
23763 @smallexample
23764 import gdb.printing
23765
23766 def build_pretty_printer():
23767 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
23768 "my_library")
23769 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
23770 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
23771 return pp
23772 @end smallexample
23773
23774 And here is the autoload support:
23775
23776 @smallexample
23777 import gdb.printing
23778 import my_library
23779 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
23780 gdb.current_objfile(),
23781 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
23782 @end smallexample
23783
23784 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
23785 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
23786
23787 @smallexample
23788 (gdb) info pretty-printer
23789 my_library.so:
23790 my_library
23791 foo
23792 bar
23793 @end smallexample
23794
23795 @node Inferiors In Python
23796 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
23797 @cindex inferiors in Python
23798
23799 @findex gdb.Inferior
23800 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
23801 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
23802 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
23803 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
23804
23805 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23806 module:
23807
23808 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
23809 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
23810 @end defun
23811
23812 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
23813 Return an object representing the current inferior.
23814 @end defun
23815
23816 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
23817
23818 @table @code
23819 @defvar Inferior.num
23820 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
23821 @end defvar
23822
23823 @defvar Inferior.pid
23824 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
23825 system.
23826 @end defvar
23827
23828 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
23829 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
23830 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
23831 @end defvar
23832 @end table
23833
23834 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
23835
23836 @table @code
23837 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
23838 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
23839 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
23840 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
23841 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
23842 at the time the method is called.
23843 @end defun
23844
23845 @defun Inferior.threads ()
23846 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
23847 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
23848 return an empty tuple.
23849 @end defun
23850
23851 @findex gdb.read_memory
23852 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
23853 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
23854 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
23855 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
23856 function.
23857 @end defun
23858
23859 @findex gdb.write_memory
23860 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
23861 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
23862 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
23863 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
23864 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
23865 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
23866 @end defun
23867
23868 @findex gdb.search_memory
23869 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
23870 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
23871 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
23872 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
23873 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
23874 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
23875 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
23876 the pattern could not be found.
23877 @end defun
23878 @end table
23879
23880 @node Events In Python
23881 @subsubsection Events In Python
23882 @cindex inferior events in Python
23883
23884 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
23885 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
23886 the inferior.
23887
23888 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
23889 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
23890 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
23891
23892 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
23893 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
23894 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
23895 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
23896
23897 @table @code
23898 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
23899 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
23900 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
23901 @end defun
23902
23903 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
23904 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
23905 will no longer receive notifications of events.
23906 @end defun
23907 @end table
23908
23909 Here is an example:
23910
23911 @smallexample
23912 def exit_handler (event):
23913 print "event type: exit"
23914 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
23915
23916 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
23917 @end smallexample
23918
23919 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
23920 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
23921 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
23922 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
23923 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
23924 the inferior.
23925
23926 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
23927 details of the events they emit:
23928
23929 @table @code
23930
23931 @item events.cont
23932 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23933
23934 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
23935 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
23936 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
23937 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
23938 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
23939 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
23940
23941 @table @code
23942 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
23943 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
23944 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
23945 @end defvar
23946 @end table
23947
23948 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23949
23950 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
23951 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
23952
23953 @item events.exited
23954 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
23955 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
23956 @table @code
23957 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
23958 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
23959 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
23960 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
23961 the attribute does not exist.
23962 @end defvar
23963 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
23964 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
23965 @end defvar
23966 @end table
23967
23968 @item events.stop
23969 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23970
23971 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
23972 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
23973 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
23974 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
23975
23976 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
23977
23978 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
23979 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
23980
23981 @table @code
23982 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
23983 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
23984 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
23985 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
23986 @end defvar
23987 @end table
23988
23989 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
23990
23991 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
23992 been hit, and has the following attributes:
23993
23994 @table @code
23995 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
23996 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
23997 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
23998 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
23999 @end defvar
24000 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
24001 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
24002 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
24003 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
24004 @end defvar
24005 @end table
24006
24007 @item events.new_objfile
24008 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
24009 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
24010
24011 @table @code
24012 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
24013 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
24014 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
24015 @end defvar
24016 @end table
24017
24018 @end table
24019
24020 @node Threads In Python
24021 @subsubsection Threads In Python
24022 @cindex threads in python
24023
24024 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
24025 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
24026 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
24027
24028 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24029 module:
24030
24031 @findex gdb.selected_thread
24032 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
24033 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
24034 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
24035 @end defun
24036
24037 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
24038
24039 @table @code
24040 @defvar InferiorThread.name
24041 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
24042 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
24043 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
24044 returns @code{None}.
24045
24046 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
24047 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
24048 user-specified thread name.
24049 @end defvar
24050
24051 @defvar InferiorThread.num
24052 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
24053 @end defvar
24054
24055 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
24056 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
24057 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
24058 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
24059 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
24060 does not use that identifier.
24061 @end defvar
24062 @end table
24063
24064 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
24065
24066 @table @code
24067 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
24068 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
24069 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
24070 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
24071 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
24072 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24073 @end defun
24074
24075 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
24076 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
24077 by this object.
24078 @end defun
24079
24080 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
24081 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
24082 @end defun
24083
24084 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
24085 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
24086 @end defun
24087
24088 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
24089 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
24090 @end defun
24091 @end table
24092
24093 @node Commands In Python
24094 @subsubsection Commands In Python
24095
24096 @cindex commands in python
24097 @cindex python commands
24098 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
24099 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
24100 class, most commonly using a subclass.
24101
24102 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
24103 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
24104 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
24105 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24106
24107 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
24108 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24109 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
24110 an exception is raised.
24111
24112 There is no support for multi-line commands.
24113
24114 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24115 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
24116 new command in the help system.
24117
24118 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
24119 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
24120 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
24121 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
24122 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
24123 error will occur when completion is attempted.
24124
24125 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
24126 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
24127 registered.
24128
24129 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
24130 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
24131 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
24132 not documented.'' is used.
24133 @end defun
24134
24135 @cindex don't repeat Python command
24136 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
24137 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
24138 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
24139 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
24140 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
24141 @end defun
24142
24143 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
24144 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
24145
24146 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
24147 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
24148
24149 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
24150 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
24151 that the command came from elsewhere.
24152
24153 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
24154 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
24155
24156 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
24157 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
24158 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
24159 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
24160 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
24161 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
24162 Example:
24163
24164 @smallexample
24165 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
24166 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
24167 @end smallexample
24168
24169 @end defun
24170
24171 @cindex completion of Python commands
24172 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
24173 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
24174 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
24175 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
24176 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
24177 complete}).
24178
24179 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
24180 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
24181 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
24182 using a word-breaking heuristic.
24183
24184 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
24185 @itemize @bullet
24186 @item
24187 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
24188 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
24189 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
24190 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
24191 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
24192 sequence are ignored.
24193
24194 @item
24195 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
24196 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
24197 function is invoked, and its result is used.
24198
24199 @item
24200 All other results are treated as though there were no available
24201 completions.
24202 @end itemize
24203 @end defun
24204
24205 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
24206 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
24207 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
24208 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
24209 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
24210 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24211
24212 @table @code
24213 @findex COMMAND_NONE
24214 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24215 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24216 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
24217 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
24218
24219 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
24220 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24221 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24222 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
24223 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
24224 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24225 commands in this category.
24226
24227 @findex COMMAND_DATA
24228 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24229 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24230 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
24231 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
24232 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
24233 in this category.
24234
24235 @findex COMMAND_STACK
24236 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24237 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24238 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
24239 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
24240 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
24241 list of commands in this category.
24242
24243 @findex COMMAND_FILES
24244 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24245 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24246 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
24247 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
24248 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24249 commands in this category.
24250
24251 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
24252 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24253 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24254 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
24255 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
24256 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
24257 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
24258 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24259 commands in this category.
24260
24261 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
24262 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24263 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24264 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
24265 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
24266 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
24267 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
24268
24269 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24270 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24271 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24272 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
24273 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24274 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
24275 this category.
24276
24277 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24278 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24279 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24280 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
24281 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
24282 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24283 commands in this category.
24284
24285 @findex COMMAND_USER
24286 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
24287 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
24288 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
24289 does not fit in one of the other categories.
24290 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
24291 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
24292 (@pxref{Sequences}).
24293
24294 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
24295 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24296 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24297 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
24298 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
24299 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24300 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
24301 category.
24302
24303 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24304 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24305 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24306 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
24307 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
24308 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24309 commands in this category.
24310 @end table
24311
24312 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
24313 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
24314 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
24315 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24316
24317 @table @code
24318 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
24319 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24320 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24321 This constant means that no completion should be done.
24322
24323 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
24324 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24325 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24326 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
24327
24328 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
24329 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24330 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24331 This constant means that location completion should be done.
24332 @xref{Specify Location}.
24333
24334 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
24335 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24336 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24337 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
24338 command names.
24339
24340 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24341 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24342 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24343 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
24344 as the source.
24345 @end table
24346
24347 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
24348 implemented in Python:
24349
24350 @smallexample
24351 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
24352 """Greet the whole world."""
24353
24354 def __init__ (self):
24355 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
24356
24357 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
24358 print "Hello, World!"
24359
24360 HelloWorld ()
24361 @end smallexample
24362
24363 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24364 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24365 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24366 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24367
24368 @node Parameters In Python
24369 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
24370
24371 @cindex parameters in python
24372 @cindex python parameters
24373 @tindex gdb.Parameter
24374 @tindex Parameter
24375 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
24376 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
24377 class.
24378
24379 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
24380 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
24381
24382 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
24383 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
24384 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
24385 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
24386 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
24387
24388 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
24389 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
24390 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
24391 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24392
24393 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
24394 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24395 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
24396 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
24397 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
24398 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
24399 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
24400
24401 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
24402 can be found, an exception is raised.
24403
24404 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24405 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
24406 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
24407
24408 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
24409 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
24410 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
24411 completion.
24412
24413 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
24414 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
24415 represent the possible values for the parameter.
24416
24417 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
24418 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
24419
24420 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
24421 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
24422 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
24423 @end defun
24424
24425 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
24426 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24427 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
24428 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24429 have no effect.
24430 @end defvar
24431
24432 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
24433 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24434 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
24435 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24436 have no effect.
24437 @end defvar
24438
24439 @defvar Parameter.value
24440 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
24441 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
24442 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
24443 @end defvar
24444
24445 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
24446 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
24447
24448 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
24449 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
24450 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
24451 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
24452 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
24453 @end defun
24454
24455 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
24456 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
24457 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
24458 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
24459 current value. This method must return a string.
24460 @end defun
24461
24462 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
24463 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24464 module:
24465
24466 @table @code
24467 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
24468 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24469 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24470 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
24471 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
24472
24473 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24474 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24475 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24476 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
24477 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
24478 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
24479
24480 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
24481 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24482 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24483 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
24484 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
24485
24486 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
24487 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24488 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24489 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
24490 to mean ``unlimited''.
24491
24492 @findex PARAM_STRING
24493 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
24494 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
24495 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
24496 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
24497 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
24498 host charset.
24499
24500 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24501 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24502 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24503 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
24504 passed through untranslated.
24505
24506 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24507 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24508 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24509 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
24510
24511 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
24512 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24513 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24514 The value is a filename. This is just like
24515 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
24516
24517 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
24518 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24519 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24520 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
24521 is interpreted as itself.
24522
24523 @findex PARAM_ENUM
24524 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24525 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24526 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
24527 constants provided when the parameter is created.
24528 @end table
24529
24530 @node Functions In Python
24531 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
24532
24533 @cindex writing convenience functions
24534 @cindex convenience functions in python
24535 @cindex python convenience functions
24536 @tindex gdb.Function
24537 @tindex Function
24538 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
24539 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
24540 class @code{gdb.Function}.
24541
24542 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
24543 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
24544 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
24545 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
24546 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
24547 the given @var{name}.
24548
24549 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
24550 string for the new class.
24551 @end defun
24552
24553 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
24554 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
24555 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
24556 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
24557 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
24558 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
24559 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
24560 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
24561
24562 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
24563 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
24564 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
24565 @end defun
24566
24567 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
24568 be implemented in Python:
24569
24570 @smallexample
24571 class Greet (gdb.Function):
24572 """Return string to greet someone.
24573 Takes a name as argument."""
24574
24575 def __init__ (self):
24576 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
24577
24578 def invoke (self, name):
24579 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
24580
24581 Greet ()
24582 @end smallexample
24583
24584 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24585 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24586 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24587 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24588
24589 @node Progspaces In Python
24590 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
24591
24592 @cindex progspaces in python
24593 @tindex gdb.Progspace
24594 @tindex Progspace
24595 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
24596 of an address space.
24597 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
24598 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24599 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
24600 about program spaces.
24601
24602 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
24603 @code{gdb} module:
24604
24605 @findex gdb.current_progspace
24606 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
24607 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
24608 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
24609 @end defun
24610
24611 @findex gdb.progspaces
24612 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
24613 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
24614 @end defun
24615
24616 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
24617 class.
24618
24619 @defvar Progspace.filename
24620 The file name of the progspace as a string.
24621 @end defvar
24622
24623 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
24624 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
24625 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
24626 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
24627 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
24628 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
24629 information.
24630 @end defvar
24631
24632 @node Objfiles In Python
24633 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
24634
24635 @cindex objfiles in python
24636 @tindex gdb.Objfile
24637 @tindex Objfile
24638 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
24639 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
24640 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
24641 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
24642 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
24643
24644 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
24645 @code{gdb} module:
24646
24647 @findex gdb.current_objfile
24648 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
24649 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
24650 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
24651 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
24652 this function returns @code{None}.
24653 @end defun
24654
24655 @findex gdb.objfiles
24656 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
24657 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
24658 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24659 @end defun
24660
24661 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
24662 class.
24663
24664 @defvar Objfile.filename
24665 The file name of the objfile as a string.
24666 @end defvar
24667
24668 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
24669 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
24670 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
24671 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
24672 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
24673 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
24674 information.
24675 @end defvar
24676
24677 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
24678
24679 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
24680 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
24681 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
24682 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
24683 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
24684 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24685 @end defun
24686
24687 @node Frames In Python
24688 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
24689
24690 @cindex frames in python
24691 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
24692 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
24693 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
24694 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
24695 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
24696 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24697
24698 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
24699 operator, like:
24700
24701 @smallexample
24702 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
24703 True
24704 @end smallexample
24705
24706 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
24707
24708 @findex gdb.selected_frame
24709 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
24710 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
24711 @end defun
24712
24713 @findex gdb.newest_frame
24714 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
24715 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
24716 @end defun
24717
24718 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
24719 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
24720 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
24721 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
24722 @end defun
24723
24724 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
24725
24726 @table @code
24727 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
24728 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
24729 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
24730 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
24731 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24732 @end defun
24733
24734 @defun Frame.name ()
24735 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
24736 obtained.
24737 @end defun
24738
24739 @defun Frame.type ()
24740 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
24741 @table @code
24742 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
24743 An ordinary stack frame.
24744
24745 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
24746 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
24747 inferior function call.
24748
24749 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
24750 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
24751 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
24752
24753 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
24754 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
24755
24756 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
24757 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
24758 it calls into a signal handler.
24759
24760 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
24761 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
24762
24763 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
24764 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
24765 newest frame.
24766 @end table
24767 @end defun
24768
24769 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
24770 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
24771 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
24772 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
24773 function to a string. The value can be one of:
24774
24775 @table @code
24776 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
24777 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
24778
24779 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
24780 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
24781
24782 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
24783 This frame is the outermost.
24784
24785 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
24786 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
24787 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
24788
24789 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
24790 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
24791 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
24792 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
24793
24794 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
24795 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
24796 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
24797 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
24798 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
24799 stack corruption.
24800
24801 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
24802 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
24803 one to unwind further.
24804
24805 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
24806 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
24807 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
24808 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
24809 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
24810 versions. Using it, you could write:
24811 @smallexample
24812 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
24813 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
24814 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
24815 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
24816 @end smallexample
24817 @end table
24818
24819 @end defun
24820
24821 @defun Frame.pc ()
24822 Returns the frame's resume address.
24823 @end defun
24824
24825 @defun Frame.block ()
24826 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
24827 @end defun
24828
24829 @defun Frame.function ()
24830 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
24831 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
24832 @end defun
24833
24834 @defun Frame.older ()
24835 Return the frame that called this frame.
24836 @end defun
24837
24838 @defun Frame.newer ()
24839 Return the frame called by this frame.
24840 @end defun
24841
24842 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
24843 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
24844 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
24845 @end defun
24846
24847 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
24848 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
24849 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
24850 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
24851 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
24852 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
24853 @code{gdb.Block} object.
24854 @end defun
24855
24856 @defun Frame.select ()
24857 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
24858 Stack}.
24859 @end defun
24860 @end table
24861
24862 @node Blocks In Python
24863 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
24864
24865 @cindex blocks in python
24866 @tindex gdb.Block
24867
24868 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
24869 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
24870 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
24871 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
24872 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
24873 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
24874 stack.
24875
24876 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
24877 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
24878 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
24879 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
24880 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
24881 table.
24882
24883 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24884 module:
24885
24886 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
24887 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
24888 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
24889 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
24890 will return @code{None}.
24891 @end defun
24892
24893 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
24894
24895 @table @code
24896 @defun Block.is_valid ()
24897 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
24898 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
24899 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
24900 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
24901 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
24902 during iteration over symbols of the block.
24903 @end defun
24904 @end table
24905
24906 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
24907
24908 @table @code
24909 @defvar Block.start
24910 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
24911 @end defvar
24912
24913 @defvar Block.end
24914 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
24915 @end defvar
24916
24917 @defvar Block.function
24918 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
24919 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
24920 attribute is not writable.
24921 @end defvar
24922
24923 @defvar Block.superblock
24924 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
24925 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24926 @end defvar
24927
24928 @defvar Block.global_block
24929 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
24930 writable.
24931 @end defvar
24932
24933 @defvar Block.static_block
24934 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
24935 writable.
24936 @end defvar
24937
24938 @defvar Block.is_global
24939 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
24940 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
24941 writable.
24942 @end defvar
24943
24944 @defvar Block.is_static
24945 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
24946 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
24947 @end defvar
24948 @end table
24949
24950 @node Symbols In Python
24951 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
24952
24953 @cindex symbols in python
24954 @tindex gdb.Symbol
24955
24956 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
24957 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
24958 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
24959 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
24960
24961 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24962 module:
24963
24964 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
24965 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
24966 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
24967 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
24968 arguments.
24969
24970 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
24971 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
24972 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
24973 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
24974 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
24975 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
24976 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
24977 in this chapter.
24978
24979 The result is a tuple of two elements.
24980 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
24981 is not found.
24982 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
24983 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
24984 otherwise it is @code{False}.
24985 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
24986 @end defun
24987
24988 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
24989 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
24990 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
24991 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
24992
24993 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
24994 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
24995 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
24996 module and described later in this chapter.
24997
24998 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
24999 is not found.
25000 @end defun
25001
25002 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
25003
25004 @table @code
25005 @defvar Symbol.type
25006 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
25007 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
25008 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25009 @end defvar
25010
25011 @defvar Symbol.symtab
25012 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
25013 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
25014 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25015 @end defvar
25016
25017 @defvar Symbol.line
25018 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
25019 This is an integer.
25020 @end defvar
25021
25022 @defvar Symbol.name
25023 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
25024 @end defvar
25025
25026 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
25027 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
25028 This attribute is not writable.
25029 @end defvar
25030
25031 @defvar Symbol.print_name
25032 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
25033 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
25034 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
25035 @end defvar
25036
25037 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
25038 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
25039 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
25040 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
25041 @end defvar
25042
25043 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
25044 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
25045 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
25046 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
25047 @end defvar
25048
25049 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
25050 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
25051 @end defvar
25052
25053 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
25054 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
25055 @end defvar
25056
25057 @defvar Symbol.is_function
25058 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
25059 @end defvar
25060
25061 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
25062 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
25063 @end defvar
25064 @end table
25065
25066 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
25067
25068 @table @code
25069 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
25070 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
25071 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
25072 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
25073 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
25074 invalid at the time the method is called.
25075 @end defun
25076
25077 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
25078 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
25079 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
25080 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
25081 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
25082 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
25083 exception.
25084 @end defun
25085 @end table
25086
25087 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25088 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25089
25090 @table @code
25091 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25092 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25093 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25094 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
25095 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
25096 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25097 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25098 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25099 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25100 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
25101 type values.
25102 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25103 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25104 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25105 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
25106 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25107 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25108 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25109 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
25110 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25111 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25112 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25113 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
25114 contains everything minus functions and types.
25115 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25116 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25117 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
25118 This domain contains all functions.
25119 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25120 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25121 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25122 This domain contains all types.
25123 @end table
25124
25125 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25126 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25127
25128 @table @code
25129 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25130 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25131 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25132 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
25133 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25134 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25135 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25136 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25137 Value is constant int.
25138 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25139 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25140 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25141 Value is at a fixed address.
25142 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25143 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25144 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25145 Value is in a register.
25146 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25147 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25148 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25149 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
25150 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
25151 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25152 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25153 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25154 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
25155 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
25156 offset, not the value itself.
25157 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25158 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25159 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25160 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
25161 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
25162 itself.
25163 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25164 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25165 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25166 Value is a local variable.
25167 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25168 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25169 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25170 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
25171 have this class.
25172 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25173 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25174 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25175 Value is a block.
25176 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25177 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25178 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25179 Value is a byte-sequence.
25180 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25181 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25182 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25183 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
25184 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
25185 referenced.
25186 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25187 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25188 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25189 The value does not actually exist in the program.
25190 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25191 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25192 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25193 The value's address is a computed location.
25194 @end table
25195
25196 @node Symbol Tables In Python
25197 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
25198
25199 @cindex symbol tables in python
25200 @tindex gdb.Symtab
25201 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
25202
25203 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
25204 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
25205 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
25206 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
25207 @xref{Frames In Python}.
25208
25209 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
25210 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
25211
25212 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
25213
25214 @table @code
25215 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
25216 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
25217 This attribute is not writable.
25218 @end defvar
25219
25220 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
25221 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
25222 writable.
25223 @end defvar
25224
25225 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
25226 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
25227 attribute is not writable.
25228 @end defvar
25229 @end table
25230
25231 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
25232
25233 @table @code
25234 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
25235 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
25236 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
25237 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
25238 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
25239 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
25240 invalid at the time the method is called.
25241 @end defun
25242 @end table
25243
25244 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
25245
25246 @table @code
25247 @defvar Symtab.filename
25248 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
25249 @end defvar
25250
25251 @defvar Symtab.objfile
25252 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25253 This attribute is not writable.
25254 @end defvar
25255 @end table
25256
25257 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
25258
25259 @table @code
25260 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
25261 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
25262 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
25263 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
25264 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
25265 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25266 @end defun
25267
25268 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
25269 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
25270 @end defun
25271
25272 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
25273 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
25274 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25275 @end defun
25276
25277 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
25278 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
25279 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25280 @end defun
25281 @end table
25282
25283 @node Breakpoints In Python
25284 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
25285
25286 @cindex breakpoints in python
25287 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
25288
25289 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
25290 class.
25291
25292 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
25293 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
25294 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
25295 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
25296 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
25297 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
25298 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
25299 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
25300 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
25301 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
25302 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
25303 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
25304 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
25305 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
25306 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
25307 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
25308 @end defun
25309
25310 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
25311 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
25312 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
25313 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
25314 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
25315 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
25316 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
25317 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
25318
25319 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
25320 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
25321 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
25322 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
25323 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
25324 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
25325
25326 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
25327 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
25328 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
25329 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
25330 at this time.
25331
25332 Example @code{stop} implementation:
25333
25334 @smallexample
25335 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
25336 def stop (self):
25337 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
25338 if inf_val == 3:
25339 return True
25340 return False
25341 @end smallexample
25342 @end defun
25343
25344 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
25345 @code{gdb} module:
25346
25347 @table @code
25348 @findex WP_READ
25349 @findex gdb.WP_READ
25350 @item gdb.WP_READ
25351 Read only watchpoint.
25352
25353 @findex WP_WRITE
25354 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
25355 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
25356 Write only watchpoint.
25357
25358 @findex WP_ACCESS
25359 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
25360 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
25361 Read/Write watchpoint.
25362 @end table
25363
25364 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
25365 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
25366 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
25367 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
25368 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
25369 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
25370 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
25371 @end defun
25372
25373 @defun Breakpoint.delete
25374 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
25375 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
25376 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
25377 @end defun
25378
25379 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
25380 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
25381 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25382 @end defvar
25383
25384 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
25385 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
25386 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25387
25388 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
25389 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
25390 @code{silent} attribute.
25391 @end defvar
25392
25393 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
25394 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
25395 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
25396 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25397 @end defvar
25398
25399 @defvar Breakpoint.task
25400 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
25401 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
25402 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
25403 is writable.
25404 @end defvar
25405
25406 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
25407 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25408 This attribute is writable.
25409 @end defvar
25410
25411 @defvar Breakpoint.number
25412 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
25413 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
25414 @end defvar
25415
25416 @defvar Breakpoint.type
25417 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
25418 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
25419 writable.
25420 @end defvar
25421
25422 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
25423 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
25424 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
25425 attribute is not writable.
25426 @end defvar
25427
25428 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
25429 module:
25430
25431 @table @code
25432 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
25433 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25434 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25435 Normal code breakpoint.
25436
25437 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
25438 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25439 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25440 Watchpoint breakpoint.
25441
25442 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25443 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25444 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25445 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
25446
25447 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25448 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25449 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25450 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
25451
25452 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25453 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25454 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25455 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
25456 @end table
25457
25458 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
25459 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25460 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
25461 @end defvar
25462
25463 @defvar Breakpoint.location
25464 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
25465 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
25466 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
25467 attribute is not writable.
25468 @end defvar
25469
25470 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
25471 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
25472 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
25473 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
25474 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25475 @end defvar
25476
25477 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
25478 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
25479 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
25480 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25481 @end defvar
25482
25483 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
25484 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
25485 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
25486 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
25487 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25488 @end defvar
25489
25490 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
25491 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
25492
25493 @cindex python finish breakpoints
25494 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
25495
25496 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
25497 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
25498 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
25499 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
25500 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
25501 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
25502 thread selected.
25503
25504 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
25505 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
25506 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
25507 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
25508 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
25509 details about this argument.
25510 @end defun
25511
25512 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
25513 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
25514 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
25515 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
25516 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
25517
25518 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
25519 method:
25520
25521 @smallexample
25522 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
25523 def stop (self):
25524 print "normal finish"
25525 return True
25526
25527 def out_of_scope ():
25528 print "abnormal finish"
25529 @end smallexample
25530 @end defun
25531
25532 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
25533 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
25534 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
25535 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
25536 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
25537 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
25538 is not writable.
25539 @end defvar
25540
25541 @node Lazy Strings In Python
25542 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
25543
25544 @cindex lazy strings in python
25545 @tindex gdb.LazyString
25546
25547 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
25548 encoded until it is needed.
25549
25550 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
25551 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
25552 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
25553 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
25554 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
25555 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
25556 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
25557 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
25558 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
25559
25560 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
25561
25562 @defun LazyString.value ()
25563 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
25564 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
25565 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
25566 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
25567 @end defun
25568
25569 @defvar LazyString.address
25570 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
25571 writable.
25572 @end defvar
25573
25574 @defvar LazyString.length
25575 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
25576 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
25577 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
25578 @end defvar
25579
25580 @defvar LazyString.encoding
25581 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
25582 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
25583 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
25584 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
25585 is not writable.
25586 @end defvar
25587
25588 @defvar LazyString.type
25589 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
25590 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
25591 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
25592 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
25593 writable.
25594 @end defvar
25595
25596 @node Python Auto-loading
25597 @subsection Python Auto-loading
25598 @cindex Python auto-loading
25599
25600 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
25601 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
25602 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
25603 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
25604 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25605 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
25606
25607 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
25608 debugging commands and scripts.
25609
25610 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
25611 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
25612
25613 @table @code
25614 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
25615 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
25616 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
25617 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
25618
25619 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
25620 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
25621 @item show auto-load python-scripts
25622 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
25623
25624 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
25625 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
25626 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
25627 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
25628 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
25629
25630 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
25631 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
25632 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
25633 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
25634 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
25635 an error message for each one is problematic.
25636
25637 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
25638
25639 Example:
25640
25641 @smallexample
25642 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
25643 Loaded Script
25644 Yes py-section-script.py
25645 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
25646 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
25647 @end smallexample
25648 @end table
25649
25650 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
25651 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
25652 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
25653 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
25654
25655 @menu
25656 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
25657 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25658 * Which flavor to choose?::
25659 @end menu
25660
25661 @node objfile-gdb.py file
25662 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
25663 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
25664
25665 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
25666 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
25667 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
25668 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
25669 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
25670 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
25671
25672 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
25673 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
25674 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{script-name} in all of the
25675 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
25676
25677 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
25678 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
25679
25680 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25681 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25682
25683 @table @code
25684 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
25685 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
25686 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
25687 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
25688 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
25689 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
25690
25691 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
25692 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
25693
25694 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
25695 This variable defaults to @file{$ddir/auto-load}. The default @code{set
25696 auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN} configuration
25697 option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
25698
25699 Any used string @file{$ddir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
25700 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$ddir} must be
25701 be placed as a directory component --- either alone or delimited by @file{/} or
25702 @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host platform.
25703
25704 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
25705 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
25706 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
25707
25708 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
25709 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
25710 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
25711 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
25712 @end table
25713
25714 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
25715 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
25716 @var{objfile} is opened.
25717 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
25718 is evaluated more than once.
25719
25720 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
25721 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25722 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25723
25724 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
25725 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
25726 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
25727 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
25728
25729 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
25730 current directory and then along the source search path
25731 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
25732 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
25733 directory is not relevant to scripts.
25734
25735 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
25736 for example, this GCC macro:
25737
25738 @example
25739 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
25740 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
25741 asm("\
25742 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
25743 .byte 1\n\
25744 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
25745 .popsection \n\
25746 ");
25747 @end example
25748
25749 @noindent
25750 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
25751
25752 @example
25753 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
25754 @end example
25755
25756 The script name may include directories if desired.
25757
25758 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25759 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25760
25761 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
25762 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
25763
25764 @node Which flavor to choose?
25765 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
25766
25767 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
25768 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
25769
25770 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
25771
25772 @itemize @bullet
25773 @item
25774 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
25775
25776 @item
25777 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
25778
25779 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
25780 in the source search path.
25781 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
25782 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
25783
25784 @item
25785 Doesn't require source code additions.
25786 @end itemize
25787
25788 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
25789
25790 @itemize @bullet
25791 @item
25792 Works with static linking.
25793
25794 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
25795 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
25796 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
25797 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
25798
25799 @item
25800 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
25801
25802 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
25803 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
25804
25805 @item
25806 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
25807
25808 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
25809 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
25810 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
25811 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
25812 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
25813 top of the source tree to the source search path.
25814 @end itemize
25815
25816 @node Python modules
25817 @subsection Python modules
25818 @cindex python modules
25819
25820 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
25821
25822 @menu
25823 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
25824 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
25825 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
25826 @end menu
25827
25828 @node gdb.printing
25829 @subsubsection gdb.printing
25830 @cindex gdb.printing
25831
25832 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
25833 pretty-printers.
25834
25835 @table @code
25836 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
25837 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
25838 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
25839 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
25840
25841 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
25842 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
25843 corresponding API for the subprinters.
25844
25845 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
25846 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
25847 regular expressions.
25848 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
25849
25850 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
25851 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
25852 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
25853 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
25854 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
25855 the @code{enum} type to look up.
25856
25857 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
25858 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
25859 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
25860 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
25861 if a printer with the same name already exists.
25862 @end table
25863
25864 @node gdb.types
25865 @subsubsection gdb.types
25866 @cindex gdb.types
25867
25868 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
25869 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
25870
25871 @table @code
25872 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
25873 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
25874 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
25875
25876 C@t{++} example:
25877
25878 @smallexample
25879 typedef const int const_int;
25880 const_int foo (3);
25881 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
25882 int main () @{ return 0; @}
25883 @end smallexample
25884
25885 Then in gdb:
25886
25887 @smallexample
25888 (gdb) start
25889 (gdb) python import gdb.types
25890 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
25891 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
25892 int
25893 @end smallexample
25894
25895 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
25896 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
25897 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
25898
25899 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
25900 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
25901
25902 @item deep_items (@var{type})
25903 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
25904 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
25905 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
25906 union fields. For example:
25907
25908 @smallexample
25909 struct A
25910 @{
25911 int a;
25912 union @{
25913 int b0;
25914 int b1;
25915 @};
25916 @};
25917 @end smallexample
25918
25919 @noindent
25920 Then in @value{GDBN}:
25921 @smallexample
25922 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
25923 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
25924 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
25925 @{['a', '']@}
25926 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
25927 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
25928 @end smallexample
25929
25930 @end table
25931
25932 @node gdb.prompt
25933 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
25934 @cindex gdb.prompt
25935
25936 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
25937
25938 @table @code
25939 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
25940 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
25941 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
25942 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
25943
25944 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
25945
25946 @table @code
25947 @item \\
25948 Substitute a backslash.
25949 @item \e
25950 Substitute an ESC character.
25951 @item \f
25952 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
25953 @item \n
25954 Substitute a newline.
25955 @item \p
25956 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
25957 @item \r
25958 Substitute a carriage return.
25959 @item \t
25960 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
25961 @item \v
25962 Substitute the version of GDB.
25963 @item \w
25964 Substitute the current working directory.
25965 @item \[
25966 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
25967 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
25968 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
25969 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
25970 @item \]
25971 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
25972 @end table
25973
25974 For example:
25975
25976 @smallexample
25977 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
25978 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
25979 @end smallexample
25980
25981 @exdent will return the string:
25982
25983 @smallexample
25984 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
25985 @end smallexample
25986 @end table
25987
25988 @node Aliases
25989 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
25990 @cindex aliases for commands
25991
25992 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
25993 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
25994 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
25995 that involves less typing.
25996
25997 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
25998 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
25999 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
26000
26001 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
26002 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
26003 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
26004
26005 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
26006
26007 @table @code
26008
26009 @kindex alias
26010 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
26011
26012 @end table
26013
26014 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
26015 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
26016 underscores.
26017
26018 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
26019 that is being aliased.
26020
26021 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
26022 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
26023 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
26024
26025 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
26026 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
26027
26028 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
26029 of a command so that there is less to type.
26030 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
26031 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
26032 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
26033 The following will accomplish this.
26034
26035 @smallexample
26036 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
26037 @end smallexample
26038
26039 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
26040 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
26041 for it with the @samp{document} command.
26042 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
26043
26044 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
26045 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
26046 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
26047 of a command.
26048
26049 @smallexample
26050 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
26051 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
26052 (gdb) set p elms 20
26053 (gdb) show p elms
26054 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
26055 @end smallexample
26056
26057 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
26058 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
26059 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
26060
26061 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
26062 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
26063
26064 @smallexample
26065 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
26066 @end smallexample
26067
26068 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
26069 alias for a more complex command.
26070 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
26071
26072 @smallexample
26073 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
26074 (gdb) spe 20
26075 @end smallexample
26076
26077 @node Interpreters
26078 @chapter Command Interpreters
26079 @cindex command interpreters
26080
26081 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
26082 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
26083 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
26084
26085 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
26086 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
26087 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
26088 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
26089
26090 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
26091 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
26092 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
26093 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
26094
26095 @table @code
26096 @item console
26097 @cindex console interpreter
26098 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
26099 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
26100 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
26101
26102 @item mi
26103 @cindex mi interpreter
26104 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
26105 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
26106 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
26107 Interface}.
26108
26109 @item mi2
26110 @cindex mi2 interpreter
26111 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
26112
26113 @item mi1
26114 @cindex mi1 interpreter
26115 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
26116
26117 @end table
26118
26119 @cindex invoke another interpreter
26120 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
26121 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
26122 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
26123 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
26124 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
26125 the IDE inoperable!
26126
26127 @kindex interpreter-exec
26128 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
26129 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
26130 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
26131 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
26132
26133 @smallexample
26134 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
26135 @end smallexample
26136
26137 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
26138 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
26139
26140 @node TUI
26141 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
26142 @cindex TUI
26143 @cindex Text User Interface
26144
26145 @menu
26146 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
26147 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
26148 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
26149 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
26150 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
26151 @end menu
26152
26153 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
26154 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
26155 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
26156 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
26157 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
26158 is available.
26159
26160 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
26161 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
26162 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
26163 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
26164 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
26165
26166 @node TUI Overview
26167 @section TUI Overview
26168
26169 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
26170
26171 @table @emph
26172 @item command
26173 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
26174 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
26175 managed using readline.
26176
26177 @item source
26178 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
26179 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
26180
26181 @item assembly
26182 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
26183
26184 @item register
26185 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
26186 when their values change.
26187 @end table
26188
26189 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
26190 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
26191 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
26192 indicates the breakpoint type:
26193
26194 @table @code
26195 @item B
26196 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26197
26198 @item b
26199 Breakpoint which was never hit.
26200
26201 @item H
26202 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26203
26204 @item h
26205 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
26206 @end table
26207
26208 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
26209
26210 @table @code
26211 @item +
26212 Breakpoint is enabled.
26213
26214 @item -
26215 Breakpoint is disabled.
26216 @end table
26217
26218 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
26219 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
26220 changes.
26221
26222 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
26223 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
26224 layouts:
26225
26226 @itemize @bullet
26227 @item
26228 source only,
26229
26230 @item
26231 assembly only,
26232
26233 @item
26234 source and assembly,
26235
26236 @item
26237 source and registers, or
26238
26239 @item
26240 assembly and registers.
26241 @end itemize
26242
26243 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
26244
26245 @table @emph
26246 @item target
26247 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
26248 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
26249
26250 @item process
26251 Gives the current process or thread number.
26252 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
26253
26254 @item function
26255 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
26256 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
26257 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
26258 the string @code{??} is displayed.
26259
26260 @item line
26261 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
26262 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
26263
26264 @item pc
26265 Indicates the current program counter address.
26266 @end table
26267
26268 @node TUI Keys
26269 @section TUI Key Bindings
26270 @cindex TUI key bindings
26271
26272 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
26273 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
26274 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
26275 @end ifset
26276 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
26277 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
26278 @end ifclear
26279 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
26280 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
26281
26282 @table @kbd
26283 @kindex C-x C-a
26284 @item C-x C-a
26285 @kindex C-x a
26286 @itemx C-x a
26287 @kindex C-x A
26288 @itemx C-x A
26289 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
26290 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
26291 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
26292 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
26293 The screen is then refreshed.
26294
26295 @kindex C-x 1
26296 @item C-x 1
26297 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
26298 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
26299 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
26300
26301 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
26302
26303 @kindex C-x 2
26304 @item C-x 2
26305 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
26306 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
26307 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
26308 previous layout and the new one.
26309
26310 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
26311
26312 @kindex C-x o
26313 @item C-x o
26314 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
26315 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
26316 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
26317
26318 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
26319
26320 @kindex C-x s
26321 @item C-x s
26322 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
26323 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
26324 @end table
26325
26326 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
26327
26328 @table @asis
26329 @kindex PgUp
26330 @item @key{PgUp}
26331 Scroll the active window one page up.
26332
26333 @kindex PgDn
26334 @item @key{PgDn}
26335 Scroll the active window one page down.
26336
26337 @kindex Up
26338 @item @key{Up}
26339 Scroll the active window one line up.
26340
26341 @kindex Down
26342 @item @key{Down}
26343 Scroll the active window one line down.
26344
26345 @kindex Left
26346 @item @key{Left}
26347 Scroll the active window one column left.
26348
26349 @kindex Right
26350 @item @key{Right}
26351 Scroll the active window one column right.
26352
26353 @kindex C-L
26354 @item @kbd{C-L}
26355 Refresh the screen.
26356 @end table
26357
26358 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
26359 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
26360 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
26361 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
26362 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
26363
26364 @node TUI Single Key Mode
26365 @section TUI Single Key Mode
26366 @cindex TUI single key mode
26367
26368 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
26369 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
26370 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
26371
26372 @table @kbd
26373 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26374 @item c
26375 continue
26376
26377 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26378 @item d
26379 down
26380
26381 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26382 @item f
26383 finish
26384
26385 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26386 @item n
26387 next
26388
26389 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26390 @item q
26391 exit the SingleKey mode.
26392
26393 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26394 @item r
26395 run
26396
26397 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26398 @item s
26399 step
26400
26401 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26402 @item u
26403 up
26404
26405 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26406 @item v
26407 info locals
26408
26409 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26410 @item w
26411 where
26412 @end table
26413
26414 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
26415 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
26416 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
26417 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
26418 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
26419 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
26420
26421
26422 @node TUI Commands
26423 @section TUI-specific Commands
26424 @cindex TUI commands
26425
26426 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
26427 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
26428 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
26429 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
26430
26431 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
26432 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
26433 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
26434 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
26435 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
26436
26437 @table @code
26438 @item info win
26439 @kindex info win
26440 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
26441
26442 @item layout next
26443 @kindex layout
26444 Display the next layout.
26445
26446 @item layout prev
26447 Display the previous layout.
26448
26449 @item layout src
26450 Display the source window only.
26451
26452 @item layout asm
26453 Display the assembly window only.
26454
26455 @item layout split
26456 Display the source and assembly window.
26457
26458 @item layout regs
26459 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
26460
26461 @item focus next
26462 @kindex focus
26463 Make the next window active for scrolling.
26464
26465 @item focus prev
26466 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
26467
26468 @item focus src
26469 Make the source window active for scrolling.
26470
26471 @item focus asm
26472 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
26473
26474 @item focus regs
26475 Make the register window active for scrolling.
26476
26477 @item focus cmd
26478 Make the command window active for scrolling.
26479
26480 @item refresh
26481 @kindex refresh
26482 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
26483
26484 @item tui reg float
26485 @kindex tui reg
26486 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
26487
26488 @item tui reg general
26489 Show the general registers in the register window.
26490
26491 @item tui reg next
26492 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
26493 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
26494 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
26495 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
26496
26497 @item tui reg system
26498 Show the system registers in the register window.
26499
26500 @item update
26501 @kindex update
26502 Update the source window and the current execution point.
26503
26504 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
26505 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
26506 @kindex winheight
26507 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
26508 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
26509 decrease it.
26510
26511 @item tabset @var{nchars}
26512 @kindex tabset
26513 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
26514 @end table
26515
26516 @node TUI Configuration
26517 @section TUI Configuration Variables
26518 @cindex TUI configuration variables
26519
26520 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
26521
26522 @table @code
26523 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
26524 @kindex set tui border-kind
26525 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
26526 The possible values are the following:
26527 @table @code
26528 @item space
26529 Use a space character to draw the border.
26530
26531 @item ascii
26532 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
26533
26534 @item acs
26535 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
26536 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
26537 @end table
26538
26539 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
26540 @kindex set tui border-mode
26541 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
26542 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
26543 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
26544 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
26545 @table @code
26546 @item normal
26547 Use normal attributes to display the border.
26548
26549 @item standout
26550 Use standout mode.
26551
26552 @item reverse
26553 Use reverse video mode.
26554
26555 @item half
26556 Use half bright mode.
26557
26558 @item half-standout
26559 Use half bright and standout mode.
26560
26561 @item bold
26562 Use extra bright or bold mode.
26563
26564 @item bold-standout
26565 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
26566 @end table
26567 @end table
26568
26569 @node Emacs
26570 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
26571
26572 @cindex Emacs
26573 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
26574 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
26575 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
26576 @value{GDBN}.
26577
26578 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
26579 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
26580 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
26581 created Emacs buffer.
26582 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
26583
26584 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
26585 things:
26586
26587 @itemize @bullet
26588 @item
26589 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
26590 the GUD buffer.
26591
26592 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
26593 and output done by the program you are debugging.
26594
26595 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
26596 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
26597 in this way.
26598
26599 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
26600 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
26601 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
26602 stop.
26603
26604 @item
26605 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
26606
26607 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
26608 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
26609 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
26610 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
26611 and the source.
26612
26613 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
26614 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
26615 @end itemize
26616
26617 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
26618 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
26619 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
26620 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
26621
26622 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
26623 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
26624 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
26625 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
26626 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
26627 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
26628 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
26629 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
26630 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
26631
26632 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
26633 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
26634 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
26635 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
26636
26637 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
26638 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
26639 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
26640 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
26641 one you want.
26642
26643 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
26644 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
26645
26646 @table @kbd
26647 @item C-h m
26648 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
26649
26650 @item C-c C-s
26651 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
26652 update the display window to show the current file and location.
26653
26654 @item C-c C-n
26655 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
26656 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
26657 to show the current file and location.
26658
26659 @item C-c C-i
26660 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
26661 display window accordingly.
26662
26663 @item C-c C-f
26664 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
26665 @code{finish} command.
26666
26667 @item C-c C-r
26668 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
26669 command.
26670
26671 @item C-c <
26672 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
26673 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
26674 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
26675
26676 @item C-c >
26677 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
26678 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
26679 @end table
26680
26681 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
26682 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
26683
26684 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
26685 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
26686 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
26687 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
26688 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
26689 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
26690 speedbar displays watch expressions.
26691
26692 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
26693 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
26694 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
26695 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
26696 frame.
26697
26698 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
26699 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
26700 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
26701 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
26702 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
26703 to correspond properly with the code.
26704
26705 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
26706 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
26707 Emacs Manual}).
26708
26709 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
26710 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
26711 @ignore
26712 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
26713 @kindex Epoch
26714 @kindex inspect
26715
26716 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
26717 called the @code{epoch}
26718 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
26719 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
26720 each value is printed in its own window.
26721 @end ignore
26722
26723
26724 @node GDB/MI
26725 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
26726
26727 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
26728
26729 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
26730 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
26731 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
26732 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
26733 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
26734 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
26735
26736 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
26737 in the form of a reference manual.
26738
26739 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
26740 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
26741 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
26742
26743 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
26744
26745 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
26746 This chapter uses the following notation:
26747
26748 @itemize @bullet
26749 @item
26750 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
26751
26752 @item
26753 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
26754 it may or may not be given.
26755
26756 @item
26757 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26758 may repeat zero or more times.
26759
26760 @item
26761 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26762 may repeat one or more times.
26763
26764 @item
26765 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
26766 @end itemize
26767
26768 @ignore
26769 @heading Dependencies
26770 @end ignore
26771
26772 @menu
26773 * GDB/MI General Design::
26774 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
26775 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
26776 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
26777 * GDB/MI Output Records::
26778 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
26779 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
26780 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
26781 * GDB/MI Program Context::
26782 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
26783 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
26784 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
26785 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
26786 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
26787 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
26788 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
26789 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
26790 * GDB/MI File Commands::
26791 @ignore
26792 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
26793 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
26794 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
26795 @end ignore
26796 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
26797 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
26798 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
26799 @end menu
26800
26801 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26802 @node GDB/MI General Design
26803 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
26804 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
26805
26806 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
26807 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
26808 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
26809 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
26810 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
26811 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
26812 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
26813 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
26814 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
26815 a command and reported as part of that command response.
26816
26817 The important examples of notifications are:
26818 @itemize @bullet
26819
26820 @item
26821 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
26822 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
26823 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
26824 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
26825 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
26826 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
26827 command itself was successfully executed.
26828
26829 @item
26830 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
26831 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
26832 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
26833 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
26834 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
26835 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
26836
26837 @item
26838 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
26839 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
26840 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
26841 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
26842 orthogonal frontend design.
26843
26844 @end itemize
26845
26846 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
26847 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
26848 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
26849 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
26850 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
26851 the user interface.
26852
26853
26854 @menu
26855 * Context management::
26856 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
26857 * Thread groups::
26858 @end menu
26859
26860 @node Context management
26861 @subsection Context management
26862
26863 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
26864 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
26865 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
26866 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
26867 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
26868 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
26869 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
26870 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
26871 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
26872
26873 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
26874 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
26875 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
26876 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
26877 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
26878 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
26879 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
26880 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
26881 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
26882 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
26883 for thread and frame to operate on.
26884
26885 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
26886 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
26887 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
26888 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
26889 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
26890 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
26891 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
26892 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
26893 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
26894 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
26895
26896 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
26897 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
26898 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
26899 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
26900 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
26901 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
26902 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
26903 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
26904 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
26905 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
26906 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
26907 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
26908 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
26909 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
26910 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
26911 @samp{--frame} options.
26912
26913 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
26914 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
26915
26916 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
26917 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
26918 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
26919 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
26920 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
26921 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
26922 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
26923 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
26924 @code{-list-target-features} command.
26925
26926 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
26927 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
26928 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
26929 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
26930 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
26931 are running.
26932
26933 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
26934 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
26935 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
26936 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
26937 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
26938 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
26939 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
26940 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
26941 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
26942 @samp{--thread} option).
26943
26944 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
26945 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
26946 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
26947 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
26948
26949 @node Thread groups
26950 @subsection Thread groups
26951 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
26952 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
26953 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
26954 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
26955 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
26956
26957 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
26958 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
26959 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
26960 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
26961 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
26962 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
26963 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
26964 into processes.
26965
26966 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
26967 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
26968 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
26969 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
26970 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
26971 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
26972 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
26973 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
26974 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
26975 the members of specific thread group.
26976
26977 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
26978 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
26979 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
26980 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
26981 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
26982 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
26983 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
26984 after attaching to that thread group.
26985
26986 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
26987 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
26988 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
26989 such thread groups.
26990
26991 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26992 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
26993 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
26994
26995 @menu
26996 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
26997 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
26998 @end menu
26999
27000 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
27001 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
27002
27003 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
27004 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
27005 @table @code
27006 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
27007 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
27008
27009 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
27010 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
27011 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
27012
27013 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
27014 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
27015 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
27016
27017 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27018 "any sequence of digits"
27019
27020 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
27021 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
27022
27023 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
27024 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
27025
27026 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
27027 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
27028
27029 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
27030 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
27031 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
27032
27033 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
27034 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
27035
27036 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27037 @code{CR | CR-LF}
27038 @end table
27039
27040 @noindent
27041 Notes:
27042
27043 @itemize @bullet
27044 @item
27045 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
27046 output is described below.
27047
27048 @item
27049 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
27050 finishes.
27051
27052 @item
27053 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
27054 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
27055 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
27056 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
27057 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
27058 @end itemize
27059
27060 Pragmatics:
27061
27062 @itemize @bullet
27063 @item
27064 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
27065
27066 @item
27067 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
27068 @end itemize
27069
27070 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
27071 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
27072
27073 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
27074 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
27075 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
27076 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
27077 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
27078 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
27079
27080 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
27081 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
27082 @var{token}.
27083
27084 @table @code
27085 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
27086 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
27087
27088 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
27089 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27090
27091 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
27092 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
27093
27094 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
27095 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
27096
27097 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
27098 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
27099
27100 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
27101 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
27102
27103 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
27104 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
27105
27106 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
27107 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27108
27109 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
27110 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
27111
27112 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
27113 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
27114 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
27115
27116 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
27117 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
27118
27119 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
27120 @code{ @var{string} }
27121
27122 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
27123 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
27124
27125 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
27126 @code{@var{c-string}}
27127
27128 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
27129 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
27130
27131 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
27132 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
27133 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
27134
27135 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
27136 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
27137
27138 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
27139 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
27140
27141 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
27142 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
27143
27144 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
27145 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
27146
27147 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27148 @code{CR | CR-LF}
27149
27150 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27151 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
27152 @end table
27153
27154 @noindent
27155 Notes:
27156
27157 @itemize @bullet
27158 @item
27159 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
27160
27161 @item
27162 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
27163 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
27164 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
27165 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
27166 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
27167 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
27168 prior command.
27169
27170 @item
27171 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27172 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
27173 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
27174 prefixed by @samp{+}.
27175
27176 @item
27177 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27178 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
27179 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
27180 @samp{*}.
27181
27182 @item
27183 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27184 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
27185 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
27186 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
27187
27188 @item
27189 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27190 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
27191 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
27192 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
27193
27194 @item
27195 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27196 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
27197 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
27198
27199 @item
27200 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27201 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
27202 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
27203 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
27204
27205 @item
27206 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27207 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
27208 @var{values}.
27209
27210
27211 @end itemize
27212
27213 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
27214 details about the various output records.
27215
27216 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27217 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
27218 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
27219
27220 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
27221 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
27222
27223 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
27224 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
27225 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
27226 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
27227 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
27228 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
27229
27230 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
27231 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
27232 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
27233
27234 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27235 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
27236 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
27237 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
27238
27239 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
27240 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
27241
27242 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
27243 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
27244 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
27245 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
27246 might change.
27247
27248 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
27249 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
27250 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
27251 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
27252
27253 @itemize @bullet
27254 @item
27255 New MI commands may be added.
27256
27257 @item
27258 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
27259
27260 @item
27261 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
27262 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
27263
27264 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
27265 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
27266
27267 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
27268 @c resolve inconsistencies.
27269 @end itemize
27270
27271 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
27272 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
27273 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
27274 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
27275 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
27276
27277 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
27278 @c version?
27279
27280 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
27281 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
27282 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
27283 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
27284 @cindex mailing lists
27285
27286 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27287 @node GDB/MI Output Records
27288 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
27289
27290 @menu
27291 * GDB/MI Result Records::
27292 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
27293 * GDB/MI Async Records::
27294 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
27295 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
27296 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
27297 @end menu
27298
27299 @node GDB/MI Result Records
27300 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
27301
27302 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27303 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
27304 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
27305 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
27306
27307 @table @code
27308 @findex ^done
27309 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
27310 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
27311 values.
27312
27313 @item "^running"
27314 @findex ^running
27315 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
27316 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
27317 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
27318 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
27319 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
27320 which threads are resumed.
27321
27322 @item "^connected"
27323 @findex ^connected
27324 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
27325
27326 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
27327 @findex ^error
27328 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
27329 error message.
27330
27331 @item "^exit"
27332 @findex ^exit
27333 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
27334
27335 @end table
27336
27337 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
27338 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
27339
27340 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
27341 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27342 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
27343 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
27344 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
27345
27346 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
27347 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
27348 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
27349 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
27350 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
27351
27352 @table @code
27353 @item "~" @var{string-output}
27354 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
27355 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
27356
27357 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
27358 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
27359 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
27360 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
27361
27362 @item "&" @var{string-output}
27363 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
27364 internals.
27365 @end table
27366
27367 @node GDB/MI Async Records
27368 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
27369
27370 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27371 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
27372 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
27373 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
27374 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
27375 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
27376
27377 The following is the list of possible async records:
27378
27379 @table @code
27380
27381 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
27382 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
27383 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
27384 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
27385 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
27386 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
27387 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
27388 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
27389 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
27390 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
27391
27392 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
27393 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
27394 following values:
27395
27396 @table @code
27397 @item breakpoint-hit
27398 A breakpoint was reached.
27399 @item watchpoint-trigger
27400 A watchpoint was triggered.
27401 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
27402 A read watchpoint was triggered.
27403 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
27404 An access watchpoint was triggered.
27405 @item function-finished
27406 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27407 @item location-reached
27408 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27409 @item watchpoint-scope
27410 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
27411 @item end-stepping-range
27412 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
27413 similar CLI command was accomplished.
27414 @item exited-signalled
27415 The inferior exited because of a signal.
27416 @item exited
27417 The inferior exited.
27418 @item exited-normally
27419 The inferior exited normally.
27420 @item signal-received
27421 A signal was received by the inferior.
27422 @item solib-event
27423 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
27424 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
27425 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
27426 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
27427 @item fork
27428 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
27429 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27430 @item vfork
27431 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
27432 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27433 @item syscall-entry
27434 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
27435 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27436 @item syscall-entry
27437 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
27438 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27439 @item exec
27440 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
27441 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27442 @end table
27443
27444 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
27445 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
27446 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
27447 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
27448 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
27449 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
27450 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
27451 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
27452 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
27453 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
27454 if such information is not available.
27455
27456 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
27457 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
27458 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
27459 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
27460 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
27461 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
27462 cannot be used in any way.
27463
27464 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
27465 A thread group became associated with a running program,
27466 either because the program was just started or the thread group
27467 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
27468 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
27469 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
27470
27471 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
27472 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
27473 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
27474 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
27475 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
27476 only when the inferior exited with some code.
27477
27478 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27479 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27480 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
27481 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
27482 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
27483
27484 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
27485 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
27486 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
27487 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
27488 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
27489 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
27490 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
27491
27492 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
27493 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
27494 that thread.
27495
27496 @item =library-loaded,...
27497 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
27498 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
27499 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
27500 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
27501 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
27502 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
27503 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
27504 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
27505 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
27506 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
27507 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
27508 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
27509 thread groups.
27510
27511 @item =library-unloaded,...
27512 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
27513 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
27514 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
27515 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
27516 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
27517 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
27518 thread groups.
27519
27520 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
27521 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
27522 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,bkpt=@{...@}
27523 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
27524 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
27525 user.
27526
27527 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
27528 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}.
27529
27530 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
27531 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
27532
27533 @end table
27534
27535 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
27536 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
27537
27538 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
27539 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
27540 fields:
27541
27542 @table @code
27543 @item level
27544 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
27545 zero. This field is always present.
27546
27547 @item func
27548 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
27549 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
27550
27551 @item addr
27552 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
27553
27554 @item file
27555 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
27556 address. This field may be absent.
27557
27558 @item line
27559 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
27560 may be absent.
27561
27562 @item from
27563 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
27564 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
27565
27566 @end table
27567
27568 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
27569 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
27570
27571 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
27572 uses a tuple with the following fields:
27573
27574 @table @code
27575 @item id
27576 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
27577 always present.
27578
27579 @item target-id
27580 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
27581
27582 @item details
27583 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
27584 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
27585 frontend. This field is optional.
27586
27587 @item state
27588 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
27589 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
27590
27591 @item core
27592 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
27593 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
27594 @end table
27595
27596 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
27597 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
27598
27599 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
27600 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
27601 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
27602 the @code{exception-name} field.
27603
27604 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27605 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
27606 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
27607 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
27608
27609 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
27610 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
27611 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
27612 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
27613
27614 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
27615 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
27616
27617 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
27618
27619 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
27620 information of the breakpoint.
27621
27622 @smallexample
27623 -> -break-insert main
27624 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27625 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
27626 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
27627 <- (gdb)
27628 @end smallexample
27629
27630 @subheading Program Execution
27631
27632 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
27633 reason that execution stopped.
27634
27635 @smallexample
27636 -> -exec-run
27637 <- ^running
27638 <- (gdb)
27639 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
27640 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
27641 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
27642 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
27643 <- (gdb)
27644 -> -exec-continue
27645 <- ^running
27646 <- (gdb)
27647 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
27648 <- (gdb)
27649 @end smallexample
27650
27651 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
27652
27653 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
27654
27655 @smallexample
27656 -> (gdb)
27657 <- -gdb-exit
27658 <- ^exit
27659 @end smallexample
27660
27661 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
27662 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
27663 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
27664 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
27665 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
27666 fails to exit in reasonable time.
27667
27668 @subheading A Bad Command
27669
27670 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
27671
27672 @smallexample
27673 -> -rubbish
27674 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
27675 <- (gdb)
27676 @end smallexample
27677
27678
27679 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27680 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
27681 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
27682
27683 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
27684 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
27685
27686 @subheading Motivation
27687
27688 The motivation for this collection of commands.
27689
27690 @subheading Introduction
27691
27692 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
27693
27694 @subheading Commands
27695
27696 For each command in the block, the following is described:
27697
27698 @subsubheading Synopsis
27699
27700 @smallexample
27701 -command @var{args}@dots{}
27702 @end smallexample
27703
27704 @subsubheading Result
27705
27706 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27707
27708 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
27709
27710 @subsubheading Example
27711
27712 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
27713 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
27714
27715
27716 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27717 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
27718 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
27719
27720 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
27721 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
27722 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
27723 breakpoints.
27724
27725 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
27726 @findex -break-after
27727
27728 @subsubheading Synopsis
27729
27730 @smallexample
27731 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
27732 @end smallexample
27733
27734 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
27735 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
27736 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
27737 @samp{-break-list} command below.
27738
27739 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27740
27741 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
27742
27743 @subsubheading Example
27744
27745 @smallexample
27746 (gdb)
27747 -break-insert main
27748 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27749 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27750 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
27751 (gdb)
27752 -break-after 1 3
27753 ~
27754 ^done
27755 (gdb)
27756 -break-list
27757 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27758 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27759 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27760 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27761 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27762 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27763 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27764 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27765 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27766 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27767 (gdb)
27768 @end smallexample
27769
27770 @ignore
27771 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
27772 @findex -break-catch
27773 @end ignore
27774
27775 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
27776 @findex -break-commands
27777
27778 @subsubheading Synopsis
27779
27780 @smallexample
27781 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
27782 @end smallexample
27783
27784 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
27785 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
27786 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
27787 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
27788 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
27789 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
27790
27791 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27792
27793 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
27794
27795 @subsubheading Example
27796
27797 @smallexample
27798 (gdb)
27799 -break-insert main
27800 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27801 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27802 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
27803 (gdb)
27804 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
27805 ^done
27806 (gdb)
27807 @end smallexample
27808
27809 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
27810 @findex -break-condition
27811
27812 @subsubheading Synopsis
27813
27814 @smallexample
27815 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
27816 @end smallexample
27817
27818 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
27819 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
27820 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
27821 command below).
27822
27823 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27824
27825 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
27826
27827 @subsubheading Example
27828
27829 @smallexample
27830 (gdb)
27831 -break-condition 1 1
27832 ^done
27833 (gdb)
27834 -break-list
27835 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27836 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27837 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27838 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27839 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27840 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27841 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27842 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27843 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27844 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27845 (gdb)
27846 @end smallexample
27847
27848 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
27849 @findex -break-delete
27850
27851 @subsubheading Synopsis
27852
27853 @smallexample
27854 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27855 @end smallexample
27856
27857 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
27858 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
27859
27860 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27861
27862 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
27863
27864 @subsubheading Example
27865
27866 @smallexample
27867 (gdb)
27868 -break-delete 1
27869 ^done
27870 (gdb)
27871 -break-list
27872 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27873 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27874 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27875 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27876 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27877 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27878 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27879 body=[]@}
27880 (gdb)
27881 @end smallexample
27882
27883 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
27884 @findex -break-disable
27885
27886 @subsubheading Synopsis
27887
27888 @smallexample
27889 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27890 @end smallexample
27891
27892 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
27893 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
27894
27895 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27896
27897 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
27898
27899 @subsubheading Example
27900
27901 @smallexample
27902 (gdb)
27903 -break-disable 2
27904 ^done
27905 (gdb)
27906 -break-list
27907 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27908 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27909 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27910 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27911 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27912 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27913 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27914 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
27915 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27916 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
27917 (gdb)
27918 @end smallexample
27919
27920 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
27921 @findex -break-enable
27922
27923 @subsubheading Synopsis
27924
27925 @smallexample
27926 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27927 @end smallexample
27928
27929 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
27930
27931 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27932
27933 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
27934
27935 @subsubheading Example
27936
27937 @smallexample
27938 (gdb)
27939 -break-enable 2
27940 ^done
27941 (gdb)
27942 -break-list
27943 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27944 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27945 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27946 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27947 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27948 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27949 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27950 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27951 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27952 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
27953 (gdb)
27954 @end smallexample
27955
27956 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
27957 @findex -break-info
27958
27959 @subsubheading Synopsis
27960
27961 @smallexample
27962 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
27963 @end smallexample
27964
27965 @c REDUNDANT???
27966 Get information about a single breakpoint.
27967
27968 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27969
27970 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
27971
27972 @subsubheading Example
27973 N.A.
27974
27975 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
27976 @findex -break-insert
27977
27978 @subsubheading Synopsis
27979
27980 @smallexample
27981 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
27982 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
27983 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
27984 @end smallexample
27985
27986 @noindent
27987 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
27988
27989 @itemize @bullet
27990 @item function
27991 @c @item +offset
27992 @c @item -offset
27993 @c @item linenum
27994 @item filename:linenum
27995 @item filename:function
27996 @item *address
27997 @end itemize
27998
27999 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
28000
28001 @table @samp
28002 @item -t
28003 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
28004 @item -h
28005 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
28006 @item -c @var{condition}
28007 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28008 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
28009 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
28010 @item -f
28011 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
28012 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
28013 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
28014 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
28015 cannot be parsed.
28016 @item -d
28017 Create a disabled breakpoint.
28018 @item -a
28019 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
28020 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
28021 @end table
28022
28023 @subsubheading Result
28024
28025 The result is in the form:
28026
28027 @smallexample
28028 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
28029 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
28030 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
28031 times="@var{times}"@}
28032 @end smallexample
28033
28034 @noindent
28035 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
28036 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
28037 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
28038 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
28039 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
28040 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
28041 which use the same output).
28042
28043 Note: this format is open to change.
28044 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
28045
28046 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28047
28048 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
28049 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
28050
28051 @subsubheading Example
28052
28053 @smallexample
28054 (gdb)
28055 -break-insert main
28056 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
28057 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
28058 (gdb)
28059 -break-insert -t foo
28060 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
28061 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
28062 (gdb)
28063 -break-list
28064 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28065 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28066 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28067 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28068 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28069 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28070 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28071 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28072 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
28073 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
28074 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
28075 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
28076 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
28077 (gdb)
28078 -break-insert -r foo.*
28079 ~int foo(int, int);
28080 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
28081 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
28082 (gdb)
28083 @end smallexample
28084
28085 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
28086 @findex -break-list
28087
28088 @subsubheading Synopsis
28089
28090 @smallexample
28091 -break-list
28092 @end smallexample
28093
28094 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
28095
28096 @table @samp
28097 @item Number
28098 number of the breakpoint
28099 @item Type
28100 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
28101 @item Disposition
28102 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
28103 or @samp{nokeep}
28104 @item Enabled
28105 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
28106 @item Address
28107 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
28108 @item What
28109 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
28110 name, line number
28111 @item Times
28112 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
28113 @end table
28114
28115 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
28116 @code{body} field is an empty list.
28117
28118 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28119
28120 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
28121
28122 @subsubheading Example
28123
28124 @smallexample
28125 (gdb)
28126 -break-list
28127 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28128 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28129 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28130 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28131 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28132 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28133 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28134 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28135 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
28136 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28137 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28138 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
28139 (gdb)
28140 @end smallexample
28141
28142 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
28143
28144 @smallexample
28145 (gdb)
28146 -break-list
28147 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28148 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28149 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28150 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28151 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28152 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28153 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28154 body=[]@}
28155 (gdb)
28156 @end smallexample
28157
28158 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
28159 @findex -break-passcount
28160
28161 @subsubheading Synopsis
28162
28163 @smallexample
28164 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
28165 @end smallexample
28166
28167 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
28168 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
28169 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
28170 command @samp{passcount}.
28171
28172 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
28173 @findex -break-watch
28174
28175 @subsubheading Synopsis
28176
28177 @smallexample
28178 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
28179 @end smallexample
28180
28181 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
28182 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
28183 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
28184 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
28185 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
28186 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
28187 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
28188 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
28189
28190 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
28191 breakpoints inserted.
28192
28193 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28194
28195 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
28196 @samp{rwatch}.
28197
28198 @subsubheading Example
28199
28200 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
28201
28202 @smallexample
28203 (gdb)
28204 -break-watch x
28205 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
28206 (gdb)
28207 -exec-continue
28208 ^running
28209 (gdb)
28210 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
28211 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
28212 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28213 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
28214 (gdb)
28215 @end smallexample
28216
28217 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
28218 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
28219 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
28220
28221 @smallexample
28222 (gdb)
28223 -break-watch C
28224 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
28225 (gdb)
28226 -exec-continue
28227 ^running
28228 (gdb)
28229 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
28230 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28231 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28232 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28233 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28234 (gdb)
28235 -exec-continue
28236 ^running
28237 (gdb)
28238 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
28239 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28240 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28241 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28242 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28243 (gdb)
28244 @end smallexample
28245
28246 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
28247 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
28248 deleted.
28249
28250 @smallexample
28251 (gdb)
28252 -break-watch C
28253 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
28254 (gdb)
28255 -break-list
28256 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28257 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28258 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28259 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28260 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28261 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28262 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28263 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28264 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28265 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28266 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
28267 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28268 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
28269 (gdb)
28270 -exec-continue
28271 ^running
28272 (gdb)
28273 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
28274 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28275 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28276 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28277 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28278 (gdb)
28279 -break-list
28280 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28281 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28282 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28283 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28284 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28285 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28286 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28287 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28288 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28289 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28290 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
28291 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28292 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
28293 (gdb)
28294 -exec-continue
28295 ^running
28296 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
28297 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28298 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28299 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28300 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28301 (gdb)
28302 -break-list
28303 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28304 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28305 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28306 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28307 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28308 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28309 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28310 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28311 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28312 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28313 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
28314 times="1"@}]@}
28315 (gdb)
28316 @end smallexample
28317
28318 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28319 @node GDB/MI Program Context
28320 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
28321
28322 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
28323 @findex -exec-arguments
28324
28325
28326 @subsubheading Synopsis
28327
28328 @smallexample
28329 -exec-arguments @var{args}
28330 @end smallexample
28331
28332 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
28333 @samp{-exec-run}.
28334
28335 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28336
28337 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
28338
28339 @subsubheading Example
28340
28341 @smallexample
28342 (gdb)
28343 -exec-arguments -v word
28344 ^done
28345 (gdb)
28346 @end smallexample
28347
28348
28349 @ignore
28350 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
28351 @findex -exec-show-arguments
28352
28353 @subsubheading Synopsis
28354
28355 @smallexample
28356 -exec-show-arguments
28357 @end smallexample
28358
28359 Print the arguments of the program.
28360
28361 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28362
28363 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
28364
28365 @subsubheading Example
28366 N.A.
28367 @end ignore
28368
28369
28370 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
28371 @findex -environment-cd
28372
28373 @subsubheading Synopsis
28374
28375 @smallexample
28376 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
28377 @end smallexample
28378
28379 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
28380
28381 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28382
28383 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
28384
28385 @subsubheading Example
28386
28387 @smallexample
28388 (gdb)
28389 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28390 ^done
28391 (gdb)
28392 @end smallexample
28393
28394
28395 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
28396 @findex -environment-directory
28397
28398 @subsubheading Synopsis
28399
28400 @smallexample
28401 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28402 @end smallexample
28403
28404 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
28405 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
28406 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
28407 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28408 occurs as normal.
28409 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28410 multiple directories in a single command
28411 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28412 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28413 If blanks are needed as
28414 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28415 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28416 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28417 character must not be used
28418 in any directory name.
28419 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
28420
28421 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28422
28423 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
28424
28425 @subsubheading Example
28426
28427 @smallexample
28428 (gdb)
28429 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28430 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28431 (gdb)
28432 -environment-directory ""
28433 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28434 (gdb)
28435 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
28436 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
28437 (gdb)
28438 -environment-directory -r
28439 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
28440 (gdb)
28441 @end smallexample
28442
28443
28444 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
28445 @findex -environment-path
28446
28447 @subsubheading Synopsis
28448
28449 @smallexample
28450 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28451 @end smallexample
28452
28453 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
28454 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
28455 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
28456 supplied in addition to the
28457 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28458 occurs as normal.
28459 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28460 multiple directories in a single command
28461 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28462 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28463 If blanks are needed as
28464 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28465 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28466 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28467 character must not be used
28468 in any directory name.
28469 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
28470
28471
28472 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28473
28474 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
28475
28476 @subsubheading Example
28477
28478 @smallexample
28479 (gdb)
28480 -environment-path
28481 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
28482 (gdb)
28483 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
28484 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
28485 (gdb)
28486 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
28487 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
28488 (gdb)
28489 @end smallexample
28490
28491
28492 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
28493 @findex -environment-pwd
28494
28495 @subsubheading Synopsis
28496
28497 @smallexample
28498 -environment-pwd
28499 @end smallexample
28500
28501 Show the current working directory.
28502
28503 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28504
28505 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
28506
28507 @subsubheading Example
28508
28509 @smallexample
28510 (gdb)
28511 -environment-pwd
28512 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
28513 (gdb)
28514 @end smallexample
28515
28516 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28517 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
28518 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
28519
28520
28521 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
28522 @findex -thread-info
28523
28524 @subsubheading Synopsis
28525
28526 @smallexample
28527 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
28528 @end smallexample
28529
28530 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
28531 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
28532 threads. When printing information about all threads,
28533 also reports the current thread.
28534
28535 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28536
28537 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
28538 about all threads.
28539
28540 @subsubheading Result
28541
28542 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
28543 defined for a given thread:
28544
28545 @table @samp
28546 @item current
28547 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
28548
28549 @item id
28550 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
28551
28552 @item target-id
28553 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
28554
28555 @item details
28556 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
28557 field is optional.
28558
28559 @item name
28560 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
28561 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
28562 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
28563 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
28564 field is omitted.
28565
28566 @item frame
28567 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
28568
28569 @item state
28570 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
28571 values:
28572
28573 @table @code
28574 @item stopped
28575 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
28576 threads.
28577
28578 @item running
28579 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
28580 threads.
28581
28582 @end table
28583
28584 @item core
28585 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
28586 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
28587
28588 @end table
28589
28590 @subsubheading Example
28591
28592 @smallexample
28593 -thread-info
28594 ^done,threads=[
28595 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28596 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
28597 args=[]@},state="running"@},
28598 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28599 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
28600 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28601 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
28602 state="running"@}],
28603 current-thread-id="1"
28604 (gdb)
28605 @end smallexample
28606
28607 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
28608 @findex -thread-list-ids
28609
28610 @subsubheading Synopsis
28611
28612 @smallexample
28613 -thread-list-ids
28614 @end smallexample
28615
28616 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
28617 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
28618
28619 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
28620 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
28621
28622 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28623
28624 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
28625
28626 @subsubheading Example
28627
28628 @smallexample
28629 (gdb)
28630 -thread-list-ids
28631 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28632 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
28633 (gdb)
28634 @end smallexample
28635
28636
28637 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
28638 @findex -thread-select
28639
28640 @subsubheading Synopsis
28641
28642 @smallexample
28643 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
28644 @end smallexample
28645
28646 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
28647 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
28648
28649 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
28650 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
28651
28652 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28653
28654 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
28655
28656 @subsubheading Example
28657
28658 @smallexample
28659 (gdb)
28660 -exec-next
28661 ^running
28662 (gdb)
28663 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
28664 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
28665 (gdb)
28666 -thread-list-ids
28667 ^done,
28668 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28669 number-of-threads="3"
28670 (gdb)
28671 -thread-select 3
28672 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
28673 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
28674 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
28675 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
28676 (gdb)
28677 @end smallexample
28678
28679 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28680 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
28681 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
28682
28683 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
28684 @findex -ada-task-info
28685
28686 @subsubheading Synopsis
28687
28688 @smallexample
28689 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
28690 @end smallexample
28691
28692 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
28693 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
28694
28695 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28696
28697 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
28698 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
28699
28700 @subsubheading Result
28701
28702 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
28703 defined for each Ada task:
28704
28705 @table @samp
28706 @item current
28707 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
28708
28709 @item id
28710 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
28711
28712 @item task-id
28713 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
28714
28715 @item thread-id
28716 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
28717
28718 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
28719 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
28720 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
28721
28722 @item parent-id
28723 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
28724 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
28725
28726 @item priority
28727 The base priority of the task.
28728
28729 @item state
28730 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
28731 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
28732
28733 @item name
28734 The name of the task.
28735
28736 @end table
28737
28738 @subsubheading Example
28739
28740 @smallexample
28741 -ada-task-info
28742 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
28743 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
28744 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
28745 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
28746 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
28747 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
28748 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
28749 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
28750 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
28751 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
28752 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
28753 (gdb)
28754 @end smallexample
28755
28756 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28757 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
28758 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
28759
28760 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
28761 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
28762 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
28763 other cases.
28764
28765 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
28766 @findex -exec-continue
28767
28768 @subsubheading Synopsis
28769
28770 @smallexample
28771 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
28772 @end smallexample
28773
28774 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
28775 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
28776 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
28777 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
28778 @itemize @bullet
28779 @item
28780 breakpoints or watchpoints
28781 @item
28782 signals or exceptions
28783 @item
28784 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
28785 @item
28786 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
28787 @end itemize
28788 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
28789 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
28790 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
28791 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
28792 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
28793 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
28794
28795 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28796
28797 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
28798
28799 @subsubheading Example
28800
28801 @smallexample
28802 -exec-continue
28803 ^running
28804 (gdb)
28805 @@Hello world
28806 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
28807 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
28808 line="13"@}
28809 (gdb)
28810 @end smallexample
28811
28812
28813 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
28814 @findex -exec-finish
28815
28816 @subsubheading Synopsis
28817
28818 @smallexample
28819 -exec-finish [--reverse]
28820 @end smallexample
28821
28822 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
28823 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
28824 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
28825 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
28826 function was called.
28827
28828 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28829
28830 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
28831
28832 @subsubheading Example
28833
28834 Function returning @code{void}.
28835
28836 @smallexample
28837 -exec-finish
28838 ^running
28839 (gdb)
28840 @@hello from foo
28841 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28842 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
28843 (gdb)
28844 @end smallexample
28845
28846 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
28847 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
28848 value itself.
28849
28850 @smallexample
28851 -exec-finish
28852 ^running
28853 (gdb)
28854 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
28855 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
28856 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28857 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
28858 (gdb)
28859 @end smallexample
28860
28861
28862 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
28863 @findex -exec-interrupt
28864
28865 @subsubheading Synopsis
28866
28867 @smallexample
28868 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
28869 @end smallexample
28870
28871 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
28872 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
28873 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
28874 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
28875 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
28876
28877 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
28878 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
28879 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
28880 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
28881
28882 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
28883 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
28884 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
28885 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
28886
28887 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28888
28889 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
28890
28891 @subsubheading Example
28892
28893 @smallexample
28894 (gdb)
28895 111-exec-continue
28896 111^running
28897
28898 (gdb)
28899 222-exec-interrupt
28900 222^done
28901 (gdb)
28902 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
28903 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28904 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
28905 (gdb)
28906
28907 (gdb)
28908 -exec-interrupt
28909 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
28910 (gdb)
28911 @end smallexample
28912
28913 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
28914 @findex -exec-jump
28915
28916 @subsubheading Synopsis
28917
28918 @smallexample
28919 -exec-jump @var{location}
28920 @end smallexample
28921
28922 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
28923 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
28924 different forms of @var{location}.
28925
28926 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28927
28928 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
28929
28930 @subsubheading Example
28931
28932 @smallexample
28933 -exec-jump foo.c:10
28934 *running,thread-id="all"
28935 ^running
28936 @end smallexample
28937
28938
28939 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
28940 @findex -exec-next
28941
28942 @subsubheading Synopsis
28943
28944 @smallexample
28945 -exec-next [--reverse]
28946 @end smallexample
28947
28948 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28949 of the next source line is reached.
28950
28951 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28952 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
28953 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
28954 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
28955 source line where the function was called.
28956
28957
28958 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28959
28960 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
28961
28962 @subsubheading Example
28963
28964 @smallexample
28965 -exec-next
28966 ^running
28967 (gdb)
28968 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
28969 (gdb)
28970 @end smallexample
28971
28972
28973 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
28974 @findex -exec-next-instruction
28975
28976 @subsubheading Synopsis
28977
28978 @smallexample
28979 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
28980 @end smallexample
28981
28982 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
28983 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
28984 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
28985 printed as well.
28986
28987 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28988 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
28989 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
28990 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
28991 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
28992
28993 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28994
28995 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
28996
28997 @subsubheading Example
28998
28999 @smallexample
29000 (gdb)
29001 -exec-next-instruction
29002 ^running
29003
29004 (gdb)
29005 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29006 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
29007 (gdb)
29008 @end smallexample
29009
29010
29011 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
29012 @findex -exec-return
29013
29014 @subsubheading Synopsis
29015
29016 @smallexample
29017 -exec-return
29018 @end smallexample
29019
29020 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
29021 Displays the new current frame.
29022
29023 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29024
29025 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
29026
29027 @subsubheading Example
29028
29029 @smallexample
29030 (gdb)
29031 200-break-insert callee4
29032 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
29033 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29034 (gdb)
29035 000-exec-run
29036 000^running
29037 (gdb)
29038 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29039 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
29040 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29041 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29042 (gdb)
29043 205-break-delete
29044 205^done
29045 (gdb)
29046 111-exec-return
29047 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
29048 args=[@{name="strarg",
29049 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
29050 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29051 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
29052 (gdb)
29053 @end smallexample
29054
29055
29056 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
29057 @findex -exec-run
29058
29059 @subsubheading Synopsis
29060
29061 @smallexample
29062 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
29063 @end smallexample
29064
29065 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
29066 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
29067 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
29068 the program has exited exceptionally.
29069
29070 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
29071 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
29072 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
29073 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
29074
29075 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29076
29077 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
29078
29079 @subsubheading Examples
29080
29081 @smallexample
29082 (gdb)
29083 -break-insert main
29084 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29085 (gdb)
29086 -exec-run
29087 ^running
29088 (gdb)
29089 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29090 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
29091 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29092 (gdb)
29093 @end smallexample
29094
29095 @noindent
29096 Program exited normally:
29097
29098 @smallexample
29099 (gdb)
29100 -exec-run
29101 ^running
29102 (gdb)
29103 x = 55
29104 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29105 (gdb)
29106 @end smallexample
29107
29108 @noindent
29109 Program exited exceptionally:
29110
29111 @smallexample
29112 (gdb)
29113 -exec-run
29114 ^running
29115 (gdb)
29116 x = 55
29117 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
29118 (gdb)
29119 @end smallexample
29120
29121 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
29122 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
29123
29124 @smallexample
29125 (gdb)
29126 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
29127 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
29128 @end smallexample
29129
29130
29131 @c @subheading -exec-signal
29132
29133
29134 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
29135 @findex -exec-step
29136
29137 @subsubheading Synopsis
29138
29139 @smallexample
29140 -exec-step [--reverse]
29141 @end smallexample
29142
29143 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29144 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
29145 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
29146 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
29147 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
29148 previously executed source line.
29149
29150 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29151
29152 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
29153
29154 @subsubheading Example
29155
29156 Stepping into a function:
29157
29158 @smallexample
29159 -exec-step
29160 ^running
29161 (gdb)
29162 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29163 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
29164 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
29165 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
29166 (gdb)
29167 @end smallexample
29168
29169 Regular stepping:
29170
29171 @smallexample
29172 -exec-step
29173 ^running
29174 (gdb)
29175 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
29176 (gdb)
29177 @end smallexample
29178
29179
29180 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
29181 @findex -exec-step-instruction
29182
29183 @subsubheading Synopsis
29184
29185 @smallexample
29186 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
29187 @end smallexample
29188
29189 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
29190 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
29191 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
29192 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
29193 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
29194 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
29195 as well.
29196
29197 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29198
29199 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
29200
29201 @subsubheading Example
29202
29203 @smallexample
29204 (gdb)
29205 -exec-step-instruction
29206 ^running
29207
29208 (gdb)
29209 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29210 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29211 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29212 (gdb)
29213 -exec-step-instruction
29214 ^running
29215
29216 (gdb)
29217 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29218 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29219 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29220 (gdb)
29221 @end smallexample
29222
29223
29224 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
29225 @findex -exec-until
29226
29227 @subsubheading Synopsis
29228
29229 @smallexample
29230 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
29231 @end smallexample
29232
29233 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
29234 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
29235 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
29236 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
29237
29238 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29239
29240 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
29241
29242 @subsubheading Example
29243
29244 @smallexample
29245 (gdb)
29246 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
29247 ^running
29248 (gdb)
29249 x = 55
29250 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29251 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
29252 (gdb)
29253 @end smallexample
29254
29255 @ignore
29256 @subheading -file-clear
29257 Is this going away????
29258 @end ignore
29259
29260 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29261 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
29262 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
29263
29264
29265 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
29266 @findex -stack-info-frame
29267
29268 @subsubheading Synopsis
29269
29270 @smallexample
29271 -stack-info-frame
29272 @end smallexample
29273
29274 Get info on the selected frame.
29275
29276 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29277
29278 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
29279 (without arguments).
29280
29281 @subsubheading Example
29282
29283 @smallexample
29284 (gdb)
29285 -stack-info-frame
29286 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29287 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29288 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
29289 (gdb)
29290 @end smallexample
29291
29292 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
29293 @findex -stack-info-depth
29294
29295 @subsubheading Synopsis
29296
29297 @smallexample
29298 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
29299 @end smallexample
29300
29301 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
29302 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
29303
29304 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29305
29306 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
29307
29308 @subsubheading Example
29309
29310 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
29311
29312 @smallexample
29313 (gdb)
29314 -stack-info-depth
29315 ^done,depth="12"
29316 (gdb)
29317 -stack-info-depth 4
29318 ^done,depth="4"
29319 (gdb)
29320 -stack-info-depth 12
29321 ^done,depth="12"
29322 (gdb)
29323 -stack-info-depth 11
29324 ^done,depth="11"
29325 (gdb)
29326 -stack-info-depth 13
29327 ^done,depth="12"
29328 (gdb)
29329 @end smallexample
29330
29331 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
29332 @findex -stack-list-arguments
29333
29334 @subsubheading Synopsis
29335
29336 @smallexample
29337 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
29338 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29339 @end smallexample
29340
29341 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
29342 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
29343 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
29344 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
29345 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
29346 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
29347 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
29348 which case only existing frames will be returned.
29349
29350 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29351 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29352 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29353 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29354 structures and unions.
29355
29356 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
29357 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29358
29359 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29360
29361 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
29362 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
29363 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
29364
29365 @subsubheading Example
29366
29367 @smallexample
29368 (gdb)
29369 -stack-list-frames
29370 ^done,
29371 stack=[
29372 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29373 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29374 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
29375 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29376 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29377 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
29378 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
29379 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29380 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
29381 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
29382 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29383 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
29384 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
29385 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29386 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
29387 (gdb)
29388 -stack-list-arguments 0
29389 ^done,
29390 stack-args=[
29391 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29392 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
29393 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
29394 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
29395 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29396 (gdb)
29397 -stack-list-arguments 1
29398 ^done,
29399 stack-args=[
29400 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29401 frame=@{level="1",
29402 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29403 frame=@{level="2",args=[
29404 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29405 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29406 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
29407 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29408 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
29409 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
29410 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29411 (gdb)
29412 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
29413 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
29414 (gdb)
29415 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
29416 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
29417 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29418 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
29419 (gdb)
29420 @end smallexample
29421
29422 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
29423
29424
29425 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
29426 @findex -stack-list-frames
29427
29428 @subsubheading Synopsis
29429
29430 @smallexample
29431 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29432 @end smallexample
29433
29434 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
29435 following info:
29436
29437 @table @samp
29438 @item @var{level}
29439 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
29440 @item @var{addr}
29441 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
29442 @item @var{func}
29443 Function name.
29444 @item @var{file}
29445 File name of the source file where the function lives.
29446 @item @var{fullname}
29447 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
29448 @item @var{line}
29449 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
29450 @item @var{from}
29451 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
29452 if the frame's function is not known.
29453 @end table
29454
29455 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
29456 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
29457 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
29458 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
29459 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
29460 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
29461 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
29462
29463 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29464
29465 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
29466
29467 @subsubheading Example
29468
29469 Full stack backtrace:
29470
29471 @smallexample
29472 (gdb)
29473 -stack-list-frames
29474 ^done,stack=
29475 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
29476 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
29477 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29478 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29479 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29480 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29481 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29482 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29483 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29484 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29485 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29486 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29487 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29488 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29489 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29490 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29491 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29492 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29493 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29494 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29495 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29496 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29497 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
29498 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
29499 (gdb)
29500 @end smallexample
29501
29502 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
29503
29504 @smallexample
29505 (gdb)
29506 -stack-list-frames 3 5
29507 ^done,stack=
29508 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29509 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29510 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29511 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29512 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29513 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29514 (gdb)
29515 @end smallexample
29516
29517 Show a single frame:
29518
29519 @smallexample
29520 (gdb)
29521 -stack-list-frames 3 3
29522 ^done,stack=
29523 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29524 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29525 (gdb)
29526 @end smallexample
29527
29528
29529 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
29530 @findex -stack-list-locals
29531
29532 @subsubheading Synopsis
29533
29534 @smallexample
29535 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
29536 @end smallexample
29537
29538 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
29539 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29540 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29541 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29542 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29543 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
29544 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
29545 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
29546 more detail.
29547
29548 This command is deprecated in favor of the
29549 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29550
29551 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29552
29553 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
29554
29555 @subsubheading Example
29556
29557 @smallexample
29558 (gdb)
29559 -stack-list-locals 0
29560 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
29561 (gdb)
29562 -stack-list-locals --all-values
29563 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
29564 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
29565 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
29566 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
29567 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
29568 (gdb)
29569 @end smallexample
29570
29571 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
29572 @findex -stack-list-variables
29573
29574 @subsubheading Synopsis
29575
29576 @smallexample
29577 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
29578 @end smallexample
29579
29580 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
29581 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29582 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29583 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29584 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29585 structures and unions.
29586
29587 @subsubheading Example
29588
29589 @smallexample
29590 (gdb)
29591 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
29592 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
29593 (gdb)
29594 @end smallexample
29595
29596
29597 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
29598 @findex -stack-select-frame
29599
29600 @subsubheading Synopsis
29601
29602 @smallexample
29603 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
29604 @end smallexample
29605
29606 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
29607 the stack.
29608
29609 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
29610 option to every command.
29611
29612 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29613
29614 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
29615 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
29616
29617 @subsubheading Example
29618
29619 @smallexample
29620 (gdb)
29621 -stack-select-frame 2
29622 ^done
29623 (gdb)
29624 @end smallexample
29625
29626 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29627 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
29628 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
29629
29630 @ignore
29631
29632 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
29633
29634 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
29635 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
29636 used by @code{Insight}.
29637
29638 The two main reasons for that are:
29639
29640 @enumerate 1
29641 @item
29642 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
29643
29644 @item
29645 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
29646 now).
29647 @end enumerate
29648
29649 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
29650 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
29651 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
29652 hints about their use.
29653
29654 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
29655 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
29656 least, the following operations:
29657
29658 @itemize @bullet
29659 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
29660 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
29661 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
29662 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
29663 @end itemize
29664
29665 @end ignore
29666
29667 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
29668
29669 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
29670
29671 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
29672 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
29673 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
29674 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
29675 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
29676 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
29677 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
29678 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
29679 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
29680 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
29681 object, or to change display format.
29682
29683 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
29684 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
29685 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
29686 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
29687 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
29688 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
29689 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
29690 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
29691 child will be created.
29692
29693 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
29694 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
29695 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
29696 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
29697 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
29698
29699 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
29700 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
29701 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
29702 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
29703 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
29704 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
29705 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
29706 variables that frontend has created.
29707
29708 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
29709 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
29710 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
29711 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
29712 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
29713 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
29714 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
29715 implicitly updated.
29716
29717 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
29718 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
29719 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
29720 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
29721 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
29722 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
29723 frame. Consider this example:
29724
29725 @smallexample
29726 void do_work(...)
29727 @{
29728 struct work_state state;
29729
29730 if (...)
29731 do_work(...);
29732 @}
29733 @end smallexample
29734
29735 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
29736 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
29737 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
29738 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
29739 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
29740
29741 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
29742 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
29743 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
29744 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
29745 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
29746 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
29747
29748 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
29749 access this functionality:
29750
29751 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
29752 @item @strong{Operation}
29753 @tab @strong{Description}
29754
29755 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
29756 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
29757 @item @code{-var-create}
29758 @tab create a variable object
29759 @item @code{-var-delete}
29760 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
29761 @item @code{-var-set-format}
29762 @tab set the display format of this variable
29763 @item @code{-var-show-format}
29764 @tab show the display format of this variable
29765 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
29766 @tab tells how many children this object has
29767 @item @code{-var-list-children}
29768 @tab return a list of the object's children
29769 @item @code{-var-info-type}
29770 @tab show the type of this variable object
29771 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
29772 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
29773 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
29774 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
29775 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
29776 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
29777 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
29778 @tab get the value of this variable
29779 @item @code{-var-assign}
29780 @tab set the value of this variable
29781 @item @code{-var-update}
29782 @tab update the variable and its children
29783 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
29784 @tab set frozeness attribute
29785 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
29786 @tab set range of children to display on update
29787 @end multitable
29788
29789 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
29790 how it can be used.
29791
29792 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
29793
29794 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
29795 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
29796
29797 @smallexample
29798 -enable-pretty-printing
29799 @end smallexample
29800
29801 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
29802 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
29803 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
29804 request that this functionality be enabled.
29805
29806 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
29807
29808 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
29809 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
29810
29811 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
29812 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
29813
29814 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
29815 @findex -var-create
29816
29817 @subsubheading Synopsis
29818
29819 @smallexample
29820 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
29821 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
29822 @end smallexample
29823
29824 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
29825 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
29826 register.
29827
29828 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
29829 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
29830 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
29831 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
29832 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
29833
29834 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
29835 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
29836 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
29837 object must be created.
29838
29839 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
29840 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
29841
29842 @itemize @bullet
29843 @item
29844 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
29845
29846 @item
29847 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
29848
29849 @item
29850 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
29851 @end itemize
29852
29853 @cindex dynamic varobj
29854 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
29855 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
29856 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
29857 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
29858 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
29859 compatibility for existing clients.
29860
29861 @subsubheading Result
29862
29863 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
29864 are:
29865
29866 @table @samp
29867 @item name
29868 The name of the varobj.
29869
29870 @item numchild
29871 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
29872 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
29873 @samp{has_more} attribute.
29874
29875 @item value
29876 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
29877 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
29878 will not be interesting.
29879
29880 @item type
29881 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
29882 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
29883 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
29884 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
29885 @emph{declared} one.
29886
29887 @item thread-id
29888 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
29889 thread's identifier.
29890
29891 @item has_more
29892 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
29893 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
29894
29895 @item dynamic
29896 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29897 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29898 then this attribute will not be present.
29899
29900 @item displayhint
29901 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29902 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29903 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29904 @end table
29905
29906 Typical output will look like this:
29907
29908 @smallexample
29909 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
29910 has_more="@var{has_more}"
29911 @end smallexample
29912
29913
29914 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
29915 @findex -var-delete
29916
29917 @subsubheading Synopsis
29918
29919 @smallexample
29920 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
29921 @end smallexample
29922
29923 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
29924 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
29925
29926 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
29927
29928
29929 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
29930 @findex -var-set-format
29931
29932 @subsubheading Synopsis
29933
29934 @smallexample
29935 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
29936 @end smallexample
29937
29938 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
29939 @var{format-spec}.
29940
29941 @anchor{-var-set-format}
29942 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
29943
29944 @smallexample
29945 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
29946 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
29947 @end smallexample
29948
29949 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
29950 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
29951 for pointers, etc.).
29952
29953 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
29954 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
29955
29956 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
29957 @findex -var-show-format
29958
29959 @subsubheading Synopsis
29960
29961 @smallexample
29962 -var-show-format @var{name}
29963 @end smallexample
29964
29965 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
29966
29967 @smallexample
29968 @var{format} @expansion{}
29969 @var{format-spec}
29970 @end smallexample
29971
29972
29973 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
29974 @findex -var-info-num-children
29975
29976 @subsubheading Synopsis
29977
29978 @smallexample
29979 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
29980 @end smallexample
29981
29982 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
29983
29984 @smallexample
29985 numchild=@var{n}
29986 @end smallexample
29987
29988 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
29989 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
29990 be available.
29991
29992
29993 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
29994 @findex -var-list-children
29995
29996 @subsubheading Synopsis
29997
29998 @smallexample
29999 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
30000 @end smallexample
30001 @anchor{-var-list-children}
30002
30003 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
30004 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
30005 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
30006 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
30007 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
30008 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
30009 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
30010 and unions.
30011
30012 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
30013 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
30014 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
30015 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
30016 reported.
30017
30018 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
30019 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
30020 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
30021 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
30022 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
30023 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
30024 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
30025 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
30026 the visible items.
30027
30028 For each child the following results are returned:
30029
30030 @table @var
30031
30032 @item name
30033 Name of the variable object created for this child.
30034
30035 @item exp
30036 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
30037 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
30038
30039 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
30040 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
30041
30042 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
30043 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
30044 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
30045 type and value are not present.
30046
30047 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
30048 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
30049 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
30050
30051 @item numchild
30052 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
30053 0.
30054
30055 @item type
30056 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
30057 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30058 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30059 @emph{declared} one.
30060
30061 @item value
30062 If values were requested, this is the value.
30063
30064 @item thread-id
30065 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
30066 Otherwise this result is not present.
30067
30068 @item frozen
30069 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
30070 @end table
30071
30072 The result may have its own attributes:
30073
30074 @table @samp
30075 @item displayhint
30076 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30077 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30078 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30079
30080 @item has_more
30081 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
30082 remaining after the end of the selected range.
30083 @end table
30084
30085 @subsubheading Example
30086
30087 @smallexample
30088 (gdb)
30089 -var-list-children n
30090 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30091 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30092 (gdb)
30093 -var-list-children --all-values n
30094 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30095 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30096 @end smallexample
30097
30098
30099 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
30100 @findex -var-info-type
30101
30102 @subsubheading Synopsis
30103
30104 @smallexample
30105 -var-info-type @var{name}
30106 @end smallexample
30107
30108 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
30109 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
30110 @value{GDBN} CLI:
30111
30112 @smallexample
30113 type=@var{typename}
30114 @end smallexample
30115
30116
30117 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
30118 @findex -var-info-expression
30119
30120 @subsubheading Synopsis
30121
30122 @smallexample
30123 -var-info-expression @var{name}
30124 @end smallexample
30125
30126 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
30127 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
30128 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
30129
30130 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
30131 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
30132
30133 @smallexample
30134 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
30135 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
30136 @end smallexample
30137
30138 @noindent
30139 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
30140
30141 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
30142 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
30143 is of limited use.
30144
30145 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
30146 @findex -var-info-path-expression
30147
30148 @subsubheading Synopsis
30149
30150 @smallexample
30151 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
30152 @end smallexample
30153
30154 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
30155 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
30156 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
30157 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
30158 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
30159 watchpoint from a variable object.
30160
30161 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
30162 and will give an error when invoked on one.
30163
30164 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
30165 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
30166 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
30167 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
30168 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
30169 @smallexample
30170 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
30171 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
30172 @end smallexample
30173
30174 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
30175 @findex -var-show-attributes
30176
30177 @subsubheading Synopsis
30178
30179 @smallexample
30180 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
30181 @end smallexample
30182
30183 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
30184
30185 @smallexample
30186 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
30187 @end smallexample
30188
30189 @noindent
30190 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
30191
30192 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
30193 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
30194
30195 @subsubheading Synopsis
30196
30197 @smallexample
30198 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
30199 @end smallexample
30200
30201 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
30202 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
30203 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
30204 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
30205 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
30206 the current display format will be used. The current display format
30207 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
30208
30209 @smallexample
30210 value=@var{value}
30211 @end smallexample
30212
30213 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
30214 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
30215
30216 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
30217 @findex -var-assign
30218
30219 @subsubheading Synopsis
30220
30221 @smallexample
30222 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
30223 @end smallexample
30224
30225 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
30226 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
30227 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
30228 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
30229
30230 @subsubheading Example
30231
30232 @smallexample
30233 (gdb)
30234 -var-assign var1 3
30235 ^done,value="3"
30236 (gdb)
30237 -var-update *
30238 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
30239 (gdb)
30240 @end smallexample
30241
30242 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
30243 @findex -var-update
30244
30245 @subsubheading Synopsis
30246
30247 @smallexample
30248 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
30249 @end smallexample
30250
30251 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
30252 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
30253 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
30254 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
30255 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
30256 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
30257 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
30258 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
30259 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
30260 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
30261 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
30262 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
30263 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
30264
30265 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
30266 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
30267 diagnostic.
30268
30269 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
30270 only the selected range of children will be reported.
30271
30272 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
30273 @samp{changelist}.
30274
30275 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
30276
30277 @table @samp
30278 @item name
30279 The name of the varobj.
30280
30281 @item value
30282 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
30283 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
30284
30285 @item in_scope
30286 @anchor{-var-update}
30287 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
30288
30289 @table @code
30290 @item "true"
30291 The variable object's current value is valid.
30292
30293 @item "false"
30294 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
30295 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
30296 scope.
30297
30298 @item "invalid"
30299 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
30300 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
30301 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
30302 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
30303 objects.
30304 @end table
30305
30306 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
30307 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
30308
30309 @item type_changed
30310 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
30311 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
30312 be @samp{false}.
30313
30314 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
30315 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
30316 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
30317 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
30318 unset.
30319
30320 @item new_type
30321 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
30322 hold the new type.
30323
30324 @item new_num_children
30325 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
30326 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
30327
30328 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
30329 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
30330 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
30331 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
30332 children which may be available.
30333
30334 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
30335 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
30336 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
30337 only happen at the end of the update range).
30338
30339 @item displayhint
30340 The display hint, if any.
30341
30342 @item has_more
30343 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
30344 available outside the varobj's update range.
30345
30346 @item dynamic
30347 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30348 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30349 then this attribute will not be present.
30350
30351 @item new_children
30352 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
30353 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
30354 be listed in this attribute.
30355 @end table
30356
30357 @subsubheading Example
30358
30359 @smallexample
30360 (gdb)
30361 -var-assign var1 3
30362 ^done,value="3"
30363 (gdb)
30364 -var-update --all-values var1
30365 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
30366 type_changed="false"@}]
30367 (gdb)
30368 @end smallexample
30369
30370 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
30371 @findex -var-set-frozen
30372 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
30373
30374 @subsubheading Synopsis
30375
30376 @smallexample
30377 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
30378 @end smallexample
30379
30380 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
30381 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
30382 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
30383 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
30384 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
30385 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
30386 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
30387 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
30388 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
30389 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
30390 @code{-var-update} does.
30391
30392 @subsubheading Example
30393
30394 @smallexample
30395 (gdb)
30396 -var-set-frozen V 1
30397 ^done
30398 (gdb)
30399 @end smallexample
30400
30401 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
30402 @findex -var-set-update-range
30403 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
30404
30405 @subsubheading Synopsis
30406
30407 @smallexample
30408 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
30409 @end smallexample
30410
30411 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
30412 @code{-var-update}.
30413
30414 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
30415 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
30416 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
30417 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
30418
30419 @subsubheading Example
30420
30421 @smallexample
30422 (gdb)
30423 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
30424 ^done
30425 @end smallexample
30426
30427 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
30428 @findex -var-set-visualizer
30429 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
30430
30431 @subsubheading Synopsis
30432
30433 @smallexample
30434 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
30435 @end smallexample
30436
30437 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
30438
30439 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
30440 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
30441
30442 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
30443 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
30444 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
30445 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
30446 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
30447 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
30448 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
30449
30450 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
30451 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
30452 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
30453 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
30454
30455 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
30456 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
30457 can be used to check this.
30458
30459 @subsubheading Example
30460
30461 Resetting the visualizer:
30462
30463 @smallexample
30464 (gdb)
30465 -var-set-visualizer V None
30466 ^done
30467 @end smallexample
30468
30469 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
30470
30471 @smallexample
30472 (gdb)
30473 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
30474 ^done
30475 @end smallexample
30476
30477 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
30478 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
30479
30480 @smallexample
30481 (gdb)
30482 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
30483 ^done
30484 @end smallexample
30485
30486 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30487 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
30488 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
30489
30490 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
30491 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
30492 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
30493 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
30494
30495 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
30496 @c @subheading -data-assign
30497 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
30498 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
30499 @c set variable
30500 @c @subsubheading Example
30501 @c N.A.
30502
30503 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
30504 @findex -data-disassemble
30505
30506 @subsubheading Synopsis
30507
30508 @smallexample
30509 -data-disassemble
30510 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
30511 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
30512 -- @var{mode}
30513 @end smallexample
30514
30515 @noindent
30516 Where:
30517
30518 @table @samp
30519 @item @var{start-addr}
30520 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
30521 @item @var{end-addr}
30522 is the end address
30523 @item @var{filename}
30524 is the name of the file to disassemble
30525 @item @var{linenum}
30526 is the line number to disassemble around
30527 @item @var{lines}
30528 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
30529 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
30530 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
30531 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
30532 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
30533 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
30534 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
30535 are displayed.
30536 @item @var{mode}
30537 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
30538 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
30539 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
30540 @end table
30541
30542 @subsubheading Result
30543
30544 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
30545
30546 @itemize @bullet
30547 @item Address
30548 @item Func-name
30549 @item Offset
30550 @item Instruction
30551 @end itemize
30552
30553 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
30554 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
30555
30556 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30557
30558 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
30559
30560 @subsubheading Example
30561
30562 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
30563
30564 @smallexample
30565 (gdb)
30566 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
30567 ^done,
30568 asm_insns=[
30569 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30570 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30571 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30572 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30573 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
30574 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
30575 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
30576 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30577 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
30578 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
30579 (gdb)
30580 @end smallexample
30581
30582 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
30583 @code{main}.
30584
30585 @smallexample
30586 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
30587 ^done,asm_insns=[
30588 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30589 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
30590 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30591 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30592 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30593 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30594 [@dots{}]
30595 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
30596 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
30597 (gdb)
30598 @end smallexample
30599
30600 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
30601
30602 @smallexample
30603 (gdb)
30604 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
30605 ^done,asm_insns=[
30606 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30607 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
30608 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30609 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30610 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30611 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
30612 (gdb)
30613 @end smallexample
30614
30615 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
30616
30617 @smallexample
30618 (gdb)
30619 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
30620 ^done,asm_insns=[
30621 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
30622 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
30623 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
30624 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30625 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
30626 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
30627 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
30628 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
30629 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30630 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30631 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30632 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
30633 (gdb)
30634 @end smallexample
30635
30636
30637 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
30638 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
30639
30640 @subsubheading Synopsis
30641
30642 @smallexample
30643 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
30644 @end smallexample
30645
30646 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
30647 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
30648 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
30649
30650 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30651
30652 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
30653 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
30654 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
30655
30656 @subsubheading Example
30657
30658 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
30659 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
30660 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
30661 output.
30662
30663 @smallexample
30664 211-data-evaluate-expression A
30665 211^done,value="1"
30666 (gdb)
30667 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
30668 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
30669 (gdb)
30670 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
30671 411^done,value="4"
30672 (gdb)
30673 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
30674 511^done,value="4"
30675 (gdb)
30676 @end smallexample
30677
30678
30679 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
30680 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
30681
30682 @subsubheading Synopsis
30683
30684 @smallexample
30685 -data-list-changed-registers
30686 @end smallexample
30687
30688 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
30689
30690 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30691
30692 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
30693 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
30694
30695 @subsubheading Example
30696
30697 On a PPC MBX board:
30698
30699 @smallexample
30700 (gdb)
30701 -exec-continue
30702 ^running
30703
30704 (gdb)
30705 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
30706 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
30707 line="5"@}
30708 (gdb)
30709 -data-list-changed-registers
30710 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
30711 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
30712 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
30713 (gdb)
30714 @end smallexample
30715
30716
30717 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
30718 @findex -data-list-register-names
30719
30720 @subsubheading Synopsis
30721
30722 @smallexample
30723 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
30724 @end smallexample
30725
30726 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
30727 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
30728 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
30729 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
30730 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
30731 include empty register names.
30732
30733 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30734
30735 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
30736 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
30737 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
30738
30739 @subsubheading Example
30740
30741 For the PPC MBX board:
30742 @smallexample
30743 (gdb)
30744 -data-list-register-names
30745 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
30746 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
30747 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
30748 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
30749 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
30750 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
30751 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
30752 (gdb)
30753 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
30754 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
30755 (gdb)
30756 @end smallexample
30757
30758 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
30759 @findex -data-list-register-values
30760
30761 @subsubheading Synopsis
30762
30763 @smallexample
30764 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
30765 @end smallexample
30766
30767 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
30768 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
30769 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
30770 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
30771
30772 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
30773
30774 @table @code
30775 @item x
30776 Hexadecimal
30777 @item o
30778 Octal
30779 @item t
30780 Binary
30781 @item d
30782 Decimal
30783 @item r
30784 Raw
30785 @item N
30786 Natural
30787 @end table
30788
30789 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30790
30791 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
30792 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
30793
30794 @subsubheading Example
30795
30796 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
30797 don't appear in the actual output):
30798
30799 @smallexample
30800 (gdb)
30801 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
30802 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30803 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
30804 (gdb)
30805 -data-list-register-values x
30806 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
30807 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30808 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
30809 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
30810 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
30811 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
30812 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
30813 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
30814 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
30815 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30816 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
30817 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
30818 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
30819 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
30820 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
30821 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
30822 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
30823 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
30824 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
30825 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
30826 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
30827 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
30828 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
30829 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
30830 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
30831 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
30832 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
30833 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
30834 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
30835 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
30836 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
30837 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
30838 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30839 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
30840 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
30841 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
30842 (gdb)
30843 @end smallexample
30844
30845
30846 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
30847 @findex -data-read-memory
30848
30849 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
30850
30851 @subsubheading Synopsis
30852
30853 @smallexample
30854 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
30855 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
30856 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
30857 @end smallexample
30858
30859 @noindent
30860 where:
30861
30862 @table @samp
30863 @item @var{address}
30864 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30865 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30866 quoted using the C convention.
30867
30868 @item @var{word-format}
30869 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
30870 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
30871 ,Output Formats}).
30872
30873 @item @var{word-size}
30874 The size of each memory word in bytes.
30875
30876 @item @var{nr-rows}
30877 The number of rows in the output table.
30878
30879 @item @var{nr-cols}
30880 The number of columns in the output table.
30881
30882 @item @var{aschar}
30883 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
30884 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
30885 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
30886 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
30887
30888 @item @var{byte-offset}
30889 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
30890 @end table
30891
30892 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
30893 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
30894 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
30895 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
30896 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
30897 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
30898 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
30899 @samp{addr}.
30900
30901 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
30902 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
30903 @samp{prev-page}.
30904
30905 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30906
30907 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
30908 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
30909
30910 @subsubheading Example
30911
30912 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
30913 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
30914 word. Display each word in hex.
30915
30916 @smallexample
30917 (gdb)
30918 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
30919 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
30920 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
30921 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
30922 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
30923 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
30924 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
30925 (gdb)
30926 @end smallexample
30927
30928 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
30929 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
30930
30931 @smallexample
30932 (gdb)
30933 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
30934 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
30935 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
30936 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
30937 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
30938 (gdb)
30939 @end smallexample
30940
30941 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
30942 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
30943 used as the non-printable character.
30944
30945 @smallexample
30946 (gdb)
30947 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
30948 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
30949 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
30950 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
30951 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30952 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30953 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30954 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30955 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
30956 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
30957 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
30958 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
30959 (gdb)
30960 @end smallexample
30961
30962 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
30963 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
30964
30965 @subsubheading Synopsis
30966
30967 @smallexample
30968 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
30969 @var{address} @var{count}
30970 @end smallexample
30971
30972 @noindent
30973 where:
30974
30975 @table @samp
30976 @item @var{address}
30977 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30978 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30979 quoted using the C convention.
30980
30981 @item @var{count}
30982 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
30983
30984 @item @var{byte-offset}
30985 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
30986 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
30987 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
30988 perform address arithmetics itself.
30989
30990 @end table
30991
30992 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
30993 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
30994 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
30995 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
30996 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
30997 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
30998
30999 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
31000 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
31001 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
31002 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
31003 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
31004 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
31005 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
31006 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
31007
31008 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
31009 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
31010 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
31011 and has the following fields:
31012
31013 @table @code
31014 @item begin
31015 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31016
31017 @item end
31018 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31019
31020 @item offset
31021 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
31022 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
31023
31024 @item contents
31025 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
31026
31027 @end table
31028
31029
31030
31031 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31032
31033 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
31034
31035 @subsubheading Example
31036
31037 @smallexample
31038 (gdb)
31039 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
31040 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
31041 end="0xbffff15e",
31042 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
31043 (gdb)
31044 @end smallexample
31045
31046
31047 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
31048 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
31049
31050 @subsubheading Synopsis
31051
31052 @smallexample
31053 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
31054 @end smallexample
31055
31056 @noindent
31057 where:
31058
31059 @table @samp
31060 @item @var{address}
31061 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31062 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31063 quoted using the C convention.
31064
31065 @item @var{contents}
31066 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
31067
31068 @end table
31069
31070 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31071
31072 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31073
31074 @subsubheading Example
31075
31076 @smallexample
31077 (gdb)
31078 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
31079 ^done
31080 (gdb)
31081 @end smallexample
31082
31083
31084 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31085 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
31086 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
31087
31088 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
31089 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
31090
31091 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
31092 @findex -trace-find
31093
31094 @subsubheading Synopsis
31095
31096 @smallexample
31097 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
31098 @end smallexample
31099
31100 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
31101 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
31102 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
31103
31104 @table @samp
31105
31106 @item none
31107 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
31108
31109 @item frame-number
31110 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
31111 that index.
31112
31113 @item tracepoint-number
31114 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
31115 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
31116
31117 @item pc
31118 An address is required as parameter. Finds
31119 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
31120 address.
31121
31122 @item pc-inside-range
31123 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
31124 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
31125 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31126
31127 @item pc-outside-range
31128 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
31129 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
31130 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31131
31132 @item line
31133 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
31134 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
31135 the specified location.
31136
31137 @end table
31138
31139 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
31140 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
31141
31142 @table @samp
31143 @item found
31144 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
31145 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
31146
31147 @item traceframe
31148 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
31149 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31150
31151 @item tracepoint
31152 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
31153 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31154
31155 @item frame
31156 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
31157 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
31158 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
31159
31160 @end table
31161
31162 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31163
31164 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
31165
31166 @subheading -trace-define-variable
31167 @findex -trace-define-variable
31168
31169 @subsubheading Synopsis
31170
31171 @smallexample
31172 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
31173 @end smallexample
31174
31175 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
31176 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
31177 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
31178 with the @samp{$} character.
31179
31180 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31181
31182 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
31183
31184 @subheading -trace-list-variables
31185 @findex -trace-list-variables
31186
31187 @subsubheading Synopsis
31188
31189 @smallexample
31190 -trace-list-variables
31191 @end smallexample
31192
31193 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
31194 table has the following fields:
31195
31196 @table @samp
31197 @item name
31198 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
31199
31200 @item initial
31201 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
31202 field is always present.
31203
31204 @item current
31205 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
31206 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
31207 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
31208 presently running.
31209
31210 @end table
31211
31212 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31213
31214 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
31215
31216 @subsubheading Example
31217
31218 @smallexample
31219 (gdb)
31220 -trace-list-variables
31221 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
31222 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
31223 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
31224 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
31225 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
31226 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
31227 (gdb)
31228 @end smallexample
31229
31230 @subheading -trace-save
31231 @findex -trace-save
31232
31233 @subsubheading Synopsis
31234
31235 @smallexample
31236 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
31237 @end smallexample
31238
31239 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
31240 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
31241 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
31242 to perform the save.
31243
31244 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31245
31246 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
31247
31248
31249 @subheading -trace-start
31250 @findex -trace-start
31251
31252 @subsubheading Synopsis
31253
31254 @smallexample
31255 -trace-start
31256 @end smallexample
31257
31258 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
31259 have any fields.
31260
31261 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31262
31263 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
31264
31265 @subheading -trace-status
31266 @findex -trace-status
31267
31268 @subsubheading Synopsis
31269
31270 @smallexample
31271 -trace-status
31272 @end smallexample
31273
31274 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
31275 the following fields:
31276
31277 @table @samp
31278
31279 @item supported
31280 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
31281 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
31282 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
31283 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
31284 started. This field is always present.
31285
31286 @item running
31287 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
31288 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
31289 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31290
31291 @item stop-reason
31292 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
31293 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
31294 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
31295 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
31296 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
31297 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
31298 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
31299 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
31300 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31301
31302 @item stopping-tracepoint
31303 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
31304 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
31305 @samp{passcount}.
31306
31307 @item frames
31308 @itemx frames-created
31309 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
31310 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
31311 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
31312 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
31313
31314 @item buffer-size
31315 @itemx buffer-free
31316 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
31317 remaining space. These fields are optional.
31318
31319 @item circular
31320 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
31321 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
31322 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
31323 and may fill up.
31324
31325 @item disconnected
31326 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
31327 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
31328 that the trace run will stop.
31329
31330 @end table
31331
31332 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31333
31334 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
31335
31336 @subheading -trace-stop
31337 @findex -trace-stop
31338
31339 @subsubheading Synopsis
31340
31341 @smallexample
31342 -trace-stop
31343 @end smallexample
31344
31345 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
31346 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
31347 @samp{running} fields are not output.
31348
31349 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31350
31351 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
31352
31353
31354 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31355 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
31356 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
31357
31358
31359 @ignore
31360 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
31361 @findex -symbol-info-address
31362
31363 @subsubheading Synopsis
31364
31365 @smallexample
31366 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
31367 @end smallexample
31368
31369 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
31370
31371 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31372
31373 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
31374
31375 @subsubheading Example
31376 N.A.
31377
31378
31379 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
31380 @findex -symbol-info-file
31381
31382 @subsubheading Synopsis
31383
31384 @smallexample
31385 -symbol-info-file
31386 @end smallexample
31387
31388 Show the file for the symbol.
31389
31390 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31391
31392 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
31393 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
31394
31395 @subsubheading Example
31396 N.A.
31397
31398
31399 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
31400 @findex -symbol-info-function
31401
31402 @subsubheading Synopsis
31403
31404 @smallexample
31405 -symbol-info-function
31406 @end smallexample
31407
31408 Show which function the symbol lives in.
31409
31410 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31411
31412 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
31413
31414 @subsubheading Example
31415 N.A.
31416
31417
31418 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
31419 @findex -symbol-info-line
31420
31421 @subsubheading Synopsis
31422
31423 @smallexample
31424 -symbol-info-line
31425 @end smallexample
31426
31427 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
31428
31429 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31430
31431 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
31432 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
31433
31434 @subsubheading Example
31435 N.A.
31436
31437
31438 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
31439 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
31440
31441 @subsubheading Synopsis
31442
31443 @smallexample
31444 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
31445 @end smallexample
31446
31447 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
31448
31449 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31450
31451 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
31452
31453 @subsubheading Example
31454 N.A.
31455
31456
31457 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
31458 @findex -symbol-list-functions
31459
31460 @subsubheading Synopsis
31461
31462 @smallexample
31463 -symbol-list-functions
31464 @end smallexample
31465
31466 List the functions in the executable.
31467
31468 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31469
31470 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
31471 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31472
31473 @subsubheading Example
31474 N.A.
31475 @end ignore
31476
31477
31478 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
31479 @findex -symbol-list-lines
31480
31481 @subsubheading Synopsis
31482
31483 @smallexample
31484 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
31485 @end smallexample
31486
31487 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
31488 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
31489 ascending PC order.
31490
31491 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31492
31493 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31494
31495 @subsubheading Example
31496 @smallexample
31497 (gdb)
31498 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
31499 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
31500 (gdb)
31501 @end smallexample
31502
31503
31504 @ignore
31505 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
31506 @findex -symbol-list-types
31507
31508 @subsubheading Synopsis
31509
31510 @smallexample
31511 -symbol-list-types
31512 @end smallexample
31513
31514 List all the type names.
31515
31516 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31517
31518 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
31519 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31520
31521 @subsubheading Example
31522 N.A.
31523
31524
31525 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
31526 @findex -symbol-list-variables
31527
31528 @subsubheading Synopsis
31529
31530 @smallexample
31531 -symbol-list-variables
31532 @end smallexample
31533
31534 List all the global and static variable names.
31535
31536 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31537
31538 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31539
31540 @subsubheading Example
31541 N.A.
31542
31543
31544 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
31545 @findex -symbol-locate
31546
31547 @subsubheading Synopsis
31548
31549 @smallexample
31550 -symbol-locate
31551 @end smallexample
31552
31553 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31554
31555 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
31556
31557 @subsubheading Example
31558 N.A.
31559
31560
31561 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
31562 @findex -symbol-type
31563
31564 @subsubheading Synopsis
31565
31566 @smallexample
31567 -symbol-type @var{variable}
31568 @end smallexample
31569
31570 Show type of @var{variable}.
31571
31572 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31573
31574 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
31575 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
31576
31577 @subsubheading Example
31578 N.A.
31579 @end ignore
31580
31581
31582 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31583 @node GDB/MI File Commands
31584 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
31585
31586 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
31587 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
31588
31589 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
31590 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
31591
31592 @subsubheading Synopsis
31593
31594 @smallexample
31595 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
31596 @end smallexample
31597
31598 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
31599 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
31600 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
31601 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
31602 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
31603 notification.
31604
31605 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31606
31607 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
31608
31609 @subsubheading Example
31610
31611 @smallexample
31612 (gdb)
31613 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31614 ^done
31615 (gdb)
31616 @end smallexample
31617
31618
31619 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
31620 @findex -file-exec-file
31621
31622 @subsubheading Synopsis
31623
31624 @smallexample
31625 -file-exec-file @var{file}
31626 @end smallexample
31627
31628 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
31629 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
31630 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
31631 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
31632 notification.
31633
31634 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31635
31636 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
31637
31638 @subsubheading Example
31639
31640 @smallexample
31641 (gdb)
31642 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31643 ^done
31644 (gdb)
31645 @end smallexample
31646
31647
31648 @ignore
31649 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
31650 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
31651
31652 @subsubheading Synopsis
31653
31654 @smallexample
31655 -file-list-exec-sections
31656 @end smallexample
31657
31658 List the sections of the current executable file.
31659
31660 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31661
31662 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
31663 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
31664 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
31665
31666 @subsubheading Example
31667 N.A.
31668 @end ignore
31669
31670
31671 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
31672 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
31673
31674 @subsubheading Synopsis
31675
31676 @smallexample
31677 -file-list-exec-source-file
31678 @end smallexample
31679
31680 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
31681 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
31682 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
31683 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
31684
31685 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31686
31687 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
31688
31689 @subsubheading Example
31690
31691 @smallexample
31692 (gdb)
31693 123-file-list-exec-source-file
31694 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
31695 (gdb)
31696 @end smallexample
31697
31698
31699 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
31700 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
31701
31702 @subsubheading Synopsis
31703
31704 @smallexample
31705 -file-list-exec-source-files
31706 @end smallexample
31707
31708 List the source files for the current executable.
31709
31710 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
31711 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
31712
31713 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31714
31715 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
31716 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
31717
31718 @subsubheading Example
31719 @smallexample
31720 (gdb)
31721 -file-list-exec-source-files
31722 ^done,files=[
31723 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
31724 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
31725 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
31726 (gdb)
31727 @end smallexample
31728
31729 @ignore
31730 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
31731 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
31732
31733 @subsubheading Synopsis
31734
31735 @smallexample
31736 -file-list-shared-libraries
31737 @end smallexample
31738
31739 List the shared libraries in the program.
31740
31741 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31742
31743 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
31744
31745 @subsubheading Example
31746 N.A.
31747
31748
31749 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
31750 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
31751
31752 @subsubheading Synopsis
31753
31754 @smallexample
31755 -file-list-symbol-files
31756 @end smallexample
31757
31758 List symbol files.
31759
31760 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31761
31762 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
31763
31764 @subsubheading Example
31765 N.A.
31766 @end ignore
31767
31768
31769 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
31770 @findex -file-symbol-file
31771
31772 @subsubheading Synopsis
31773
31774 @smallexample
31775 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
31776 @end smallexample
31777
31778 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
31779 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
31780 produced, except for a completion notification.
31781
31782 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31783
31784 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
31785
31786 @subsubheading Example
31787
31788 @smallexample
31789 (gdb)
31790 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31791 ^done
31792 (gdb)
31793 @end smallexample
31794
31795 @ignore
31796 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31797 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
31798 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
31799
31800 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
31801
31802 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
31803
31804 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
31805
31806 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
31807
31808 @c @subheading -overlay-map
31809
31810 @c @subheading -overlay-off
31811
31812 @c @subheading -overlay-on
31813
31814 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
31815
31816 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31817 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
31818 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
31819
31820 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
31821
31822 @c @subheading -signal-handle
31823
31824 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
31825
31826 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
31827 @end ignore
31828
31829
31830 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31831 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
31832 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
31833
31834
31835 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
31836 @findex -target-attach
31837
31838 @subsubheading Synopsis
31839
31840 @smallexample
31841 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
31842 @end smallexample
31843
31844 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
31845 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
31846 group, the id previously returned by
31847 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
31848
31849 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31850
31851 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
31852
31853 @subsubheading Example
31854 @smallexample
31855 (gdb)
31856 -target-attach 34
31857 =thread-created,id="1"
31858 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
31859 ^done
31860 (gdb)
31861 @end smallexample
31862
31863 @ignore
31864 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
31865 @findex -target-compare-sections
31866
31867 @subsubheading Synopsis
31868
31869 @smallexample
31870 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
31871 @end smallexample
31872
31873 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
31874 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
31875
31876 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31877
31878 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
31879
31880 @subsubheading Example
31881 N.A.
31882 @end ignore
31883
31884
31885 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
31886 @findex -target-detach
31887
31888 @subsubheading Synopsis
31889
31890 @smallexample
31891 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
31892 @end smallexample
31893
31894 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
31895 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
31896 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
31897
31898 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31899
31900 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
31901
31902 @subsubheading Example
31903
31904 @smallexample
31905 (gdb)
31906 -target-detach
31907 ^done
31908 (gdb)
31909 @end smallexample
31910
31911
31912 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
31913 @findex -target-disconnect
31914
31915 @subsubheading Synopsis
31916
31917 @smallexample
31918 -target-disconnect
31919 @end smallexample
31920
31921 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
31922 generally not resumed.
31923
31924 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31925
31926 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
31927
31928 @subsubheading Example
31929
31930 @smallexample
31931 (gdb)
31932 -target-disconnect
31933 ^done
31934 (gdb)
31935 @end smallexample
31936
31937
31938 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
31939 @findex -target-download
31940
31941 @subsubheading Synopsis
31942
31943 @smallexample
31944 -target-download
31945 @end smallexample
31946
31947 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
31948 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
31949
31950 @table @samp
31951 @item section
31952 The name of the section.
31953 @item section-sent
31954 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
31955 @item section-size
31956 The size of the section.
31957 @item total-sent
31958 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
31959 @item total-size
31960 The size of the overall executable to download.
31961 @end table
31962
31963 @noindent
31964 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
31965 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
31966
31967 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
31968 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
31969
31970 @table @samp
31971 @item section
31972 The name of the section.
31973 @item section-size
31974 The size of the section.
31975 @item total-size
31976 The size of the overall executable to download.
31977 @end table
31978
31979 @noindent
31980 At the end, a summary is printed.
31981
31982 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31983
31984 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
31985
31986 @subsubheading Example
31987
31988 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
31989 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
31990
31991 @smallexample
31992 (gdb)
31993 -target-download
31994 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
31995 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
31996 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
31997 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
31998 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
31999 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
32000 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
32001 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
32002 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
32003 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
32004 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
32005 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
32006 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
32007 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
32008 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
32009 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
32010 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
32011 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
32012 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
32013 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
32014 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
32015 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
32016 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
32017 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
32018 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
32019 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
32020 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
32021 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32022 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32023 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
32024 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
32025 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
32026 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
32027 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
32028 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
32029 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
32030 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
32031 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
32032 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
32033 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
32034 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
32035 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
32036 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
32037 write-rate="429"
32038 (gdb)
32039 @end smallexample
32040
32041
32042 @ignore
32043 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
32044 @findex -target-exec-status
32045
32046 @subsubheading Synopsis
32047
32048 @smallexample
32049 -target-exec-status
32050 @end smallexample
32051
32052 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
32053 not, for instance).
32054
32055 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32056
32057 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
32058
32059 @subsubheading Example
32060 N.A.
32061
32062
32063 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
32064 @findex -target-list-available-targets
32065
32066 @subsubheading Synopsis
32067
32068 @smallexample
32069 -target-list-available-targets
32070 @end smallexample
32071
32072 List the possible targets to connect to.
32073
32074 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32075
32076 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
32077
32078 @subsubheading Example
32079 N.A.
32080
32081
32082 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
32083 @findex -target-list-current-targets
32084
32085 @subsubheading Synopsis
32086
32087 @smallexample
32088 -target-list-current-targets
32089 @end smallexample
32090
32091 Describe the current target.
32092
32093 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32094
32095 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
32096 other things).
32097
32098 @subsubheading Example
32099 N.A.
32100
32101
32102 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
32103 @findex -target-list-parameters
32104
32105 @subsubheading Synopsis
32106
32107 @smallexample
32108 -target-list-parameters
32109 @end smallexample
32110
32111 @c ????
32112 @end ignore
32113
32114 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32115
32116 No equivalent.
32117
32118 @subsubheading Example
32119 N.A.
32120
32121
32122 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
32123 @findex -target-select
32124
32125 @subsubheading Synopsis
32126
32127 @smallexample
32128 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
32129 @end smallexample
32130
32131 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
32132
32133 @table @samp
32134 @item @var{type}
32135 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
32136 @item @var{parameters}
32137 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
32138 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
32139 @end table
32140
32141 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
32142 which the target program is, in the following form:
32143
32144 @smallexample
32145 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
32146 args=[@var{arg list}]
32147 @end smallexample
32148
32149 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32150
32151 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
32152
32153 @subsubheading Example
32154
32155 @smallexample
32156 (gdb)
32157 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
32158 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
32159 (gdb)
32160 @end smallexample
32161
32162 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32163 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
32164 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
32165
32166
32167 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
32168 @findex -target-file-put
32169
32170 @subsubheading Synopsis
32171
32172 @smallexample
32173 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
32174 @end smallexample
32175
32176 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
32177 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
32178
32179 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32180
32181 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
32182
32183 @subsubheading Example
32184
32185 @smallexample
32186 (gdb)
32187 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
32188 ^done
32189 (gdb)
32190 @end smallexample
32191
32192
32193 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
32194 @findex -target-file-get
32195
32196 @subsubheading Synopsis
32197
32198 @smallexample
32199 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
32200 @end smallexample
32201
32202 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
32203 on the host system.
32204
32205 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32206
32207 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
32208
32209 @subsubheading Example
32210
32211 @smallexample
32212 (gdb)
32213 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
32214 ^done
32215 (gdb)
32216 @end smallexample
32217
32218
32219 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
32220 @findex -target-file-delete
32221
32222 @subsubheading Synopsis
32223
32224 @smallexample
32225 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
32226 @end smallexample
32227
32228 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
32229
32230 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32231
32232 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
32233
32234 @subsubheading Example
32235
32236 @smallexample
32237 (gdb)
32238 -target-file-delete remotefile
32239 ^done
32240 (gdb)
32241 @end smallexample
32242
32243
32244 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32245 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
32246 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
32247
32248 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
32249
32250 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
32251 @findex -gdb-exit
32252
32253 @subsubheading Synopsis
32254
32255 @smallexample
32256 -gdb-exit
32257 @end smallexample
32258
32259 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
32260
32261 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32262
32263 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
32264
32265 @subsubheading Example
32266
32267 @smallexample
32268 (gdb)
32269 -gdb-exit
32270 ^exit
32271 @end smallexample
32272
32273
32274 @ignore
32275 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
32276 @findex -exec-abort
32277
32278 @subsubheading Synopsis
32279
32280 @smallexample
32281 -exec-abort
32282 @end smallexample
32283
32284 Kill the inferior running program.
32285
32286 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32287
32288 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
32289
32290 @subsubheading Example
32291 N.A.
32292 @end ignore
32293
32294
32295 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
32296 @findex -gdb-set
32297
32298 @subsubheading Synopsis
32299
32300 @smallexample
32301 -gdb-set
32302 @end smallexample
32303
32304 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
32305 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
32306
32307 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32308
32309 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
32310
32311 @subsubheading Example
32312
32313 @smallexample
32314 (gdb)
32315 -gdb-set $foo=3
32316 ^done
32317 (gdb)
32318 @end smallexample
32319
32320
32321 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
32322 @findex -gdb-show
32323
32324 @subsubheading Synopsis
32325
32326 @smallexample
32327 -gdb-show
32328 @end smallexample
32329
32330 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
32331
32332 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32333
32334 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
32335
32336 @subsubheading Example
32337
32338 @smallexample
32339 (gdb)
32340 -gdb-show annotate
32341 ^done,value="0"
32342 (gdb)
32343 @end smallexample
32344
32345 @c @subheading -gdb-source
32346
32347
32348 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
32349 @findex -gdb-version
32350
32351 @subsubheading Synopsis
32352
32353 @smallexample
32354 -gdb-version
32355 @end smallexample
32356
32357 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
32358
32359 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32360
32361 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
32362 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
32363
32364 @subsubheading Example
32365
32366 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
32367 @c box in TeX.
32368 @smallexample
32369 (gdb)
32370 -gdb-version
32371 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
32372 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32373 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
32374 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
32375 ~ certain conditions.
32376 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32377 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
32378 ~ details.
32379 ~This GDB was configured as
32380 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
32381 ^done
32382 (gdb)
32383 @end smallexample
32384
32385 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
32386 @findex -list-features
32387
32388 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
32389 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
32390 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
32391 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
32392 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
32393 startup.
32394
32395 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
32396 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
32397 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
32398 is given below.
32399
32400 Example output:
32401
32402 @smallexample
32403 (gdb) -list-features
32404 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
32405 @end smallexample
32406
32407 The current list of features is:
32408
32409 @table @samp
32410 @item frozen-varobjs
32411 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
32412 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
32413 of @code{-varobj-create}.
32414 @item pending-breakpoints
32415 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
32416 command.
32417 @item python
32418 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
32419 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
32420 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
32421 @item thread-info
32422 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
32423 @item data-read-memory-bytes
32424 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
32425 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
32426 @item breakpoint-notifications
32427 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
32428 CLI will be announced via async records.
32429 @item ada-task-info
32430 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
32431 @end table
32432
32433 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
32434 @findex -list-target-features
32435
32436 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
32437 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
32438 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
32439 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
32440 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
32441 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
32442 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
32443 Example output:
32444
32445 @smallexample
32446 (gdb) -list-features
32447 ^done,result=["async"]
32448 @end smallexample
32449
32450 The current list of features is:
32451
32452 @table @samp
32453 @item async
32454 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
32455 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
32456 while the target is running.
32457
32458 @item reverse
32459 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
32460 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
32461
32462 @end table
32463
32464 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
32465 @findex -list-thread-groups
32466
32467 @subheading Synopsis
32468
32469 @smallexample
32470 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
32471 @end smallexample
32472
32473 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
32474 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
32475 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
32476 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
32477 top-level thread groups.
32478
32479 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
32480 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
32481 available on the target.
32482
32483 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
32484 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
32485 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
32486 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
32487 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
32488 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
32489 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
32490 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
32491
32492 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
32493 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
32494 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
32495 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
32496 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
32497 @samp{threads} field.
32498
32499 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
32500 the following caveats:
32501
32502 @itemize @bullet
32503 @item
32504 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
32505 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
32506 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
32507
32508 @item
32509 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
32510 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
32511 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
32512 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
32513 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
32514 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
32515
32516 @end itemize
32517
32518 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
32519 have the following fields:
32520
32521 @table @code
32522 @item id
32523 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
32524 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
32525 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
32526
32527 @item type
32528 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
32529 valid type.
32530
32531 @item pid
32532 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
32533 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
32534
32535 @item num_children
32536 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
32537 absent for an available thread group.
32538
32539 @item threads
32540 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
32541 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
32542 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
32543
32544 @item cores
32545 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
32546 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
32547 such information is not available.
32548
32549 @item executable
32550 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
32551 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
32552 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
32553
32554 @end table
32555
32556 @subheading Example
32557
32558 @smallexample
32559 @value{GDBP}
32560 -list-thread-groups
32561 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
32562 -list-thread-groups 17
32563 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
32564 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
32565 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
32566 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
32567 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
32568 -list-thread-groups --available
32569 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
32570 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
32571 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32572 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32573 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
32574 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
32575 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32576 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32577 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
32578 @end smallexample
32579
32580
32581 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
32582 @findex -add-inferior
32583
32584 @subheading Synopsis
32585
32586 @smallexample
32587 -add-inferior
32588 @end smallexample
32589
32590 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
32591 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
32592 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
32593 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
32594 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
32595 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
32596
32597 @subheading Example
32598
32599 @smallexample
32600 @value{GDBP}
32601 -add-inferior
32602 ^done,thread-group="i3"
32603 @end smallexample
32604
32605 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
32606 @findex -interpreter-exec
32607
32608 @subheading Synopsis
32609
32610 @smallexample
32611 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
32612 @end smallexample
32613 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
32614
32615 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
32616
32617 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32618
32619 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
32620
32621 @subheading Example
32622
32623 @smallexample
32624 (gdb)
32625 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
32626 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
32627 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
32628 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
32629 ^done
32630 (gdb)
32631 @end smallexample
32632
32633 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
32634 @findex -inferior-tty-set
32635
32636 @subheading Synopsis
32637
32638 @smallexample
32639 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32640 @end smallexample
32641
32642 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
32643
32644 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32645
32646 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
32647
32648 @subheading Example
32649
32650 @smallexample
32651 (gdb)
32652 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32653 ^done
32654 (gdb)
32655 @end smallexample
32656
32657 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
32658 @findex -inferior-tty-show
32659
32660 @subheading Synopsis
32661
32662 @smallexample
32663 -inferior-tty-show
32664 @end smallexample
32665
32666 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
32667
32668 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32669
32670 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
32671
32672 @subheading Example
32673
32674 @smallexample
32675 (gdb)
32676 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32677 ^done
32678 (gdb)
32679 -inferior-tty-show
32680 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
32681 (gdb)
32682 @end smallexample
32683
32684 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
32685 @findex -enable-timings
32686
32687 @subheading Synopsis
32688
32689 @smallexample
32690 -enable-timings [yes | no]
32691 @end smallexample
32692
32693 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
32694 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
32695 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
32696 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
32697
32698 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32699
32700 No equivalent.
32701
32702 @subheading Example
32703
32704 @smallexample
32705 (gdb)
32706 -enable-timings
32707 ^done
32708 (gdb)
32709 -break-insert main
32710 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
32711 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
32712 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
32713 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
32714 (gdb)
32715 -enable-timings no
32716 ^done
32717 (gdb)
32718 -exec-run
32719 ^running
32720 (gdb)
32721 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
32722 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
32723 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
32724 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
32725 (gdb)
32726 @end smallexample
32727
32728 @node Annotations
32729 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
32730
32731 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
32732 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
32733 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
32734 relatively high level.
32735
32736 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
32737 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
32738
32739 @ignore
32740 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
32741 @end ignore
32742
32743 @menu
32744 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
32745 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
32746 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
32747 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
32748 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
32749 * Annotations for Running::
32750 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
32751 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
32752 @end menu
32753
32754 @node Annotations Overview
32755 @section What is an Annotation?
32756 @cindex annotations
32757
32758 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
32759 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
32760 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
32761 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
32762 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
32763 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
32764 cannot contain newline characters.
32765
32766 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
32767 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
32768 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
32769 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
32770 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
32771 means those three characters as output.
32772
32773 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
32774 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
32775 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
32776 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
32777 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
32778 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
32779 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
32780 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
32781 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
32782
32783 @table @code
32784 @kindex set annotate
32785 @item set annotate @var{level}
32786 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
32787 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
32788
32789 @item show annotate
32790 @kindex show annotate
32791 Show the current annotation level.
32792 @end table
32793
32794 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
32795
32796 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
32797
32798 @smallexample
32799 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
32800 GNU gdb 6.0
32801 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32802 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
32803 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
32804 under certain conditions.
32805 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32806 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
32807 for details.
32808 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
32809
32810 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
32811 (@value{GDBP})
32812 ^Z^Zprompt
32813 @kbd{quit}
32814
32815 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
32816 $
32817 @end smallexample
32818
32819 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
32820 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
32821 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
32822 output from @value{GDBN}.
32823
32824 @node Server Prefix
32825 @section The Server Prefix
32826 @cindex server prefix
32827
32828 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
32829 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
32830 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
32831 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
32832 a transparent manner.
32833
32834 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
32835 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
32836 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
32837 @code{print} command.
32838
32839 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
32840 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
32841
32842 @node Prompting
32843 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
32844
32845 @cindex annotations for prompts
32846 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
32847 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
32848 over, etc.
32849
32850 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
32851 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
32852 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
32853 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
32854 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
32855 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
32856 features the following annotations:
32857
32858 @smallexample
32859 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
32860 ^Z^Zprompt
32861 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
32862 @end smallexample
32863
32864 The input types are
32865
32866 @table @code
32867 @findex pre-prompt annotation
32868 @findex prompt annotation
32869 @findex post-prompt annotation
32870 @item prompt
32871 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
32872
32873 @findex pre-commands annotation
32874 @findex commands annotation
32875 @findex post-commands annotation
32876 @item commands
32877 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
32878 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
32879
32880 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
32881 @findex overload-choice annotation
32882 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
32883 @item overload-choice
32884 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
32885
32886 @findex pre-query annotation
32887 @findex query annotation
32888 @findex post-query annotation
32889 @item query
32890 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
32891
32892 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
32893 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
32894 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
32895 @item prompt-for-continue
32896 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
32897 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
32898 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
32899 presence of annotations.
32900 @end table
32901
32902 @node Errors
32903 @section Errors
32904 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
32905
32906 @findex quit annotation
32907 @smallexample
32908 ^Z^Zquit
32909 @end smallexample
32910
32911 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
32912
32913 @findex error annotation
32914 @smallexample
32915 ^Z^Zerror
32916 @end smallexample
32917
32918 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
32919
32920 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
32921 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
32922 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
32923 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
32924 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
32925 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
32926 to the top level.
32927
32928 @findex error-begin annotation
32929 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
32930
32931 @smallexample
32932 ^Z^Zerror-begin
32933 @end smallexample
32934
32935 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
32936 message.
32937
32938 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
32939 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
32940 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
32941
32942 @node Invalidation
32943 @section Invalidation Notices
32944
32945 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
32946 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
32947 changed.
32948
32949 @table @code
32950 @findex frames-invalid annotation
32951 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
32952
32953 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
32954 have changed.
32955
32956 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
32957 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
32958
32959 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
32960 deleted a breakpoint.
32961 @end table
32962
32963 @node Annotations for Running
32964 @section Running the Program
32965 @cindex annotations for running programs
32966
32967 @findex starting annotation
32968 @findex stopping annotation
32969 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
32970 @code{step} or @code{continue},
32971
32972 @smallexample
32973 ^Z^Zstarting
32974 @end smallexample
32975
32976 is output. When the program stops,
32977
32978 @smallexample
32979 ^Z^Zstopped
32980 @end smallexample
32981
32982 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
32983 annotations describe how the program stopped.
32984
32985 @table @code
32986 @findex exited annotation
32987 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
32988 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
32989 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
32990
32991 @findex signalled annotation
32992 @findex signal-name annotation
32993 @findex signal-name-end annotation
32994 @findex signal-string annotation
32995 @findex signal-string-end annotation
32996 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
32997 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
32998 annotation continues:
32999
33000 @smallexample
33001 @var{intro-text}
33002 ^Z^Zsignal-name
33003 @var{name}
33004 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
33005 @var{middle-text}
33006 ^Z^Zsignal-string
33007 @var{string}
33008 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
33009 @var{end-text}
33010 @end smallexample
33011
33012 @noindent
33013 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
33014 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
33015 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
33016 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
33017 user's benefit and have no particular format.
33018
33019 @findex signal annotation
33020 @item ^Z^Zsignal
33021 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
33022 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
33023 terminated with it.
33024
33025 @findex breakpoint annotation
33026 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
33027 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
33028
33029 @findex watchpoint annotation
33030 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
33031 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
33032 @end table
33033
33034 @node Source Annotations
33035 @section Displaying Source
33036 @cindex annotations for source display
33037
33038 @findex source annotation
33039 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
33040
33041 @smallexample
33042 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
33043 @end smallexample
33044
33045 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
33046 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
33047 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
33048 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
33049 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
33050 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
33051 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
33052 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
33053 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
33054 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
33055 depend on the language).
33056
33057 @node JIT Interface
33058 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
33059 @cindex just-in-time compilation
33060 @cindex JIT compilation interface
33061
33062 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
33063 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
33064 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
33065 performance while maintaining platform independence.
33066
33067 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
33068 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
33069 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
33070 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
33071 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
33072 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
33073
33074 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
33075 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
33076 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
33077 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
33078 LLVM JIT.
33079
33080 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
33081 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
33082 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
33083 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
33084 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
33085 out about additional code.
33086
33087 @menu
33088 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
33089 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
33090 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
33091 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
33092 @end menu
33093
33094 @node Declarations
33095 @section JIT Declarations
33096
33097 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
33098 implement the interface:
33099
33100 @smallexample
33101 typedef enum
33102 @{
33103 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
33104 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
33105 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
33106 @} jit_actions_t;
33107
33108 struct jit_code_entry
33109 @{
33110 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
33111 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
33112 const char *symfile_addr;
33113 uint64_t symfile_size;
33114 @};
33115
33116 struct jit_descriptor
33117 @{
33118 uint32_t version;
33119 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
33120 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
33121 uint32_t action_flag;
33122 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
33123 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
33124 @};
33125
33126 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
33127 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
33128
33129 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
33130 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
33131 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
33132 @end smallexample
33133
33134 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
33135 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
33136 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
33137
33138 @node Registering Code
33139 @section Registering Code
33140
33141 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
33142
33143 @itemize @bullet
33144 @item
33145 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
33146 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
33147
33148 @item
33149 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
33150 file.
33151
33152 @item
33153 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
33154
33155 @item
33156 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
33157
33158 @item
33159 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
33160 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
33161 @end itemize
33162
33163 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
33164 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
33165 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
33166 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
33167
33168 @node Unregistering Code
33169 @section Unregistering Code
33170
33171 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
33172
33173 @itemize @bullet
33174 @item
33175 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
33176
33177 @item
33178 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
33179
33180 @item
33181 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
33182 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
33183 @end itemize
33184
33185 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
33186 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
33187
33188 @node Custom Debug Info
33189 @section Custom Debug Info
33190 @cindex custom JIT debug info
33191 @cindex JIT debug info reader
33192
33193 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
33194 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
33195 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
33196 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
33197 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
33198 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
33199 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
33200 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
33201 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
33202
33203 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
33204 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
33205 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
33206 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
33207 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
33208 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
33209 compiler.
33210
33211 @menu
33212 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
33213 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
33214 @end menu
33215
33216 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
33217 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
33218 @kindex jit-reader-load
33219 @kindex jit-reader-unload
33220
33221 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
33222 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
33223
33224 @table @code
33225 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader-name}
33226 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader-name}. On a UNIX system, this
33227 will usually load @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/@var{reader-name}}, where
33228 @var{libdir} is the system library directory, usually
33229 @file{/usr/local/lib}. Only one reader can be active at a time;
33230 trying to load a second reader when one is already loaded will result
33231 in @value{GDBN} reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by
33232 first unloading the current one using @code{jit-reader-load} and then
33233 invoking @code{jit-reader-load}.
33234
33235 @item jit-reader-unload
33236 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
33237
33238 @end table
33239
33240 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
33241 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
33242 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
33243
33244 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
33245 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
33246
33247 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
33248 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
33249 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
33250 the system include directory.
33251
33252 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
33253 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
33254 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
33255
33256 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
33257 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
33258
33259 @findex gdb_init_reader
33260 @smallexample
33261 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
33262 @end smallexample
33263
33264 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
33265
33266 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
33267 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
33268 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
33269 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
33270 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
33271 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
33272
33273 @smallexample
33274 struct gdb_reader_funcs
33275 @{
33276 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
33277 int reader_version;
33278
33279 /* For use by the reader. */
33280 void *priv_data;
33281
33282 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
33283 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
33284 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
33285 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
33286 @};
33287 @end smallexample
33288
33289 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
33290 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
33291
33292 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
33293 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
33294 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
33295 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
33296 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
33297 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
33298 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
33299 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
33300 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
33301 target's address space.
33302
33303 @node In-Process Agent
33304 @chapter In-Process Agent
33305 @cindex debugging agent
33306 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
33307 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
33308 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
33309 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
33310 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
33311 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
33312 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
33313 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
33314 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
33315 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
33316 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
33317 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
33318 behavior without interrupting it.
33319
33320 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
33321 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
33322 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
33323 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
33324 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
33325 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
33326 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
33327 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
33328 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
33329
33330 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
33331 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
33332 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
33333 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
33334
33335 @anchor{Control Agent}
33336 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
33337 debugging with the following commands:
33338
33339 @table @code
33340 @kindex set agent on
33341 @item set agent on
33342 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
33343 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
33344 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
33345 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
33346 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
33347 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
33348
33349 @kindex set agent off
33350 @item set agent off
33351 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
33352 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
33353
33354 @kindex show agent
33355 @item show agent
33356 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
33357 the in-process agent.
33358 @end table
33359
33360 @node GDB Bugs
33361 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
33362 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
33363 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
33364
33365 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
33366
33367 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
33368 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
33369 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
33370 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
33371
33372 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
33373 information that enables us to fix the bug.
33374
33375 @menu
33376 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
33377 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
33378 @end menu
33379
33380 @node Bug Criteria
33381 @section Have You Found a Bug?
33382 @cindex bug criteria
33383
33384 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
33385
33386 @itemize @bullet
33387 @cindex fatal signal
33388 @cindex debugger crash
33389 @cindex crash of debugger
33390 @item
33391 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
33392 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
33393
33394 @cindex error on valid input
33395 @item
33396 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
33397 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
33398 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
33399
33400 @cindex invalid input
33401 @item
33402 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
33403 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
33404 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
33405 for traditional practice''.
33406
33407 @item
33408 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
33409 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
33410 @end itemize
33411
33412 @node Bug Reporting
33413 @section How to Report Bugs
33414 @cindex bug reports
33415 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
33416
33417 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
33418 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
33419 contact that organization first.
33420
33421 You can find contact information for many support companies and
33422 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
33423 distribution.
33424 @c should add a web page ref...
33425
33426 @ifset BUGURL
33427 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
33428 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33429 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
33430 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
33431 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
33432 be used.
33433
33434 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
33435 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
33436 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
33437 @samp{bug-gdb}.
33438
33439 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
33440 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
33441 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
33442 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
33443 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
33444 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
33445 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
33446 bug reports to the mailing list.
33447 @end ifset
33448 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
33449 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33450 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
33451 @end ifclear
33452 @end ifset
33453
33454 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
33455 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
33456 fact or leave it out, state it!
33457
33458 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
33459 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
33460 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
33461 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
33462 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
33463 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
33464 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
33465 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
33466 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
33467
33468 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
33469 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
33470 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
33471 self-contained.
33472
33473 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
33474 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
33475 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
33476 bugs properly.
33477
33478 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
33479
33480 @itemize @bullet
33481 @item
33482 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
33483 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
33484 version}.
33485
33486 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
33487 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
33488
33489 @item
33490 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
33491 version number.
33492
33493 @item
33494 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
33495 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
33496
33497 @item
33498 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
33499 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
33500 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
33501 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
33502 those compilers.
33503
33504 @item
33505 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
33506 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
33507 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
33508 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
33509
33510 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
33511 and then we might not encounter the bug.
33512
33513 @item
33514 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
33515 reproduce the bug.
33516
33517 @item
33518 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
33519 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
33520
33521 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
33522 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
33523 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
33524 a chance to make a mistake.
33525
33526 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
33527 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
33528 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
33529 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
33530 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
33531 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
33532 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
33533 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
33534
33535 @pindex script
33536 @cindex recording a session script
33537 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
33538 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
33539 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
33540 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
33541
33542 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
33543 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
33544
33545 @item
33546 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
33547 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
33548 it by context, not by line number.
33549
33550 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
33551 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
33552
33553 @end itemize
33554
33555 Here are some things that are not necessary:
33556
33557 @itemize @bullet
33558 @item
33559 A description of the envelope of the bug.
33560
33561 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
33562 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
33563 changes will not affect it.
33564
33565 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
33566 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
33567 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
33568 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
33569
33570 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
33571 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
33572 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
33573 less time, and so on.
33574
33575 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
33576 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
33577
33578 @item
33579 A patch for the bug.
33580
33581 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
33582 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
33583 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
33584 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
33585
33586 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
33587 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
33588 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
33589 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
33590
33591 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
33592 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
33593 help us to understand.
33594
33595 @item
33596 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
33597
33598 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
33599 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
33600 @end itemize
33601
33602 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
33603 @c and consists of the two following files:
33604 @c rluser.texi
33605 @c hsuser.texi
33606 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
33607 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
33608 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
33609 @include rluser.texi
33610 @include hsuser.texi
33611 @end ifclear
33612
33613 @node In Memoriam
33614 @appendix In Memoriam
33615
33616 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
33617 contributors:
33618
33619 @table @code
33620 @item Fred Fish
33621 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
33622 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
33623 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
33624
33625 @item Michael Snyder
33626 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
33627 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
33628 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
33629 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
33630 @end table
33631
33632 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
33633 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
33634
33635 @node Formatting Documentation
33636 @appendix Formatting Documentation
33637
33638 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
33639 @cindex reference card
33640 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
33641 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
33642 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
33643 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
33644 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
33645 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
33646
33647 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
33648 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
33649
33650 @smallexample
33651 make refcard.dvi
33652 @end smallexample
33653
33654 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
33655 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
33656 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
33657 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
33658 your @sc{dvi} output program.
33659
33660 @cindex documentation
33661
33662 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
33663 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
33664 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
33665 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
33666 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
33667 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
33668
33669 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
33670 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
33671 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
33672 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
33673 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
33674 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
33675 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
33676 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
33677
33678 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
33679 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
33680 @code{makeinfo}.
33681
33682 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
33683 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
33684 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
33685
33686 @smallexample
33687 cd gdb
33688 make gdb.info
33689 @end smallexample
33690
33691 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
33692 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
33693 Texinfo definitions file.
33694
33695 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
33696 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
33697 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
33698 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
33699 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
33700 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
33701 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
33702
33703 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
33704 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
33705 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
33706 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
33707 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
33708 directory.
33709
33710 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
33711 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
33712 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
33713 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
33714
33715 @smallexample
33716 make gdb.dvi
33717 @end smallexample
33718
33719 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
33720
33721 @node Installing GDB
33722 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
33723 @cindex installation
33724
33725 @menu
33726 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
33727 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
33728 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
33729 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
33730 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
33731 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
33732 @end menu
33733
33734 @node Requirements
33735 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
33736 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
33737
33738 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
33739 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
33740
33741 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
33742 @table @asis
33743 @item ISO C90 compiler
33744 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
33745 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
33746
33747 @end table
33748
33749 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
33750 @table @asis
33751 @item Expat
33752 @anchor{Expat}
33753 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
33754 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
33755 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
33756 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
33757 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
33758 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
33759
33760 Expat is used for:
33761
33762 @itemize @bullet
33763 @item
33764 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
33765 @item
33766 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
33767 @item
33768 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
33769 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
33770 @item
33771 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
33772 @item
33773 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
33774 @end itemize
33775
33776 @item zlib
33777 @cindex compressed debug sections
33778 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
33779 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
33780 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
33781 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
33782 information in such binaries.
33783
33784 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
33785 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
33786 @url{http://zlib.net}.
33787
33788 @item iconv
33789 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
33790 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
33791 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
33792 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
33793
33794 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
33795 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
33796 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
33797 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
33798
33799 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
33800 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
33801 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
33802
33803 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
33804 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
33805 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
33806 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
33807 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
33808 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
33809 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
33810 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
33811 @end table
33812
33813 @node Running Configure
33814 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
33815 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
33816 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
33817 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
33818 build the @code{gdb} program.
33819 @iftex
33820 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
33821 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
33822 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
33823 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
33824 @end iftex
33825
33826 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
33827 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
33828 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
33829
33830 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
33831 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
33832
33833 @table @code
33834 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
33835 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
33836
33837 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
33838 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
33839
33840 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
33841 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
33842
33843 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
33844 @sc{gnu} include files
33845
33846 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
33847 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
33848
33849 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
33850 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
33851
33852 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
33853 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
33854
33855 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
33856 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
33857
33858 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
33859 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
33860 @end table
33861
33862 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
33863 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
33864 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
33865
33866 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
33867 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
33868 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
33869 argument.
33870
33871 For example:
33872
33873 @smallexample
33874 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33875 ./configure @var{host}
33876 make
33877 @end smallexample
33878
33879 @noindent
33880 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
33881 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
33882 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
33883 correct value by examining your system.)
33884
33885 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
33886 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
33887 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
33888 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
33889
33890 @need 750
33891 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
33892 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
33893 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
33894
33895 @smallexample
33896 sh configure @var{host}
33897 @end smallexample
33898
33899 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
33900 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
33901 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
33902 @file{configure}
33903 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
33904 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
33905
33906 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
33907 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
33908 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
33909 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
33910 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
33911 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
33912 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
33913 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
33914 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33915
33916 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
33917 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
33918 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
33919 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
33920 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
33921
33922 @node Separate Objdir
33923 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
33924
33925 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
33926 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
33927 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
33928 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
33929 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
33930 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
33931 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
33932 program specified there.
33933
33934 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
33935 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
33936 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
33937 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
33938 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
33939 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
33940
33941 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
33942 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
33943
33944 @smallexample
33945 @group
33946 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33947 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
33948 cd ../gdb-sun4
33949 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
33950 make
33951 @end group
33952 @end smallexample
33953
33954 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
33955 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
33956 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
33957 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
33958 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
33959 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
33960
33961 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
33962 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
33963 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
33964 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
33965 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33966
33967 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
33968 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
33969 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
33970 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
33971 You specify a cross-debugging target by
33972 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
33973
33974 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
33975 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
33976 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
33977
33978 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
33979 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
33980 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
33981 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
33982 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
33983
33984 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
33985 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
33986 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
33987 with each other.
33988
33989 @node Config Names
33990 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
33991
33992 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
33993 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
33994 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
33995 of information in the following pattern:
33996
33997 @smallexample
33998 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
33999 @end smallexample
34000
34001 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
34002 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
34003 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
34004
34005 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
34006 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
34007 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
34008 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
34009 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
34010 abbreviations---for example:
34011
34012 @smallexample
34013 % sh config.sub i386-linux
34014 i386-pc-linux-gnu
34015 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
34016 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
34017 % sh config.sub hp9k700
34018 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
34019 % sh config.sub sun4
34020 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
34021 % sh config.sub sun3
34022 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
34023 % sh config.sub i986v
34024 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
34025 @end smallexample
34026
34027 @noindent
34028 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
34029 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
34030
34031 @node Configure Options
34032 @section @file{configure} Options
34033
34034 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
34035 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
34036 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
34037 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
34038
34039 @smallexample
34040 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
34041 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
34042 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
34043 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
34044 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
34045 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
34046 @var{host}
34047 @end smallexample
34048
34049 @noindent
34050 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
34051 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
34052 @samp{--}.
34053
34054 @table @code
34055 @item --help
34056 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
34057
34058 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
34059 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
34060 @file{@var{dir}}.
34061
34062 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
34063 Configure the source to install programs under directory
34064 @file{@var{dir}}.
34065
34066 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
34067 @need 2000
34068 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
34069 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
34070 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
34071 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
34072 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
34073 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
34074 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
34075 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
34076 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
34077 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
34078 @var{dirname}.
34079
34080 @item --norecursion
34081 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
34082 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
34083
34084 @item --target=@var{target}
34085 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
34086 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
34087 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
34088
34089 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
34090
34091 @item @var{host} @dots{}
34092 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
34093
34094 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
34095 @end table
34096
34097 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
34098 needed for special purposes only.
34099
34100 @node System-wide configuration
34101 @section System-wide configuration and settings
34102 @cindex system-wide init file
34103
34104 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
34105 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
34106 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
34107
34108 Here is the corresponding configure option:
34109
34110 @table @code
34111 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
34112 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
34113 @var{file}.
34114 @end table
34115
34116 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
34117 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
34118
34119 @itemize @bullet
34120 @item
34121 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
34122 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
34123 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
34124 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
34125 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
34126 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
34127
34128 @item
34129 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
34130 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
34131 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34132 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34133 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
34134 @end itemize
34135
34136 @node Maintenance Commands
34137 @appendix Maintenance Commands
34138 @cindex maintenance commands
34139 @cindex internal commands
34140
34141 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
34142 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
34143 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
34144 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
34145 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
34146
34147 @table @code
34148 @kindex maint agent
34149 @kindex maint agent-eval
34150 @item maint agent @var{expression}
34151 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
34152 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
34153 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
34154 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
34155 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
34156 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
34157 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
34158 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
34159 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
34160 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
34161 addition and return the sum.
34162
34163 @kindex maint info breakpoints
34164 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
34165 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
34166 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
34167 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
34168 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
34169 is shown:
34170
34171 @table @code
34172 @item breakpoint
34173 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
34174
34175 @item watchpoint
34176 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
34177
34178 @item longjmp
34179 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
34180 @code{longjmp} calls.
34181
34182 @item longjmp resume
34183 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
34184
34185 @item until
34186 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
34187
34188 @item finish
34189 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
34190
34191 @item shlib events
34192 Shared library events.
34193
34194 @end table
34195
34196 @kindex set displaced-stepping
34197 @kindex show displaced-stepping
34198 @cindex displaced stepping support
34199 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
34200 @item set displaced-stepping
34201 @itemx show displaced-stepping
34202 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
34203 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
34204 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
34205 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
34206 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
34207
34208 @table @code
34209 @item set displaced-stepping on
34210 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
34211 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
34212
34213 @item set displaced-stepping off
34214 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
34215 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
34216
34217 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
34218 @item set displaced-stepping auto
34219 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
34220 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
34221 architecture supports displaced stepping.
34222 @end table
34223
34224 @kindex maint check-symtabs
34225 @item maint check-symtabs
34226 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
34227
34228 @kindex maint cplus first_component
34229 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
34230 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
34231
34232 @kindex maint cplus namespace
34233 @item maint cplus namespace
34234 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
34235
34236 @kindex maint demangle
34237 @item maint demangle @var{name}
34238 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
34239
34240 @kindex maint deprecate
34241 @kindex maint undeprecate
34242 @cindex deprecated commands
34243 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
34244 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
34245 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
34246 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
34247 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
34248 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
34249 the replacement as part of the warning.
34250
34251 @kindex maint dump-me
34252 @item maint dump-me
34253 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
34254 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
34255 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
34256 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
34257
34258 @kindex maint internal-error
34259 @kindex maint internal-warning
34260 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34261 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34262 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
34263 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
34264 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
34265 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
34266 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
34267 @value{GDBN} session.
34268
34269 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
34270 used as the text of the error or warning message.
34271
34272 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
34273
34274 @smallexample
34275 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
34276 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
34277 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
34278 debugging may prove unreliable.
34279 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34280 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34281 (@value{GDBP})
34282 @end smallexample
34283
34284 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
34285 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
34286
34287 @kindex maint set internal-error
34288 @kindex maint show internal-error
34289 @kindex maint set internal-warning
34290 @kindex maint show internal-warning
34291 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34292 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
34293 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34294 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
34295 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
34296 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
34297 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
34298 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
34299 described in the table below.
34300
34301 @table @samp
34302 @item quit
34303 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34304 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34305
34306 @item corefile
34307 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34308 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34309 @end table
34310
34311 @kindex maint packet
34312 @item maint packet @var{text}
34313 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
34314 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
34315 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
34316 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
34317 checksum.
34318
34319 @kindex maint print architecture
34320 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34321 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
34322 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
34323
34324 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
34325 @item maint print c-tdesc
34326 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
34327 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
34328 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
34329
34330 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
34331 @item maint print dummy-frames
34332 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
34333
34334 @smallexample
34335 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
34336 @dots{}
34337 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
34338 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
34339 58 return (a + b);
34340 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
34341 @dots{}
34342 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
34343 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
34344 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
34345 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
34346 (@value{GDBP})
34347 @end smallexample
34348
34349 Takes an optional file parameter.
34350
34351 @kindex maint print registers
34352 @kindex maint print raw-registers
34353 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
34354 @kindex maint print register-groups
34355 @kindex maint print remote-registers
34356 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34357 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34358 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34359 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34360 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34361 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
34362
34363 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
34364 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
34365 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
34366 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
34367 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
34368 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
34369 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
34370 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
34371 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
34372
34373 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
34374 write the information.
34375
34376 @kindex maint print reggroups
34377 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34378 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
34379 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
34380 information.
34381
34382 The register groups info looks like this:
34383
34384 @smallexample
34385 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
34386 Group Type
34387 general user
34388 float user
34389 all user
34390 vector user
34391 system user
34392 save internal
34393 restore internal
34394 @end smallexample
34395
34396 @kindex flushregs
34397 @item flushregs
34398 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
34399
34400 @kindex maint print objfiles
34401 @cindex info for known object files
34402 @item maint print objfiles
34403 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
34404 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
34405 and symtabs.
34406
34407 @kindex maint print section-scripts
34408 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
34409 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
34410 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
34411 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
34412 matching @var{regexp}.
34413 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
34414 and the full path if known.
34415 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
34416
34417 @kindex maint print statistics
34418 @cindex bcache statistics
34419 @item maint print statistics
34420 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
34421 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
34422 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
34423 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
34424 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
34425 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
34426 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
34427 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
34428 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
34429 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
34430 lengths.
34431
34432 @kindex maint print target-stack
34433 @cindex target stack description
34434 @item maint print target-stack
34435 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
34436 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
34437 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
34438 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
34439 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
34440 address.
34441
34442 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
34443 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
34444
34445 @kindex maint print type
34446 @cindex type chain of a data type
34447 @item maint print type @var{expr}
34448 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
34449 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
34450 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
34451 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
34452 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
34453
34454 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
34455 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
34456 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
34457 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
34458 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
34459 information.
34460
34461 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
34462 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
34463 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
34464 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
34465 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
34466 always see the disassembly form.
34467
34468 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
34469
34470 @smallexample
34471 (gdb) info addr argc
34472 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
34473 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
34474 @end smallexample
34475
34476 For more information on these expressions, see
34477 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
34478
34479 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
34480 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
34481 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
34482 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
34483 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
34484
34485 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
34486 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
34487 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
34488 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
34489 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
34490 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
34491 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
34492 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
34493 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
34494
34495 @kindex maint set profile
34496 @kindex maint show profile
34497 @cindex profiling GDB
34498 @item maint set profile
34499 @itemx maint show profile
34500 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
34501
34502 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
34503 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
34504 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
34505 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
34506 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
34507 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
34508 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
34509
34510 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
34511 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
34512
34513 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
34514 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
34515 @cindex hardware debug registers
34516 @item maint set show-debug-regs
34517 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
34518 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
34519 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
34520 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
34521 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
34522 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
34523
34524 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
34525 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
34526 @item maint set show-all-tib
34527 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
34528 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
34529 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
34530 command.
34531
34532 @kindex maint space
34533 @cindex memory used by commands
34534 @item maint space
34535 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
34536 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
34537 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
34538 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
34539 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34540
34541 @kindex maint time
34542 @cindex time of command execution
34543 @item maint time
34544 Control whether to display the execution time of @value{GDBN} for each command.
34545 If set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
34546 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
34547 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
34548 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
34549 CPU or, e.g., disk/network, latency.
34550 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
34551 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
34552 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
34553 spent by the program been debugged.
34554 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
34555 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34556
34557 @kindex maint translate-address
34558 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
34559 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
34560 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
34561 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
34562 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
34563 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
34564 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
34565
34566 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
34567 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
34568 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
34569
34570 @end table
34571
34572 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
34573 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
34574
34575 @table @code
34576 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
34577 @kindex set watchdog
34578 @cindex watchdog timer
34579 @cindex timeout for commands
34580 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
34581 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
34582 reports and error and the command is aborted.
34583
34584 @item show watchdog
34585 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
34586 @end table
34587
34588 @node Remote Protocol
34589 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
34590
34591 @menu
34592 * Overview::
34593 * Packets::
34594 * Stop Reply Packets::
34595 * General Query Packets::
34596 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
34597 * Tracepoint Packets::
34598 * Host I/O Packets::
34599 * Interrupts::
34600 * Notification Packets::
34601 * Remote Non-Stop::
34602 * Packet Acknowledgment::
34603 * Examples::
34604 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
34605 * Library List Format::
34606 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
34607 * Memory Map Format::
34608 * Thread List Format::
34609 * Traceframe Info Format::
34610 @end menu
34611
34612 @node Overview
34613 @section Overview
34614
34615 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
34616 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
34617 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
34618 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
34619
34620 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
34621 transmitted and received data, respectively.
34622
34623 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
34624 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
34625 @cindex remote serial protocol
34626 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
34627 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
34628 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
34629 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
34630 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
34631
34632 @smallexample
34633 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34634 @end smallexample
34635 @noindent
34636
34637 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
34638 @noindent
34639 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
34640 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
34641 eight bit unsigned checksum).
34642
34643 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
34644 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
34645
34646 @smallexample
34647 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34648 @end smallexample
34649
34650 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
34651 @noindent
34652 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
34653 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
34654 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
34655
34656 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
34657 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34658 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
34659 retransmission):
34660
34661 @smallexample
34662 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34663 <- @code{+}
34664 @end smallexample
34665 @noindent
34666
34667 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
34668 once a connection is established.
34669 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
34670
34671 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
34672 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
34673 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
34674 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
34675 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
34676 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
34677 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
34678
34679 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
34680 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
34681 exceptions).
34682
34683 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
34684 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
34685 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
34686 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
34687
34688 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
34689 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
34690 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
34691
34692 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
34693 @anchor{Binary Data}
34694 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
34695 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
34696 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
34697 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
34698 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
34699 binary data.
34700
34701 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
34702 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
34703 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
34704 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
34705 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
34706 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
34707 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
34708 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
34709 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
34710 (described next).
34711
34712 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
34713 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
34714 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
34715 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
34716 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
34717 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
34718 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
34719 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
34720 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
34721 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
34722 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
34723 3}} more times.
34724
34725 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
34726 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
34727 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
34728 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
34729 @samp{0*"00}.
34730
34731 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
34732 error number. That number is not well defined.
34733
34734 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
34735 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
34736 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
34737 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
34738 on that response.
34739
34740 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
34741 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
34742 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
34743 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
34744 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
34745 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
34746
34747 @node Packets
34748 @section Packets
34749
34750 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
34751 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
34752 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
34753 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
34754
34755 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
34756 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
34757 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
34758 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
34759 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
34760 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
34761 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
34762 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
34763 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
34764 @var{baz}.
34765
34766 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
34767 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
34768 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
34769 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
34770 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
34771 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
34772 pick any thread.
34773
34774 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
34775 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
34776 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
34777 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
34778 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
34779 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
34780 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
34781 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
34782 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
34783 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
34784 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
34785 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
34786 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
34787
34788 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
34789 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
34790 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
34791 more information.
34792
34793 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
34794 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
34795
34796 Here are the packet descriptions.
34797
34798 @table @samp
34799
34800 @item !
34801 @cindex @samp{!} packet
34802 @anchor{extended mode}
34803 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
34804 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
34805 debugged.
34806
34807 Reply:
34808 @table @samp
34809 @item OK
34810 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
34811 @end table
34812
34813 @item ?
34814 @cindex @samp{?} packet
34815 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
34816 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
34817 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
34818
34819 Reply:
34820 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34821
34822 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
34823 @cindex @samp{A} packet
34824 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
34825 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
34826 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
34827
34828 Reply:
34829 @table @samp
34830 @item OK
34831 The arguments were set.
34832 @item E @var{NN}
34833 An error occurred.
34834 @end table
34835
34836 @item b @var{baud}
34837 @cindex @samp{b} packet
34838 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
34839 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
34840
34841 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
34842 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
34843 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
34844
34845 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
34846 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
34847 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
34848 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
34849 of view, nothing actually happened.}
34850
34851 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
34852 @cindex @samp{B} packet
34853 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
34854 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
34855
34856 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
34857 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
34858
34859 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
34860 @anchor{bc}
34861 @item bc
34862 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
34863 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34864
34865 Reply:
34866 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34867
34868 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
34869 @anchor{bs}
34870 @item bs
34871 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
34872 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34873
34874 Reply:
34875 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34876
34877 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
34878 @cindex @samp{c} packet
34879 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
34880 resume at current address.
34881
34882 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34883 packet}.
34884
34885 Reply:
34886 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34887
34888 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
34889 @cindex @samp{C} packet
34890 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
34891 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
34892
34893 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34894 packet}.
34895
34896 Reply:
34897 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34898
34899 @item d
34900 @cindex @samp{d} packet
34901 Toggle debug flag.
34902
34903 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
34904 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
34905
34906 @item D
34907 @itemx D;@var{pid}
34908 @cindex @samp{D} packet
34909 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
34910 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
34911 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
34912
34913 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
34914 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
34915 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
34916 big-endian hex string.
34917
34918 Reply:
34919 @table @samp
34920 @item OK
34921 for success
34922 @item E @var{NN}
34923 for an error
34924 @end table
34925
34926 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
34927 @cindex @samp{F} packet
34928 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
34929 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
34930 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
34931
34932 @item g
34933 @anchor{read registers packet}
34934 @cindex @samp{g} packet
34935 Read general registers.
34936
34937 Reply:
34938 @table @samp
34939 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
34940 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
34941 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
34942 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
34943 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
34944 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
34945 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
34946
34947 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
34948 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
34949 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
34950 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
34951 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
34952 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
34953 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
34954 have been collected, and both have zero value:
34955
34956 @smallexample
34957 -> @code{g}
34958 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
34959 @end smallexample
34960
34961 @item E @var{NN}
34962 for an error.
34963 @end table
34964
34965 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
34966 @cindex @samp{G} packet
34967 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
34968 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
34969
34970 Reply:
34971 @table @samp
34972 @item OK
34973 for success
34974 @item E @var{NN}
34975 for an error
34976 @end table
34977
34978 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
34979 @cindex @samp{H} packet
34980 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
34981 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
34982 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
34983 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
34984 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
34985 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
34986 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34987
34988 Reply:
34989 @table @samp
34990 @item OK
34991 for success
34992 @item E @var{NN}
34993 for an error
34994 @end table
34995
34996 @c FIXME: JTC:
34997 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
34998 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
34999 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
35000 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
35001 @c described. For example:
35002 @c
35003 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35004 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
35005 @c otherwise returns current registers.
35006 @c
35007 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35008 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
35009 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
35010
35011 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
35012 @anchor{cycle step packet}
35013 @cindex @samp{i} packet
35014 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
35015 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
35016 step starting at that address.
35017
35018 @item I
35019 @cindex @samp{I} packet
35020 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
35021 step packet}.
35022
35023 @item k
35024 @cindex @samp{k} packet
35025 Kill request.
35026
35027 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
35028 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
35029 thread?)}.
35030
35031 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
35032 @cindex @samp{m} packet
35033 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
35034 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
35035
35036 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
35037 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
35038 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
35039 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
35040 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
35041 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
35042 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
35043 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
35044
35045 Reply:
35046 @table @samp
35047 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35048 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
35049 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
35050 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
35051 @item E @var{NN}
35052 @var{NN} is errno
35053 @end table
35054
35055 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35056 @cindex @samp{M} packet
35057 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
35058 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
35059 hexadecimal number.
35060
35061 Reply:
35062 @table @samp
35063 @item OK
35064 for success
35065 @item E @var{NN}
35066 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
35067 written).
35068 @end table
35069
35070 @item p @var{n}
35071 @cindex @samp{p} packet
35072 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
35073 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
35074 register value is encoded.
35075
35076 Reply:
35077 @table @samp
35078 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35079 the register's value
35080 @item E @var{NN}
35081 for an error
35082 @item
35083 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
35084 @end table
35085
35086 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
35087 @anchor{write register packet}
35088 @cindex @samp{P} packet
35089 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
35090 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
35091 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
35092
35093 Reply:
35094 @table @samp
35095 @item OK
35096 for success
35097 @item E @var{NN}
35098 for an error
35099 @end table
35100
35101 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35102 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35103 @cindex @samp{q} packet
35104 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
35105 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
35106 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
35107
35108 @item r
35109 @cindex @samp{r} packet
35110 Reset the entire system.
35111
35112 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
35113
35114 @item R @var{XX}
35115 @cindex @samp{R} packet
35116 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
35117 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35118
35119 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
35120
35121 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
35122 @cindex @samp{s} packet
35123 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
35124 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
35125
35126 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35127 packet}.
35128
35129 Reply:
35130 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35131
35132 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
35133 @anchor{step with signal packet}
35134 @cindex @samp{S} packet
35135 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
35136 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
35137
35138 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35139 packet}.
35140
35141 Reply:
35142 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35143
35144 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
35145 @cindex @samp{t} packet
35146 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
35147 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
35148 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
35149
35150 @item T @var{thread-id}
35151 @cindex @samp{T} packet
35152 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35153
35154 Reply:
35155 @table @samp
35156 @item OK
35157 thread is still alive
35158 @item E @var{NN}
35159 thread is dead
35160 @end table
35161
35162 @item v
35163 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
35164 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
35165
35166 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
35167 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
35168 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
35169 The process ID is a
35170 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
35171 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
35172 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
35173
35174 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
35175 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
35176 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
35177 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
35178 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
35179 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
35180 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
35181 @c stopping or restarting threads.
35182
35183 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35184
35185 Reply:
35186 @table @samp
35187 @item E @var{nn}
35188 for an error
35189 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35190 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35191 @item OK
35192 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
35193 @end table
35194
35195 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
35196 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
35197 @anchor{vCont packet}
35198 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
35199 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
35200 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
35201 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
35202 in their current state in non-stop mode.
35203 Specifying multiple
35204 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
35205 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35206
35207 Currently supported actions are:
35208
35209 @table @samp
35210 @item c
35211 Continue.
35212 @item C @var{sig}
35213 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35214 @item s
35215 Step.
35216 @item S @var{sig}
35217 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35218 @item t
35219 Stop.
35220 @end table
35221
35222 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
35223 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
35224 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
35225
35226 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
35227 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
35228 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
35229 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
35230 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
35231 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
35232 as an implementation detail.
35233
35234 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
35235 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
35236 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
35237 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
35238 @var{thread-id}.
35239
35240 Reply:
35241 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35242
35243 @item vCont?
35244 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
35245 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
35246
35247 Reply:
35248 @table @samp
35249 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
35250 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
35251 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
35252 @item
35253 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
35254 @end table
35255
35256 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
35257 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
35258 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
35259 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
35260
35261 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
35262 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
35263 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
35264 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
35265 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
35266 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
35267 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
35268 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
35269 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35270 packet is received.
35271
35272 Reply:
35273 @table @samp
35274 @item OK
35275 for success
35276 @item E @var{NN}
35277 for an error
35278 @end table
35279
35280 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35281 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
35282 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
35283 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
35284 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
35285 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
35286 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
35287 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
35288 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
35289 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
35290 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
35291 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
35292
35293
35294 Reply:
35295 @table @samp
35296 @item OK
35297 for success
35298 @item E.memtype
35299 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
35300 @item E @var{NN}
35301 for an error
35302 @end table
35303
35304 @item vFlashDone
35305 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
35306 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
35307 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
35308 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
35309 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
35310 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35311 request is completed.
35312
35313 @item vKill;@var{pid}
35314 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
35315 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
35316 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
35317 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
35318 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35319
35320 Reply:
35321 @table @samp
35322 @item E @var{nn}
35323 for an error
35324 @item OK
35325 for success
35326 @end table
35327
35328 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
35329 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
35330 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
35331 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
35332 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
35333 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
35334 state.
35335
35336 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
35337
35338 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35339
35340 Reply:
35341 @table @samp
35342 @item E @var{nn}
35343 for an error
35344 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35345 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35346 @end table
35347
35348 @item vStopped
35349 @anchor{vStopped packet}
35350 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
35351
35352 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
35353 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
35354
35355 Reply:
35356 @table @samp
35357 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35358 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35359 @item OK
35360 if there are no unreported stop events
35361 @end table
35362
35363 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35364 @anchor{X packet}
35365 @cindex @samp{X} packet
35366 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
35367 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
35368 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
35369
35370 Reply:
35371 @table @samp
35372 @item OK
35373 for success
35374 @item E @var{NN}
35375 for an error
35376 @end table
35377
35378 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35379 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35380 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
35381 @cindex @samp{z} packet
35382 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
35383 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
35384 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
35385
35386 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
35387 separately.
35388
35389 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
35390 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
35391 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
35392 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
35393 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
35394 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
35395
35396 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35397 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35398 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
35399 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
35400 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
35401 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
35402
35403 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
35404 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
35405 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
35406 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
35407 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
35408 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
35409 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
35410 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
35411 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
35412 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
35413
35414 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
35415 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
35416
35417 @table @samp
35418
35419 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35420 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35421 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35422
35423 @end table
35424
35425 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
35426
35427 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
35428 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
35429 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
35430 target, is not defined.}
35431
35432 Reply:
35433 @table @samp
35434 @item OK
35435 success
35436 @item
35437 not supported
35438 @item E @var{NN}
35439 for an error
35440 @end table
35441
35442 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35443 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35444 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
35445 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
35446 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
35447 address @var{addr}.
35448
35449 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
35450 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
35451 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
35452
35453 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
35454 movement.}
35455
35456 Reply:
35457 @table @samp
35458 @item OK
35459 success
35460 @item
35461 not supported
35462 @item E @var{NN}
35463 for an error
35464 @end table
35465
35466 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35467 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35468 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
35469 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
35470 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35471 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35472
35473 Reply:
35474 @table @samp
35475 @item OK
35476 success
35477 @item
35478 not supported
35479 @item E @var{NN}
35480 for an error
35481 @end table
35482
35483 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35484 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35485 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
35486 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
35487 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35488 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35489
35490 Reply:
35491 @table @samp
35492 @item OK
35493 success
35494 @item
35495 not supported
35496 @item E @var{NN}
35497 for an error
35498 @end table
35499
35500 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35501 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35502 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
35503 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
35504 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35505 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35506
35507 Reply:
35508 @table @samp
35509 @item OK
35510 success
35511 @item
35512 not supported
35513 @item E @var{NN}
35514 for an error
35515 @end table
35516
35517 @end table
35518
35519 @node Stop Reply Packets
35520 @section Stop Reply Packets
35521 @cindex stop reply packets
35522
35523 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
35524 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
35525 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
35526 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
35527 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
35528 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
35529 @value{GDBN} source code.
35530
35531 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
35532 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
35533 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
35534 components.
35535
35536 @table @samp
35537
35538 @item S @var{AA}
35539 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35540 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
35541 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
35542
35543 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
35544 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
35545 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35546 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
35547 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
35548 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
35549 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
35550 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
35551
35552 @itemize @bullet
35553 @item
35554 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
35555 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
35556 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
35557 two-digit hex number.
35558
35559 @item
35560 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
35561 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35562
35563 @item
35564 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
35565 the core on which the stop event was detected.
35566
35567 @item
35568 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
35569 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
35570 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
35571 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
35572
35573 @item
35574 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
35575 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
35576 future.
35577 @end itemize
35578
35579 The currently defined stop reasons are:
35580
35581 @table @samp
35582 @item watch
35583 @itemx rwatch
35584 @itemx awatch
35585 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
35586 hex.
35587
35588 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
35589 @item library
35590 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
35591 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
35592 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
35593
35594 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
35595 @item replaylog
35596 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
35597 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
35598 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
35599 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
35600 for more information.
35601 @end table
35602
35603 @item W @var{AA}
35604 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35605 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
35606 applicable to certain targets.
35607
35608 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
35609 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
35610 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35611 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35612
35613 @item X @var{AA}
35614 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35615 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
35616
35617 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
35618 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
35619 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
35620 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35621
35622 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
35623 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
35624 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
35625 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
35626 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
35627
35628 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
35629 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
35630 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
35631 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
35632 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
35633 system calls.
35634
35635 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
35636 this very system call.
35637
35638 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
35639 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
35640 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
35641 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
35642 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
35643 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
35644
35645 @end table
35646
35647 @node General Query Packets
35648 @section General Query Packets
35649 @cindex remote query requests
35650
35651 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
35652 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
35653 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
35654 sending information to and from the stub.
35655
35656 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
35657 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
35658 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
35659 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
35660 conventions:
35661
35662 @itemize @bullet
35663 @item
35664 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
35665 @item
35666 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
35667 letter.
35668 @item
35669 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
35670 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
35671 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
35672 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
35673 @end itemize
35674
35675 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
35676 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
35677 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
35678 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
35679 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
35680 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
35681 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
35682 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
35683 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
35684 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
35685 packet.}.
35686
35687 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
35688 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
35689 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
35690 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
35691 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
35692
35693 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
35694
35695 @table @samp
35696
35697 @item QAgent:1
35698 @item QAgent:0
35699 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
35700 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
35701
35702 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
35703 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
35704 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
35705 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
35706 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
35707 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
35708 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
35709 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
35710 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
35711 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
35712 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
35713
35714 @item qC
35715 @cindex current thread, remote request
35716 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
35717 Return the current thread ID.
35718
35719 Reply:
35720 @table @samp
35721 @item QC @var{thread-id}
35722 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
35723 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35724 @item @r{(anything else)}
35725 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
35726 @end table
35727
35728 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
35729 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
35730 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
35731 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
35732 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
35733 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
35734 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
35735
35736 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
35737 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
35738 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
35739 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
35740 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
35741 detect trailing zeros.
35742
35743 Reply:
35744 @table @samp
35745 @item E @var{NN}
35746 An error (such as memory fault)
35747 @item C @var{crc32}
35748 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
35749 @end table
35750
35751 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
35752 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
35753 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
35754 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
35755 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
35756 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
35757 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
35758 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
35759 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
35760 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
35761 randomization.
35762
35763 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35764
35765 Reply:
35766 @table @samp
35767 @item OK
35768 The request succeeded.
35769
35770 @item E @var{nn}
35771 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35772
35773 @item
35774 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
35775 by the stub.
35776 @end table
35777
35778 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35779 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35780 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
35781 address space randomization.
35782
35783 @item qfThreadInfo
35784 @itemx qsThreadInfo
35785 @cindex list active threads, remote request
35786 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
35787 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
35788 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
35789 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
35790 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
35791 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
35792 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
35793 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
35794
35795 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
35796
35797 Reply:
35798 @table @samp
35799 @item m @var{thread-id}
35800 A single thread ID
35801 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
35802 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
35803 @item l
35804 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
35805 @end table
35806
35807 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
35808 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
35809 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
35810 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
35811 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
35812 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
35813 fields.
35814
35815 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
35816 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
35817 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
35818 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
35819 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
35820
35821 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
35822 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35823
35824 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
35825 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
35826 information associated with the variable.)
35827
35828 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
35829 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
35830 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
35831 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
35832 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
35833 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
35834
35835 Reply:
35836 @table @samp
35837 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
35838 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
35839 local storage requested.
35840
35841 @item E @var{nn}
35842 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35843
35844 @item
35845 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
35846 @end table
35847
35848 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
35849 @cindex get thread information block address
35850 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
35851 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
35852
35853 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
35854
35855 Reply:
35856 @table @samp
35857 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
35858 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
35859 thread information block.
35860
35861 @item E @var{nn}
35862 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
35863 address could not be retrieved.
35864
35865 @item
35866 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
35867 @end table
35868
35869 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
35870 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
35871 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
35872 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
35873 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
35874 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
35875 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
35876
35877 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
35878
35879 Reply:
35880 @table @samp
35881 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
35882 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
35883 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
35884 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
35885 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
35886 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
35887 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
35888 @end table
35889
35890 @item qOffsets
35891 @cindex section offsets, remote request
35892 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
35893 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
35894 image.
35895
35896 Reply:
35897 @table @samp
35898 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
35899 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
35900 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
35901 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
35902 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
35903 segments by the supplied offsets.
35904
35905 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
35906 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
35907 to the @code{Bss} section.}
35908
35909 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
35910 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
35911 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
35912 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
35913 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
35914 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
35915 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
35916 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
35917 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
35918 @end table
35919
35920 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
35921 @cindex thread information, remote request
35922 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
35923 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
35924 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
35925 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
35926
35927 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
35928 (see below).
35929
35930 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
35931
35932 @item QNonStop:1
35933 @item QNonStop:0
35934 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
35935 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
35936 @anchor{QNonStop}
35937 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
35938 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
35939
35940 Reply:
35941 @table @samp
35942 @item OK
35943 The request succeeded.
35944
35945 @item E @var{nn}
35946 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35947
35948 @item
35949 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
35950 the stub.
35951 @end table
35952
35953 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35954 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35955 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
35956 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
35957
35958 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
35959 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
35960 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
35961 @anchor{QPassSignals}
35962 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
35963 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
35964 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
35965 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
35966 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
35967 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
35968 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
35969 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
35970 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
35971
35972 Reply:
35973 @table @samp
35974 @item OK
35975 The request succeeded.
35976
35977 @item E @var{nn}
35978 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
35979
35980 @item
35981 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
35982 the stub.
35983 @end table
35984
35985 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
35986 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
35987 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35988 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35989
35990 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
35991 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
35992 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
35993 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
35994 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
35995 Others should be silently discarded.
35996
35997 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
35998 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
35999 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
36000 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
36001 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
36002 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
36003 signals.
36004
36005 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
36006 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
36007
36008 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36009 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36010 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
36011 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
36012 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
36013
36014 Reply:
36015 @table @samp
36016 @item OK
36017 The request succeeded.
36018
36019 @item E @var{nn}
36020 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36021
36022 @item
36023 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
36024 by the stub.
36025 @end table
36026
36027 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
36028 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
36029 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36030 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36031
36032 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
36033 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
36034 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
36035 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
36036 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
36037 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
36038 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
36039 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
36040 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
36041
36042 Reply:
36043 @table @samp
36044 @item OK
36045 A command response with no output.
36046 @item @var{OUTPUT}
36047 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
36048 @item E @var{NN}
36049 Indicate a badly formed request.
36050 @item
36051 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
36052 @end table
36053
36054 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
36055 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36056 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36057 packets.)
36058
36059 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
36060 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
36061 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
36062 @anchor{qSearch memory}
36063 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
36064 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
36065 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
36066
36067 Reply:
36068 @table @samp
36069 @item 0
36070 The pattern was not found.
36071 @item 1,address
36072 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
36073 @item E @var{NN}
36074 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
36075 @item
36076 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
36077 @end table
36078
36079 @item QStartNoAckMode
36080 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
36081 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
36082 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
36083 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
36084
36085 Reply:
36086 @table @samp
36087 @item OK
36088 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
36089 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
36090 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
36091 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
36092 @item
36093 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
36094 @end table
36095
36096 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
36097 @cindex supported packets, remote query
36098 @cindex features of the remote protocol
36099 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
36100 @anchor{qSupported}
36101 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
36102 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
36103 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
36104 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
36105 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
36106 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
36107 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
36108 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
36109 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
36110 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
36111 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
36112 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
36113 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
36114 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
36115
36116 Reply:
36117 @table @samp
36118 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
36119 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
36120 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
36121 possible forms).
36122 @item
36123 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
36124 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
36125 @end table
36126
36127 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
36128 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
36129 are:
36130
36131 @table @samp
36132 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
36133 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
36134 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
36135 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
36136 @item @var{name}+
36137 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
36138 need an associated value.
36139 @item @var{name}-
36140 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
36141 @item @var{name}?
36142 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
36143 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
36144 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
36145 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
36146 @end table
36147
36148 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
36149 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
36150 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
36151 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
36152 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
36153
36154 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
36155 are defined:
36156
36157 @table @samp
36158 @item multiprocess
36159 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
36160 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36161 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36162 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36163 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
36164
36165 @item xmlRegisters
36166 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
36167 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
36168 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
36169 description.
36170
36171 @item qRelocInsn
36172 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
36173 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
36174 instruction reply packet}).
36175 @end table
36176
36177 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
36178 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
36179 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
36180 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
36181 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
36182 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
36183 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
36184 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
36185 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
36186 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
36187 all the features it supports.
36188
36189 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
36190 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
36191
36192 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
36193 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
36194 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
36195 form response.
36196
36197 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
36198 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
36199 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
36200 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
36201
36202 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
36203 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
36204 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
36205 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
36206 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
36207
36208 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
36209
36210 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
36211 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
36212 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
36213 @item Feature Name
36214 @tab Value Required
36215 @tab Default
36216 @tab Probe Allowed
36217
36218 @item @samp{PacketSize}
36219 @tab Yes
36220 @tab @samp{-}
36221 @tab No
36222
36223 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
36224 @tab No
36225 @tab @samp{-}
36226 @tab Yes
36227
36228 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
36229 @tab No
36230 @tab @samp{-}
36231 @tab Yes
36232
36233 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
36234 @tab No
36235 @tab @samp{-}
36236 @tab Yes
36237
36238 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
36239 @tab No
36240 @tab @samp{-}
36241 @tab Yes
36242
36243 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
36244 @tab No
36245 @tab @samp{-}
36246 @tab Yes
36247
36248 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
36249 @tab No
36250 @tab @samp{-}
36251 @tab Yes
36252
36253 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
36254 @tab No
36255 @tab @samp{-}
36256 @tab Yes
36257
36258 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
36259 @tab No
36260 @tab @samp{-}
36261 @tab Yes
36262
36263 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
36264 @tab No
36265 @tab @samp{-}
36266 @tab Yes
36267
36268 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
36269 @tab No
36270 @tab @samp{-}
36271 @tab Yes
36272
36273 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36274 @tab No
36275 @tab @samp{-}
36276 @tab Yes
36277
36278 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36279 @tab No
36280 @tab @samp{-}
36281 @tab Yes
36282
36283 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36284 @tab No
36285 @tab @samp{-}
36286 @tab Yes
36287
36288 @item @samp{QNonStop}
36289 @tab No
36290 @tab @samp{-}
36291 @tab Yes
36292
36293 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
36294 @tab No
36295 @tab @samp{-}
36296 @tab Yes
36297
36298 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
36299 @tab No
36300 @tab @samp{-}
36301 @tab Yes
36302
36303 @item @samp{multiprocess}
36304 @tab No
36305 @tab @samp{-}
36306 @tab No
36307
36308 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
36309 @tab No
36310 @tab @samp{-}
36311 @tab No
36312
36313 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
36314 @tab No
36315 @tab @samp{-}
36316 @tab No
36317
36318 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
36319 @tab No
36320 @tab @samp{-}
36321 @tab No
36322
36323 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
36324 @tab No
36325 @tab @samp{-}
36326 @tab No
36327
36328 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
36329 @tab No
36330 @tab @samp{-}
36331 @tab No
36332
36333 @item @samp{QAgent}
36334 @tab No
36335 @tab @samp{-}
36336 @tab No
36337
36338 @item @samp{QAllow}
36339 @tab No
36340 @tab @samp{-}
36341 @tab No
36342
36343 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
36344 @tab No
36345 @tab @samp{-}
36346 @tab No
36347
36348 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
36349 @tab No
36350 @tab @samp{-}
36351 @tab No
36352
36353 @item @samp{tracenz}
36354 @tab No
36355 @tab @samp{-}
36356 @tab No
36357
36358 @end multitable
36359
36360 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
36361
36362 @table @samp
36363 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
36364 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
36365 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
36366 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
36367 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
36368 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
36369 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
36370 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
36371 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
36372 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
36373
36374 @item qXfer:auxv:read
36375 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
36376 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
36377
36378 @item qXfer:features:read
36379 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
36380 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
36381
36382 @item qXfer:libraries:read
36383 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
36384 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
36385
36386 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
36387 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
36388 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
36389
36390 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
36391 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
36392 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
36393
36394 @item qXfer:sdata:read
36395 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
36396 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
36397
36398 @item qXfer:spu:read
36399 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
36400 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
36401
36402 @item qXfer:spu:write
36403 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
36404 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
36405
36406 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
36407 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
36408 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
36409
36410 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
36411 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
36412 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
36413
36414 @item qXfer:threads:read
36415 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
36416 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
36417
36418 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
36419 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36420 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
36421
36422 @item qXfer:uib:read
36423 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36424 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
36425
36426 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
36427 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36428 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
36429
36430 @item QNonStop
36431 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
36432 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
36433
36434 @item QPassSignals
36435 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36436 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
36437
36438 @item QStartNoAckMode
36439 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
36440 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
36441
36442 @item multiprocess
36443 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
36444 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
36445 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
36446 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
36447 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
36448 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
36449 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
36450 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
36451 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
36452 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
36453 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
36454
36455 @item qXfer:osdata:read
36456 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
36457 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
36458
36459 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
36460 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
36461 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
36462 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
36463
36464 @item ConditionalTracepoints
36465 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
36466 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
36467
36468 @item ReverseContinue
36469 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
36470 (@pxref{bc}).
36471
36472 @item ReverseStep
36473 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
36474 (@pxref{bs}).
36475
36476 @item TracepointSource
36477 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
36478 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
36479
36480 @item QAgent
36481 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
36482
36483 @item QAllow
36484 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
36485
36486 @item QDisableRandomization
36487 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
36488
36489 @item StaticTracepoint
36490 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
36491 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
36492
36493 @item InstallInTrace
36494 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
36495 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
36496
36497 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
36498 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
36499 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
36500 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
36501
36502 @item tracenz
36503 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
36504 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
36505 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
36506
36507 @end table
36508
36509 @item qSymbol::
36510 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
36511 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
36512 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
36513 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
36514
36515 Reply:
36516 @table @samp
36517 @item OK
36518 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36519 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36520 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
36521 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
36522 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
36523 below.
36524 @end table
36525
36526 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
36527 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
36528
36529 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
36530 target has previously requested.
36531
36532 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
36533 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
36534 will be empty.
36535
36536 Reply:
36537 @table @samp
36538 @item OK
36539 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36540 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36541 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
36542 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
36543 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
36544 @end table
36545
36546 @item qTBuffer
36547 @item QTBuffer
36548 @item QTDisconnected
36549 @itemx QTDP
36550 @itemx QTDPsrc
36551 @itemx QTDV
36552 @itemx qTfP
36553 @itemx qTfV
36554 @itemx QTFrame
36555 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
36556
36557 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
36558
36559 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
36560 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
36561 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
36562 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
36563 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
36564 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
36565 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
36566 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
36567 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
36568 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
36569 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
36570
36571 Reply:
36572 @table @samp
36573 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36574 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
36575 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
36576 the thread's attributes.
36577 @end table
36578
36579 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
36580 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36581 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36582 packets.)
36583
36584 @item QTNotes
36585 @item qTP
36586 @item QTSave
36587 @item qTsP
36588 @item qTsV
36589 @itemx QTStart
36590 @itemx QTStop
36591 @itemx QTEnable
36592 @itemx QTDisable
36593 @itemx QTinit
36594 @itemx QTro
36595 @itemx qTStatus
36596 @itemx qTV
36597 @itemx qTfSTM
36598 @itemx qTsSTM
36599 @itemx qTSTMat
36600 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
36601
36602 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36603 @cindex read special object, remote request
36604 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
36605 @anchor{qXfer read}
36606 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
36607 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
36608 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
36609 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
36610 additional details about what data to access.
36611
36612 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
36613 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
36614 formats, listed below.
36615
36616 @table @samp
36617 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36618 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
36619 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
36620 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
36621
36622 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36623 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36624
36625 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36626 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
36627 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
36628 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
36629 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
36630
36631 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36632 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36633
36634 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36635 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
36636 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
36637 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36638 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36639
36640 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
36641 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
36642 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
36643
36644 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36645 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36646
36647 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36648 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
36649 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
36650 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
36651 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36652
36653 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
36654 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
36655
36656 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36657 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36658
36659 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36660 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
36661 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
36662 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36663 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36664
36665 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36666 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36667
36668 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36669 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
36670
36671 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
36672 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
36673 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
36674 Action Lists}.
36675
36676 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36677 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36678 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36679
36680 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36681 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
36682 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
36683 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
36684 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36685
36686 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36687 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36688 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36689
36690 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36691 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
36692 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
36693 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
36694 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
36695 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
36696 in that context to be accessed.
36697
36698 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36699 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36700 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36701
36702 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36703 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
36704 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
36705 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36706 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36707
36708 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36709 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36710
36711 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36712 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
36713
36714 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
36715 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
36716 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36717
36718 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36719 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36720
36721 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36722 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
36723
36724 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
36725 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
36726
36727 This packet is not probed by default.
36728
36729 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36730 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
36731 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
36732 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
36733 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
36734
36735 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36736 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36737
36738 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36739 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
36740 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
36741 @xref{Operating System Information}.
36742
36743 @end table
36744
36745 Reply:
36746 @table @samp
36747 @item m @var{data}
36748 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
36749 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
36750 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
36751 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
36752 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
36753 request.
36754
36755 @item l @var{data}
36756 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
36757 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
36758 than the @var{length} in the request.
36759
36760 @item l
36761 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
36762 There is no more data to be read.
36763
36764 @item E00
36765 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
36766
36767 @item E @var{nn}
36768 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
36769 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
36770
36771 @item
36772 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
36773 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
36774 @end table
36775
36776 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36777 @cindex write data into object, remote request
36778 @anchor{qXfer write}
36779 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
36780 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
36781 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
36782 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
36783 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
36784 to access.
36785
36786 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
36787 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
36788 formats, listed below.
36789
36790 @table @samp
36791 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36792 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
36793 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
36794 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
36795 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
36796
36797 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36798 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36799 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36800
36801 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
36802 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
36803 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
36804 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
36805 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
36806 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
36807 in that context to be accessed.
36808
36809 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36810 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36811 @end table
36812
36813 Reply:
36814 @table @samp
36815 @item @var{nn}
36816 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
36817 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
36818
36819 @item E00
36820 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
36821
36822 @item E @var{nn}
36823 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
36824 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
36825
36826 @item
36827 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
36828 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
36829 @end table
36830
36831 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
36832 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
36833 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
36834 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
36835 must respond with an empty packet.
36836
36837 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
36838 @cindex query attached, remote request
36839 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
36840 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
36841 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
36842 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
36843 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
36844 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
36845 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
36846
36847 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
36848 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
36849 the @code{quit} command.
36850
36851 Reply:
36852 @table @samp
36853 @item 1
36854 The remote server attached to an existing process.
36855 @item 0
36856 The remote server created a new process.
36857 @item E @var{NN}
36858 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
36859 @end table
36860
36861 @end table
36862
36863 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
36864 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
36865
36866 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
36867 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
36868 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
36869
36870 @subsection ARM
36871
36872 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
36873
36874 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
36875
36876 @table @r
36877
36878 @item 2
36879 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
36880
36881 @item 3
36882 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
36883
36884 @item 4
36885 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
36886
36887 @end table
36888
36889 @subsection MIPS
36890
36891 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
36892
36893 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
36894 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
36895 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
36896 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
36897 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
36898 most-significant - least-significant.
36899
36900 @table @r
36901
36902 @item MIPS32
36903
36904 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
36905 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
36906 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
36907
36908 @item MIPS64
36909
36910 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
36911 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
36912 as @code{MIPS32}.
36913
36914 @end table
36915
36916 @node Tracepoint Packets
36917 @section Tracepoint Packets
36918 @cindex tracepoint packets
36919 @cindex packets, tracepoint
36920
36921 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
36922 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
36923
36924 @table @samp
36925
36926 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
36927 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
36928 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
36929 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
36930 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
36931 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
36932 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
36933 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
36934 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
36935 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
36936 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
36937 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
36938 actions.
36939
36940 Replies:
36941 @table @samp
36942 @item OK
36943 The packet was understood and carried out.
36944 @item qRelocInsn
36945 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
36946 @item
36947 The packet was not recognized.
36948 @end table
36949
36950 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
36951 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
36952 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
36953 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
36954 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
36955 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
36956 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
36957
36958 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
36959 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
36960 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
36961 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
36962 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
36963 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
36964 tracepoint actions.
36965
36966 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
36967 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
36968 following forms:
36969
36970 @table @samp
36971
36972 @item R @var{mask}
36973 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
36974 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
36975 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
36976 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
36977 not fit in a 32-bit word.
36978
36979 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
36980 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
36981 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
36982 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
36983 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
36984 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
36985 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
36986
36987 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
36988 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
36989 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
36990 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
36991 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
36992 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
36993 packet).
36994
36995 @end table
36996
36997 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
36998 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
36999 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
37000 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
37001 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
37002 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
37003 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
37004 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
37005
37006 Replies:
37007 @table @samp
37008 @item OK
37009 The packet was understood and carried out.
37010 @item qRelocInsn
37011 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37012 @item
37013 The packet was not recognized.
37014 @end table
37015
37016 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
37017 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
37018 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
37019 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
37020 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
37021 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
37022 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
37023 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
37024
37025 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
37026 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
37027 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
37028 fit in a single packet.
37029 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
37030 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
37031
37032 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
37033 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
37034 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
37035 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
37036
37037 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
37038 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
37039 query packets.
37040
37041 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
37042 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
37043 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
37044 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
37045 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
37046 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
37047 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
37048 be found.
37049
37050 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
37051 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
37052 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
37053 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
37054 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
37055 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
37056 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
37057 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
37058 mentioned in expressions.
37059
37060 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
37061 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
37062 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
37063 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
37064
37065 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
37066 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
37067 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
37068 one of the following forms:
37069
37070 @table @samp
37071 @item F @var{f}
37072 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
37073 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
37074 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
37075
37076 @item T @var{t}
37077 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
37078 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
37079
37080 @end table
37081
37082 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
37083 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37084 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
37085 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
37086
37087 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
37088 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37089 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
37090 is a hexadecimal number.
37091
37092 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
37093 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37094 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
37095 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
37096 numbers.
37097
37098 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
37099 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
37100 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
37101
37102 @item qTMinFTPILen
37103 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
37104 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
37105 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
37106 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
37107 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
37108 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
37109 arrange for that.
37110
37111 Replies:
37112
37113 @table @samp
37114 @item 0
37115 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
37116 @item @var{length}
37117 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
37118 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
37119 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
37120 @item E
37121 An error has occurred.
37122 @item
37123 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
37124 @end table
37125
37126 @item QTStart
37127 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
37128 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
37129 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37130 instruction reply packet}).
37131
37132 @item QTStop
37133 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
37134
37135 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37136 @anchor{QTEnable}
37137 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37138 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
37139 of data from it will resume.
37140
37141 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37142 @anchor{QTDisable}
37143 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37144 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
37145 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
37146
37147 @item QTinit
37148 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
37149
37150 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
37151 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
37152 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
37153 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
37154
37155 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
37156 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
37157 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
37158 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
37159
37160 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
37161 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
37162 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
37163 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
37164 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
37165
37166 @item qTStatus
37167 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
37168
37169 The reply has the form:
37170
37171 @table @samp
37172
37173 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
37174 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
37175 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
37176 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
37177
37178 @end table
37179
37180 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
37181 explanations as one of the optional fields:
37182
37183 @table @samp
37184
37185 @item tnotrun:0
37186 No trace has been run yet.
37187
37188 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
37189 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
37190 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
37191 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
37192 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
37193
37194 @item tfull:0
37195 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
37196
37197 @item tdisconnected:0
37198 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
37199
37200 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
37201 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
37202
37203 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
37204 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
37205 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
37206 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
37207 @var{text} is hex encoded.
37208
37209 @item tunknown:0
37210 The trace stopped for some other reason.
37211
37212 @end table
37213
37214 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
37215 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
37216 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
37217 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
37218 trace.
37219
37220 @table @samp
37221
37222 @item tframes:@var{n}
37223 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
37224
37225 @item tcreated:@var{n}
37226 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
37227 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
37228
37229 @item tsize:@var{n}
37230 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
37231
37232 @item tfree:@var{n}
37233 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
37234
37235 @item circular:@var{n}
37236 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
37237 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
37238 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
37239 and may fill up.
37240
37241 @item disconn:@var{n}
37242 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
37243 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
37244 that the trace run will stop.
37245
37246 @end table
37247
37248 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
37249 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
37250 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
37251 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
37252 address @var{addr}.
37253
37254 Replies:
37255 @table @samp
37256 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
37257 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
37258 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
37259 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
37260 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
37261
37262 @end table
37263
37264 @item qTV:@var{var}
37265 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
37266 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
37267 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
37268
37269 Replies:
37270 @table @samp
37271 @item V@var{value}
37272 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
37273 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
37274 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
37275 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
37276 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
37277 program is running.
37278
37279 @item U
37280 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
37281 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
37282 was not collected.
37283 @end table
37284
37285 @item qTfP
37286 @itemx qTsP
37287 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
37288 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
37289 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
37290 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
37291 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
37292
37293 @item qTfV
37294 @itemx qTsV
37295 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
37296 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
37297 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
37298 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
37299 trace state variables.
37300
37301 @item qTfSTM
37302 @itemx qTsSTM
37303 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
37304 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
37305 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
37306 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
37307
37308 Reply:
37309 @table @samp
37310 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
37311 A single marker
37312 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
37313 a comma-separated list of markers
37314 @item l
37315 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
37316 @item E @var{nn}
37317 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37318 @item
37319 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
37320 stub.
37321 @end table
37322
37323 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
37324 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
37325
37326 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
37327 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
37328 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
37329 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
37330 @dfn{last}).
37331
37332 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
37333 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
37334 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
37335 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
37336 tracepoint markers.
37337
37338 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
37339 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
37340 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
37341 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
37342 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
37343
37344 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
37345 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
37346 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
37347 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
37348 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
37349 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
37350 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
37351 available.
37352
37353 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
37354 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
37355 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
37356
37357 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
37358 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
37359 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
37360 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
37361
37362 @end table
37363
37364 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
37365 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
37366 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
37367 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
37368 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
37369 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
37370 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
37371 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
37372 it had executed in the original location.
37373
37374 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
37375 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
37376 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
37377 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
37378 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
37379 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
37380 format of the request is:
37381
37382 @table @samp
37383 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
37384
37385 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
37386 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
37387 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
37388 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
37389 memory starting at @var{to}.
37390 @end table
37391
37392 Replies:
37393 @table @samp
37394 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
37395 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
37396 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
37397 @item E @var{NN}
37398 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
37399 relocating the instruction.
37400 @end table
37401
37402 @node Host I/O Packets
37403 @section Host I/O Packets
37404 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
37405 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
37406
37407 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
37408 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
37409 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
37410 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
37411 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
37412 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
37413 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
37414 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
37415 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
37416 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
37417
37418 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
37419 its arguments. They have this format:
37420
37421 @table @samp
37422
37423 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
37424 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
37425 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
37426 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
37427 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
37428 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
37429 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
37430 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
37431 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
37432
37433 @end table
37434
37435 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
37436
37437 @table @samp
37438
37439 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
37440 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
37441 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
37442 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
37443 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
37444 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
37445 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
37446 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
37447 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
37448 @var{attachment}.
37449
37450 @item
37451 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
37452
37453 @end table
37454
37455 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
37456
37457 @table @samp
37458 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
37459 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
37460 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
37461 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
37462 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
37463 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
37464 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
37465
37466 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
37467 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
37468 -1 if an error occurs.
37469
37470 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
37471 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
37472 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
37473 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
37474 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
37475 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
37476 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
37477 @var{count} was zero.
37478
37479 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37480 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37481 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37482 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37483 some characters were escaped.
37484
37485 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
37486 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
37487 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
37488 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
37489 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
37490 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
37491 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
37492 error occurred.
37493
37494 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
37495 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
37496 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
37497
37498 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
37499 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
37500 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
37501
37502 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37503 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37504 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37505 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37506 some characters were escaped.
37507
37508 @end table
37509
37510 @node Interrupts
37511 @section Interrupts
37512 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
37513
37514 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
37515 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
37516 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
37517 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
37518
37519 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
37520 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
37521 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
37522 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
37523 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
37524
37525 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
37526 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
37527 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
37528 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
37529 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
37530 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
37531 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
37532 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
37533
37534 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
37535 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
37536 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
37537
37538 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
37539 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
37540 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
37541 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
37542 currently-executing threads and processes.
37543 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
37544 running program, it should send one of the stop
37545 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
37546 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
37547 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
37548 Interrupts received while the
37549 program is stopped are discarded.
37550
37551 @node Notification Packets
37552 @section Notification Packets
37553 @cindex notification packets
37554 @cindex packets, notification
37555
37556 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
37557 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
37558 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
37559 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
37560 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
37561 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
37562 is not a problem.
37563
37564 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
37565 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
37566 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
37567 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
37568 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
37569 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
37570 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
37571
37572 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
37573 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
37574
37575 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
37576 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
37577 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
37578 not they understand it.
37579
37580 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
37581 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
37582 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
37583 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
37584 recipients.
37585
37586 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
37587 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
37588 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
37589 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
37590 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
37591
37592 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
37593 defined:
37594
37595 @table @samp
37596 @item Stop: @var{reply}
37597 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
37598 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
37599 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
37600 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
37601 @value{GDBN}.
37602 @end table
37603
37604 @node Remote Non-Stop
37605 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
37606
37607 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
37608 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
37609 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
37610 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37611
37612 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
37613 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
37614 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
37615 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
37616 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
37617 probe the target state after a mode change.
37618
37619 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
37620 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
37621 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
37622 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
37623 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
37624 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
37625 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
37626 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
37627 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
37628 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
37629 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
37630
37631 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
37632 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
37633 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
37634 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
37635 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
37636 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
37637 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
37638 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
37639 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
37640 sending any queued stop events.
37641
37642 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
37643 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
37644 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
37645 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
37646 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
37647 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
37648 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
37649
37650 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
37651 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
37652 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
37653 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
37654 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
37655 process normally.
37656
37657 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
37658 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
37659 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
37660 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
37661 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
37662 should process normally.
37663
37664 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
37665 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
37666 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
37667 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
37668 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
37669
37670 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
37671 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
37672 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
37673 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
37674 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
37675 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
37676 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
37677 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
37678 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
37679 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
37680 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
37681 @samp{OK}.
37682
37683 @node Packet Acknowledgment
37684 @section Packet Acknowledgment
37685
37686 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
37687 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
37688 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
37689 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37690 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
37691 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
37692 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
37693
37694 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
37695 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
37696 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
37697 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
37698 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
37699
37700 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
37701 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
37702 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
37703 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
37704
37705 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
37706 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
37707 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
37708 @pxref{qSupported}.
37709 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
37710 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
37711 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
37712 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
37713 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
37714 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
37715 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
37716
37717 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
37718 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
37719 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
37720 connection.
37721 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
37722 new connection is established,
37723 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
37724 for the current connection, once disabled.
37725
37726 @node Examples
37727 @section Examples
37728
37729 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
37730 does not get any direct output:
37731
37732 @smallexample
37733 -> @code{R00}
37734 <- @code{+}
37735 @emph{target restarts}
37736 -> @code{?}
37737 <- @code{+}
37738 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
37739 -> @code{+}
37740 @end smallexample
37741
37742 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
37743
37744 @smallexample
37745 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
37746 <- @code{+}
37747 -> @code{s}
37748 <- @code{+}
37749 @emph{time passes}
37750 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
37751 -> @code{+}
37752 -> @code{g}
37753 <- @code{+}
37754 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
37755 -> @code{+}
37756 @end smallexample
37757
37758 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
37759 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
37760 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
37761
37762 @menu
37763 * File-I/O Overview::
37764 * Protocol Basics::
37765 * The F Request Packet::
37766 * The F Reply Packet::
37767 * The Ctrl-C Message::
37768 * Console I/O::
37769 * List of Supported Calls::
37770 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
37771 * Constants::
37772 * File-I/O Examples::
37773 @end menu
37774
37775 @node File-I/O Overview
37776 @subsection File-I/O Overview
37777 @cindex file-i/o overview
37778
37779 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
37780 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
37781 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
37782 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
37783 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
37784 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
37785
37786 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
37787 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
37788 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
37789 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
37790 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
37791
37792 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
37793 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
37794 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
37795 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
37796 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
37797 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
37798 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
37799
37800 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
37801 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
37802 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
37803 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
37804 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
37805
37806 @smallexample
37807 (@value{GDBP}) continue
37808 <- target requests 'system call X'
37809 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
37810 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
37811 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
37812 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
37813 @end smallexample
37814
37815 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
37816 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
37817 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
37818 system are not supported by this protocol.
37819
37820 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
37821
37822 @node Protocol Basics
37823 @subsection Protocol Basics
37824 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
37825
37826 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
37827 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
37828 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
37829 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
37830 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
37831 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
37832 to call the appropriate host system call:
37833
37834 @itemize @bullet
37835 @item
37836 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
37837
37838 @item
37839 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
37840 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
37841 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
37842 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
37843
37844 @end itemize
37845
37846 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
37847
37848 @itemize @bullet
37849 @item
37850 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
37851 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
37852 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
37853 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
37854 packet.
37855
37856 @item
37857 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
37858 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
37859
37860 @item
37861 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
37862
37863 @item
37864 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
37865
37866 @item
37867 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
37868 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
37869 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
37870 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
37871 packet.
37872
37873 @end itemize
37874
37875 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
37876 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
37877
37878 @itemize @bullet
37879 @item
37880 Return value.
37881
37882 @item
37883 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
37884
37885 @item
37886 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
37887
37888 @end itemize
37889
37890 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
37891 the latest continue or step action.
37892
37893 @node The F Request Packet
37894 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
37895 @cindex file-i/o request packet
37896 @cindex @code{F} request packet
37897
37898 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
37899
37900 @table @samp
37901 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
37902
37903 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
37904 This is just the name of the function.
37905
37906 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
37907 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
37908 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
37909 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
37910 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
37911 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
37912 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
37913
37914 @end table
37915
37916
37917
37918 @node The F Reply Packet
37919 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
37920 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
37921 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
37922
37923 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
37924
37925 @table @samp
37926
37927 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
37928
37929 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
37930
37931 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
37932 representation.
37933 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
37934
37935 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
37936 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
37937 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
37938
37939 @smallexample
37940 F0,0,C
37941 @end smallexample
37942
37943 @noindent
37944 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
37945
37946 @smallexample
37947 F-1,4,C
37948 @end smallexample
37949
37950 @noindent
37951 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
37952
37953 @end table
37954
37955
37956 @node The Ctrl-C Message
37957 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
37958 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
37959
37960 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
37961 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
37962 the target should behave as if it had
37963 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
37964 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
37965 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
37966 packet.
37967
37968 It's important for the target to know in which
37969 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
37970
37971 @itemize @bullet
37972 @item
37973 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
37974
37975 @item
37976 The system call on the host has been finished.
37977
37978 @end itemize
37979
37980 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
37981 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
37982 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
37983 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
37984 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
37985 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
37986
37987 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
37988 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
37989 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
37990 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
37991 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
37992 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
37993 or the full action has been completed.
37994
37995 @node Console I/O
37996 @subsection Console I/O
37997 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
37998
37999 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
38000 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
38001 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
38002 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
38003 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
38004 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
38005 conditions is met:
38006
38007 @itemize @bullet
38008 @item
38009 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
38010 @code{read}
38011 system call is treated as finished.
38012
38013 @item
38014 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
38015 newline.
38016
38017 @item
38018 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
38019 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
38020
38021 @end itemize
38022
38023 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
38024 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
38025 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
38026 is stopped at the user's request.
38027
38028
38029 @node List of Supported Calls
38030 @subsection List of Supported Calls
38031 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
38032
38033 @menu
38034 * open::
38035 * close::
38036 * read::
38037 * write::
38038 * lseek::
38039 * rename::
38040 * unlink::
38041 * stat/fstat::
38042 * gettimeofday::
38043 * isatty::
38044 * system::
38045 @end menu
38046
38047 @node open
38048 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
38049 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
38050
38051 @table @asis
38052 @item Synopsis:
38053 @smallexample
38054 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
38055 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
38056 @end smallexample
38057
38058 @item Request:
38059 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
38060
38061 @noindent
38062 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38063
38064 @table @code
38065 @item O_CREAT
38066 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
38067 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
38068 are concerned.
38069
38070 @item O_EXCL
38071 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
38072 an error and open() fails.
38073
38074 @item O_TRUNC
38075 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
38076 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
38077 truncated to zero length.
38078
38079 @item O_APPEND
38080 The file is opened in append mode.
38081
38082 @item O_RDONLY
38083 The file is opened for reading only.
38084
38085 @item O_WRONLY
38086 The file is opened for writing only.
38087
38088 @item O_RDWR
38089 The file is opened for reading and writing.
38090 @end table
38091
38092 @noindent
38093 Other bits are silently ignored.
38094
38095
38096 @noindent
38097 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38098
38099 @table @code
38100 @item S_IRUSR
38101 User has read permission.
38102
38103 @item S_IWUSR
38104 User has write permission.
38105
38106 @item S_IRGRP
38107 Group has read permission.
38108
38109 @item S_IWGRP
38110 Group has write permission.
38111
38112 @item S_IROTH
38113 Others have read permission.
38114
38115 @item S_IWOTH
38116 Others have write permission.
38117 @end table
38118
38119 @noindent
38120 Other bits are silently ignored.
38121
38122
38123 @item Return value:
38124 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
38125 occurred.
38126
38127 @item Errors:
38128
38129 @table @code
38130 @item EEXIST
38131 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
38132
38133 @item EISDIR
38134 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
38135
38136 @item EACCES
38137 The requested access is not allowed.
38138
38139 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38140 @var{pathname} was too long.
38141
38142 @item ENOENT
38143 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38144
38145 @item ENODEV
38146 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
38147
38148 @item EROFS
38149 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
38150 write access was requested.
38151
38152 @item EFAULT
38153 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
38154
38155 @item ENOSPC
38156 No space on device to create the file.
38157
38158 @item EMFILE
38159 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
38160
38161 @item ENFILE
38162 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
38163 has been reached.
38164
38165 @item EINTR
38166 The call was interrupted by the user.
38167 @end table
38168
38169 @end table
38170
38171 @node close
38172 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
38173 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
38174
38175 @table @asis
38176 @item Synopsis:
38177 @smallexample
38178 int close(int fd);
38179 @end smallexample
38180
38181 @item Request:
38182 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
38183
38184 @item Return value:
38185 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
38186
38187 @item Errors:
38188
38189 @table @code
38190 @item EBADF
38191 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
38192
38193 @item EINTR
38194 The call was interrupted by the user.
38195 @end table
38196
38197 @end table
38198
38199 @node read
38200 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
38201 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
38202
38203 @table @asis
38204 @item Synopsis:
38205 @smallexample
38206 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
38207 @end smallexample
38208
38209 @item Request:
38210 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
38211
38212 @item Return value:
38213 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
38214 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
38215 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
38216
38217 @item Errors:
38218
38219 @table @code
38220 @item EBADF
38221 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
38222 reading.
38223
38224 @item EFAULT
38225 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38226
38227 @item EINTR
38228 The call was interrupted by the user.
38229 @end table
38230
38231 @end table
38232
38233 @node write
38234 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
38235 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
38236
38237 @table @asis
38238 @item Synopsis:
38239 @smallexample
38240 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
38241 @end smallexample
38242
38243 @item Request:
38244 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
38245
38246 @item Return value:
38247 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
38248 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
38249 is returned.
38250
38251 @item Errors:
38252
38253 @table @code
38254 @item EBADF
38255 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
38256 writing.
38257
38258 @item EFAULT
38259 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38260
38261 @item EFBIG
38262 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
38263 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
38264
38265 @item ENOSPC
38266 No space on device to write the data.
38267
38268 @item EINTR
38269 The call was interrupted by the user.
38270 @end table
38271
38272 @end table
38273
38274 @node lseek
38275 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
38276 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
38277
38278 @table @asis
38279 @item Synopsis:
38280 @smallexample
38281 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
38282 @end smallexample
38283
38284 @item Request:
38285 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
38286
38287 @var{flag} is one of:
38288
38289 @table @code
38290 @item SEEK_SET
38291 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
38292
38293 @item SEEK_CUR
38294 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
38295 bytes.
38296
38297 @item SEEK_END
38298 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
38299 bytes.
38300 @end table
38301
38302 @item Return value:
38303 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
38304 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
38305 value of -1 is returned.
38306
38307 @item Errors:
38308
38309 @table @code
38310 @item EBADF
38311 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
38312
38313 @item ESPIPE
38314 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
38315
38316 @item EINVAL
38317 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
38318
38319 @item EINTR
38320 The call was interrupted by the user.
38321 @end table
38322
38323 @end table
38324
38325 @node rename
38326 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
38327 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
38328
38329 @table @asis
38330 @item Synopsis:
38331 @smallexample
38332 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
38333 @end smallexample
38334
38335 @item Request:
38336 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
38337
38338 @item Return value:
38339 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38340
38341 @item Errors:
38342
38343 @table @code
38344 @item EISDIR
38345 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
38346 directory.
38347
38348 @item EEXIST
38349 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
38350
38351 @item EBUSY
38352 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
38353 process.
38354
38355 @item EINVAL
38356 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
38357 of itself.
38358
38359 @item ENOTDIR
38360 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
38361 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
38362 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
38363
38364 @item EFAULT
38365 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
38366
38367 @item EACCES
38368 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38369
38370 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38371
38372 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
38373
38374 @item ENOENT
38375 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
38376
38377 @item EROFS
38378 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38379
38380 @item ENOSPC
38381 The device containing the file has no room for the new
38382 directory entry.
38383
38384 @item EINTR
38385 The call was interrupted by the user.
38386 @end table
38387
38388 @end table
38389
38390 @node unlink
38391 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
38392 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
38393
38394 @table @asis
38395 @item Synopsis:
38396 @smallexample
38397 int unlink(const char *pathname);
38398 @end smallexample
38399
38400 @item Request:
38401 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
38402
38403 @item Return value:
38404 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38405
38406 @item Errors:
38407
38408 @table @code
38409 @item EACCES
38410 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38411
38412 @item EPERM
38413 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
38414
38415 @item EBUSY
38416 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
38417 being used by another process.
38418
38419 @item EFAULT
38420 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38421
38422 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38423 @var{pathname} was too long.
38424
38425 @item ENOENT
38426 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38427
38428 @item ENOTDIR
38429 A component of the path is not a directory.
38430
38431 @item EROFS
38432 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38433
38434 @item EINTR
38435 The call was interrupted by the user.
38436 @end table
38437
38438 @end table
38439
38440 @node stat/fstat
38441 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
38442 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
38443 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
38444
38445 @table @asis
38446 @item Synopsis:
38447 @smallexample
38448 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
38449 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
38450 @end smallexample
38451
38452 @item Request:
38453 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
38454 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
38455
38456 @item Return value:
38457 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38458
38459 @item Errors:
38460
38461 @table @code
38462 @item EBADF
38463 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
38464
38465 @item ENOENT
38466 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
38467 path is an empty string.
38468
38469 @item ENOTDIR
38470 A component of the path is not a directory.
38471
38472 @item EFAULT
38473 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38474
38475 @item EACCES
38476 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38477
38478 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38479 @var{pathname} was too long.
38480
38481 @item EINTR
38482 The call was interrupted by the user.
38483 @end table
38484
38485 @end table
38486
38487 @node gettimeofday
38488 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
38489 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
38490
38491 @table @asis
38492 @item Synopsis:
38493 @smallexample
38494 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
38495 @end smallexample
38496
38497 @item Request:
38498 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
38499
38500 @item Return value:
38501 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
38502
38503 @item Errors:
38504
38505 @table @code
38506 @item EINVAL
38507 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
38508
38509 @item EFAULT
38510 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38511 @end table
38512
38513 @end table
38514
38515 @node isatty
38516 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
38517 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
38518
38519 @table @asis
38520 @item Synopsis:
38521 @smallexample
38522 int isatty(int fd);
38523 @end smallexample
38524
38525 @item Request:
38526 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
38527
38528 @item Return value:
38529 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
38530
38531 @item Errors:
38532
38533 @table @code
38534 @item EINTR
38535 The call was interrupted by the user.
38536 @end table
38537
38538 @end table
38539
38540 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
38541 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
38542 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
38543 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
38544 needed.
38545
38546
38547 @node system
38548 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
38549 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
38550
38551 @table @asis
38552 @item Synopsis:
38553 @smallexample
38554 int system(const char *command);
38555 @end smallexample
38556
38557 @item Request:
38558 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
38559
38560 @item Return value:
38561 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
38562 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
38563 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
38564 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
38565 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
38566 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
38567 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
38568
38569 @item Errors:
38570
38571 @table @code
38572 @item EINTR
38573 The call was interrupted by the user.
38574 @end table
38575
38576 @end table
38577
38578 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
38579 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
38580 the host is simplified before it's returned
38581 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
38582 is discarded, and the return value consists
38583 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
38584
38585 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
38586 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
38587 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
38588
38589 @table @code
38590 @item set remote system-call-allowed
38591 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
38592 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
38593 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
38594
38595 @item show remote system-call-allowed
38596 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
38597 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
38598 protocol.
38599 @end table
38600
38601 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
38602 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
38603 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
38604
38605 @menu
38606 * Integral Datatypes::
38607 * Pointer Values::
38608 * Memory Transfer::
38609 * struct stat::
38610 * struct timeval::
38611 @end menu
38612
38613 @node Integral Datatypes
38614 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
38615 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
38616
38617 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
38618 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
38619 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
38620
38621 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
38622 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
38623
38624 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
38625
38626 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
38627 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
38628
38629 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
38630
38631 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
38632 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
38633 byte order.
38634
38635 @node Pointer Values
38636 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
38637 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
38638
38639 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
38640 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
38641 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
38642 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
38643
38644 @smallexample
38645 @code{1aaf/12}
38646 @end smallexample
38647
38648 @noindent
38649 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
38650 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
38651 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
38652 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
38653
38654 @smallexample
38655 @code{123456/d}
38656 @end smallexample
38657
38658 @node Memory Transfer
38659 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
38660 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
38661
38662 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
38663 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
38664 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
38665 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
38666 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
38667 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
38668 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
38669
38670
38671 @node struct stat
38672 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
38673 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
38674
38675 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
38676 is defined as follows:
38677
38678 @smallexample
38679 struct stat @{
38680 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
38681 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
38682 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
38683 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
38684 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
38685 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
38686 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
38687 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
38688 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
38689 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
38690 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
38691 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
38692 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
38693 @};
38694 @end smallexample
38695
38696 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
38697 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
38698 structure is of size 64 bytes.
38699
38700 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
38701 range of values.
38702
38703 @table @code
38704
38705 @item st_dev
38706 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
38707
38708 @item st_ino
38709 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
38710
38711 @item st_mode
38712 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
38713 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
38714
38715 @item st_uid
38716 @itemx st_gid
38717 @itemx st_rdev
38718 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
38719
38720 @item st_atime
38721 @itemx st_mtime
38722 @itemx st_ctime
38723 These values have a host and file system dependent
38724 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
38725 support exact timing values.
38726 @end table
38727
38728 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
38729 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
38730 continuing.
38731
38732 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
38733 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
38734 get truncated on the target.
38735
38736 @node struct timeval
38737 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
38738 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
38739
38740 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
38741 is defined as follows:
38742
38743 @smallexample
38744 struct timeval @{
38745 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
38746 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
38747 @};
38748 @end smallexample
38749
38750 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
38751 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
38752 structure is of size 8 bytes.
38753
38754 @node Constants
38755 @subsection Constants
38756 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
38757
38758 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
38759 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
38760 values before and after the call as needed.
38761
38762 @menu
38763 * Open Flags::
38764 * mode_t Values::
38765 * Errno Values::
38766 * Lseek Flags::
38767 * Limits::
38768 @end menu
38769
38770 @node Open Flags
38771 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
38772 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
38773
38774 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
38775
38776 @smallexample
38777 O_RDONLY 0x0
38778 O_WRONLY 0x1
38779 O_RDWR 0x2
38780 O_APPEND 0x8
38781 O_CREAT 0x200
38782 O_TRUNC 0x400
38783 O_EXCL 0x800
38784 @end smallexample
38785
38786 @node mode_t Values
38787 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
38788 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
38789
38790 All values are given in octal representation.
38791
38792 @smallexample
38793 S_IFREG 0100000
38794 S_IFDIR 040000
38795 S_IRUSR 0400
38796 S_IWUSR 0200
38797 S_IXUSR 0100
38798 S_IRGRP 040
38799 S_IWGRP 020
38800 S_IXGRP 010
38801 S_IROTH 04
38802 S_IWOTH 02
38803 S_IXOTH 01
38804 @end smallexample
38805
38806 @node Errno Values
38807 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
38808 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
38809
38810 All values are given in decimal representation.
38811
38812 @smallexample
38813 EPERM 1
38814 ENOENT 2
38815 EINTR 4
38816 EBADF 9
38817 EACCES 13
38818 EFAULT 14
38819 EBUSY 16
38820 EEXIST 17
38821 ENODEV 19
38822 ENOTDIR 20
38823 EISDIR 21
38824 EINVAL 22
38825 ENFILE 23
38826 EMFILE 24
38827 EFBIG 27
38828 ENOSPC 28
38829 ESPIPE 29
38830 EROFS 30
38831 ENAMETOOLONG 91
38832 EUNKNOWN 9999
38833 @end smallexample
38834
38835 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
38836 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
38837
38838 @node Lseek Flags
38839 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
38840 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
38841
38842 @smallexample
38843 SEEK_SET 0
38844 SEEK_CUR 1
38845 SEEK_END 2
38846 @end smallexample
38847
38848 @node Limits
38849 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
38850 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
38851
38852 All values are given in decimal representation.
38853
38854 @smallexample
38855 INT_MIN -2147483648
38856 INT_MAX 2147483647
38857 UINT_MAX 4294967295
38858 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
38859 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
38860 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
38861 @end smallexample
38862
38863 @node File-I/O Examples
38864 @subsection File-I/O Examples
38865 @cindex file-i/o examples
38866
38867 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
38868 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
38869
38870 @smallexample
38871 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
38872 @emph{request memory read from target}
38873 -> @code{m1234,6}
38874 <- XXXXXX
38875 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
38876 -> @code{F6}
38877 @end smallexample
38878
38879 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
38880 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
38881
38882 @smallexample
38883 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38884 @emph{request memory write to target}
38885 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
38886 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
38887 -> @code{F6}
38888 @end smallexample
38889
38890 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
38891 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
38892
38893 @smallexample
38894 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38895 -> @code{F-1,9}
38896 @end smallexample
38897
38898 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
38899 host is called:
38900
38901 @smallexample
38902 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38903 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
38904 <- @code{T02}
38905 @end smallexample
38906
38907 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
38908 host is called:
38909
38910 @smallexample
38911 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
38912 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
38913 <- @code{T02}
38914 @end smallexample
38915
38916 @node Library List Format
38917 @section Library List Format
38918 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
38919
38920 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
38921 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
38922 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
38923 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
38924 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
38925 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
38926 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
38927 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
38928 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
38929 are loaded.
38930
38931 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
38932 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
38933 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
38934 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
38935
38936 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
38937 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
38938 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
38939 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
38940 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
38941 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
38942
38943 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38944 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
38945
38946 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
38947 offset, looks like this:
38948
38949 @smallexample
38950 <library-list>
38951 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
38952 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
38953 </library>
38954 </library-list>
38955 @end smallexample
38956
38957 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
38958 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
38959
38960 @smallexample
38961 <library-list>
38962 <library name="sharedlib.o">
38963 <section address="0x10000000"/>
38964 <section address="0x20000000"/>
38965 <section address="0x30000000"/>
38966 </library>
38967 </library-list>
38968 @end smallexample
38969
38970 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
38971
38972 @smallexample
38973 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
38974 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
38975 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
38976 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
38977 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
38978 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
38979 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
38980 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
38981 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
38982 @end smallexample
38983
38984 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
38985 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
38986 section for each library.
38987
38988 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
38989 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
38990 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
38991
38992 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
38993 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
38994 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
38995 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
38996
38997 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
38998 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
38999 target, the following parameters are reported:
39000
39001 @itemize @minus
39002 @item
39003 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
39004 @code{struct link_map}.
39005 @item
39006 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
39007 (Thread Local Storage) access.
39008 @item
39009 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
39010 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
39011 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
39012 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
39013 @item
39014 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
39015 @end itemize
39016
39017 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
39018 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
39019 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
39020
39021 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39022 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39023
39024 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
39025 looks like this:
39026
39027 @smallexample
39028 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
39029 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
39030 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
39031 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
39032 l_ld="0x152350"/>
39033 </library-list-svr>
39034 @end smallexample
39035
39036 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
39037
39038 @smallexample
39039 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
39040 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
39041 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39042 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
39043 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
39044 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39045 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
39046 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
39047 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
39048 @end smallexample
39049
39050 @node Memory Map Format
39051 @section Memory Map Format
39052 @cindex memory map format
39053
39054 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
39055 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
39056 memory map.
39057
39058 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39059 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
39060 lists memory regions.
39061
39062 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39063 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
39064
39065 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39066
39067 @smallexample
39068 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39069 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
39070 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39071 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
39072 <memory-map>
39073 region...
39074 </memory-map>
39075 @end smallexample
39076
39077 Each region can be either:
39078
39079 @itemize
39080
39081 @item
39082 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
39083 bytes from there:
39084
39085 @smallexample
39086 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39087 @end smallexample
39088
39089
39090 @item
39091 A region of read-only memory:
39092
39093 @smallexample
39094 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39095 @end smallexample
39096
39097
39098 @item
39099 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
39100 bytes in length:
39101
39102 @smallexample
39103 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
39104 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
39105 </memory>
39106 @end smallexample
39107
39108 @end itemize
39109
39110 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
39111 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
39112 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
39113
39114 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
39115
39116 @smallexample
39117 <!-- ................................................... -->
39118 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
39119 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
39120 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
39121 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
39122 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
39123 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
39124 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
39125 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
39126 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
39127 and its type, or device. -->
39128 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
39129 start CDATA #REQUIRED
39130 length CDATA #REQUIRED
39131 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
39132 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
39133 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
39134 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39135 @end smallexample
39136
39137 @node Thread List Format
39138 @section Thread List Format
39139 @cindex thread list format
39140
39141 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
39142 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39143 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
39144 the following structure:
39145
39146 @smallexample
39147 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39148 <threads>
39149 <thread id="id" core="0">
39150 ... description ...
39151 </thread>
39152 </threads>
39153 @end smallexample
39154
39155 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
39156 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
39157 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
39158 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
39159 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
39160
39161 @node Traceframe Info Format
39162 @section Traceframe Info Format
39163 @cindex traceframe info format
39164
39165 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
39166 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
39167 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
39168 collected in a traceframe.
39169
39170 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39171 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
39172
39173 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39174 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
39175
39176 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39177
39178 @smallexample
39179 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39180 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
39181 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39182 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
39183 <traceframe-info>
39184 block...
39185 </traceframe-info>
39186 @end smallexample
39187
39188 Each traceframe block can be either:
39189
39190 @itemize
39191
39192 @item
39193 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
39194 @var{length} bytes from there:
39195
39196 @smallexample
39197 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39198 @end smallexample
39199
39200 @end itemize
39201
39202 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
39203
39204 @smallexample
39205 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
39206 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39207
39208 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
39209 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
39210 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
39211 @end smallexample
39212
39213 @include agentexpr.texi
39214
39215 @node Target Descriptions
39216 @appendix Target Descriptions
39217 @cindex target descriptions
39218
39219 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
39220 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
39221 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
39222 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
39223 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
39224 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
39225 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
39226
39227 @itemize @bullet
39228 @item
39229 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
39230 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
39231 @item
39232 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
39233 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
39234 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
39235 @item
39236 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
39237 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
39238 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
39239 @end itemize
39240
39241 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
39242 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
39243 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
39244 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
39245 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
39246
39247 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39248 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
39249
39250 @menu
39251 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
39252 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
39253 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
39254 descriptions.
39255 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
39256 @end menu
39257
39258 @node Retrieving Descriptions
39259 @section Retrieving Descriptions
39260
39261 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
39262 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
39263 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
39264 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
39265 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
39266 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
39267 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
39268 Format}.
39269
39270 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
39271 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
39272 specify a file are:
39273
39274 @table @code
39275 @cindex set tdesc filename
39276 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
39277 Read the target description from @var{path}.
39278
39279 @cindex unset tdesc filename
39280 @item unset tdesc filename
39281 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
39282 will use the description supplied by the current target.
39283
39284 @cindex show tdesc filename
39285 @item show tdesc filename
39286 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
39287 @end table
39288
39289
39290 @node Target Description Format
39291 @section Target Description Format
39292 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
39293
39294 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
39295 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
39296 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
39297 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
39298 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
39299 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
39300 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
39301
39302 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
39303 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
39304 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
39305 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
39306 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
39307
39308 Here is a simple target description:
39309
39310 @smallexample
39311 <target version="1.0">
39312 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
39313 </target>
39314 @end smallexample
39315
39316 @noindent
39317 This minimal description only says that the target uses
39318 the x86-64 architecture.
39319
39320 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
39321 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
39322 are explained further below.
39323
39324 @smallexample
39325 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39326 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
39327 <target version="1.0">
39328 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
39329 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
39330 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
39331 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
39332 </target>
39333 @end smallexample
39334
39335 @noindent
39336 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
39337 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
39338 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
39339 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
39340 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
39341 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
39342 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
39343 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
39344 the version mismatch.
39345
39346 @subsection Inclusion
39347 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
39348 @cindex XInclude
39349 @ifnotinfo
39350 @cindex <xi:include>
39351 @end ifnotinfo
39352
39353 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
39354 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
39355 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
39356 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
39357 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
39358
39359 @smallexample
39360 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
39361 @end smallexample
39362
39363 @noindent
39364 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
39365 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
39366 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
39367 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
39368 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
39369 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
39370 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
39371 original description.
39372
39373 @subsection Architecture
39374 @cindex <architecture>
39375
39376 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
39377
39378 @smallexample
39379 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
39380 @end smallexample
39381
39382 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39383 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39384
39385 @subsection OS ABI
39386 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
39387
39388 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39389 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39390
39391 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
39392
39393 @smallexample
39394 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
39395 @end smallexample
39396
39397 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
39398 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
39399
39400 @subsection Compatible Architecture
39401 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
39402
39403 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39404 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39405
39406 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
39407
39408 @smallexample
39409 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
39410 @end smallexample
39411
39412 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39413 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39414
39415 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
39416 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
39417 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
39418 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
39419 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
39420 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
39421 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
39422
39423 @smallexample
39424 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
39425 <compatible>spu</compatible>
39426 @end smallexample
39427
39428 @subsection Features
39429 @cindex <feature>
39430
39431 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
39432 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
39433 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
39434 has this form:
39435
39436 @smallexample
39437 <feature name="@var{name}">
39438 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
39439 @var{reg}@dots{}
39440 </feature>
39441 @end smallexample
39442
39443 @noindent
39444 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
39445 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
39446 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
39447 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
39448
39449 @subsection Types
39450
39451 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
39452 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
39453 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
39454 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
39455 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
39456
39457 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
39458 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
39459 Types must be defined before they are used.
39460
39461 @cindex <vector>
39462 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
39463 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
39464 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
39465 @var{count}:
39466
39467 @smallexample
39468 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
39469 @end smallexample
39470
39471 @cindex <union>
39472 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
39473 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
39474 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
39475 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
39476
39477 @smallexample
39478 <union id="@var{id}">
39479 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39480 @dots{}
39481 </union>
39482 @end smallexample
39483
39484 @cindex <struct>
39485 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
39486 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
39487 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
39488 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
39489 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
39490 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
39491 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
39492 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
39493
39494 @smallexample
39495 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
39496 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
39497 @dots{}
39498 </struct>
39499 @end smallexample
39500
39501 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
39502 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
39503
39504 @smallexample
39505 <struct id="@var{id}">
39506 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39507 @dots{}
39508 </struct>
39509 @end smallexample
39510
39511 @cindex <flags>
39512 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
39513 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
39514 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
39515 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
39516 are supported.
39517
39518 @smallexample
39519 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
39520 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
39521 @dots{}
39522 </flags>
39523 @end smallexample
39524
39525 @subsection Registers
39526 @cindex <reg>
39527
39528 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
39529
39530 @smallexample
39531 <reg name="@var{name}"
39532 bitsize="@var{size}"
39533 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
39534 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
39535 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
39536 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
39537 @end smallexample
39538
39539 @noindent
39540 The components are as follows:
39541
39542 @table @var
39543
39544 @item name
39545 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
39546
39547 @item bitsize
39548 The register's size, in bits.
39549
39550 @item regnum
39551 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
39552 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
39553 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
39554 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
39555 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
39556 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
39557 in order of increasing register number.
39558
39559 @item save-restore
39560 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
39561 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
39562 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
39563 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
39564 ABI.
39565
39566 @item type
39567 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
39568 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
39569 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
39570 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
39571 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
39572 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
39573
39574 @item group
39575 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
39576 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
39577 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
39578 in @code{info registers}.
39579
39580 @end table
39581
39582 @node Predefined Target Types
39583 @section Predefined Target Types
39584 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
39585
39586 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
39587 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
39588 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
39589 types. The currently supported types are:
39590
39591 @table @code
39592
39593 @item int8
39594 @itemx int16
39595 @itemx int32
39596 @itemx int64
39597 @itemx int128
39598 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
39599
39600 @item uint8
39601 @itemx uint16
39602 @itemx uint32
39603 @itemx uint64
39604 @itemx uint128
39605 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
39606
39607 @item code_ptr
39608 @itemx data_ptr
39609 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
39610 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
39611 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
39612 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
39613 may be marked as data pointers.
39614
39615 @item ieee_single
39616 Single precision IEEE floating point.
39617
39618 @item ieee_double
39619 Double precision IEEE floating point.
39620
39621 @item arm_fpa_ext
39622 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
39623
39624 @item i387_ext
39625 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
39626
39627 @item i386_eflags
39628 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
39629
39630 @item i386_mxcsr
39631 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
39632
39633 @end table
39634
39635 @node Standard Target Features
39636 @section Standard Target Features
39637 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
39638
39639 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
39640 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
39641 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
39642 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
39643 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
39644 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
39645 can recognize them.
39646
39647 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
39648 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
39649 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
39650 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
39651 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
39652 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
39653 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
39654 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
39655
39656 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
39657 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
39658 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
39659
39660 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
39661 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
39662 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
39663 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
39664
39665 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
39666 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
39667 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
39668
39669 @menu
39670 * ARM Features::
39671 * i386 Features::
39672 * MIPS Features::
39673 * M68K Features::
39674 * PowerPC Features::
39675 * TIC6x Features::
39676 @end menu
39677
39678
39679 @node ARM Features
39680 @subsection ARM Features
39681 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
39682
39683 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
39684 ARM targets.
39685 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
39686 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
39687
39688 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
39689 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
39690 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
39691 and @samp{xpsr}.
39692
39693 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
39694 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
39695
39696 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
39697 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
39698 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
39699 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
39700
39701 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
39702 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
39703 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
39704 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
39705 halves of the double-precision registers.
39706
39707 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
39708 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
39709 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
39710 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
39711 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
39712 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
39713
39714 @node i386 Features
39715 @subsection i386 Features
39716 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
39717
39718 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
39719 targets. It should describe the following registers:
39720
39721 @itemize @minus
39722 @item
39723 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
39724 @item
39725 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
39726 @item
39727 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
39728 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
39729 @item
39730 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
39731 @item
39732 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
39733 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
39734 @end itemize
39735
39736 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
39737
39738 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
39739 describe registers:
39740
39741 @itemize @minus
39742 @item
39743 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
39744 @item
39745 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
39746 @item
39747 @samp{mxcsr}
39748 @end itemize
39749
39750 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
39751 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
39752 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
39753
39754 @itemize @minus
39755 @item
39756 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
39757 @item
39758 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
39759 @end itemize
39760
39761 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
39762 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
39763
39764 @node MIPS Features
39765 @subsection MIPS Features
39766 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
39767
39768 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
39769 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
39770 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
39771 on the target.
39772
39773 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
39774 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
39775 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39776
39777 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
39778 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
39779 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
39780 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39781
39782 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
39783 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
39784 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
39785 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39786
39787 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
39788 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
39789 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
39790
39791 @node M68K Features
39792 @subsection M68K Features
39793 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
39794
39795 @table @code
39796 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
39797 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
39798 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
39799 One of those features must be always present.
39800 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
39801 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
39802 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
39803 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
39804
39805 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
39806 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
39807 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
39808 @samp{fpiaddr}.
39809 @end table
39810
39811 @node PowerPC Features
39812 @subsection PowerPC Features
39813 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
39814
39815 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
39816 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
39817 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
39818 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
39819
39820 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
39821 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
39822
39823 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
39824 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
39825 and @samp{vrsave}.
39826
39827 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
39828 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
39829 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
39830 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
39831 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
39832 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
39833
39834 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
39835 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
39836 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
39837 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
39838 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
39839 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
39840 user.
39841
39842 @node TIC6x Features
39843 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
39844 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
39845 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
39846 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
39847 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
39848 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
39849
39850 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
39851 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
39852 through @samp{B31}.
39853
39854 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
39855 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
39856
39857 @node Operating System Information
39858 @appendix Operating System Information
39859 @cindex operating system information
39860
39861 @menu
39862 * Process list::
39863 @end menu
39864
39865 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
39866 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
39867 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
39868 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
39869 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
39870 on a different aspect of target.
39871
39872 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
39873 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
39874 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
39875 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
39876
39877 @node Process list
39878 @appendixsection Process list
39879 @cindex operating system information, process list
39880
39881 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
39882 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
39883 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
39884 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
39885
39886 An example document is:
39887
39888 @smallexample
39889 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39890 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
39891 <osdata type="processes">
39892 <item>
39893 <column name="pid">1</column>
39894 <column name="user">root</column>
39895 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
39896 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
39897 </item>
39898 </osdata>
39899 @end smallexample
39900
39901 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
39902 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
39903 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
39904 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
39905 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
39906 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
39907 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
39908
39909 @node Trace File Format
39910 @appendix Trace File Format
39911 @cindex trace file format
39912
39913 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
39914 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
39915
39916 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
39917 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
39918 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
39919 in the future.
39920
39921 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
39922 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
39923 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
39924 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
39925 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
39926 of this section.
39927
39928 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
39929
39930 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
39931 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
39932 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
39933 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
39934 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
39935 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
39936 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
39937 endianness.
39938
39939 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
39940
39941 @table @code
39942 @item R @var{bytes}
39943 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
39944 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
39945 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
39946 hexadecimal encoding.
39947
39948 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
39949 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
39950 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
39951 @var{length} bytes.
39952
39953 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
39954 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
39955 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
39956
39957 @end table
39958
39959 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
39960 of blocks.
39961
39962 @node Index Section Format
39963 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
39964 @cindex .gdb_index section format
39965 @cindex index section format
39966
39967 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
39968 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
39969 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
39970 description.
39971
39972 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
39973 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
39974 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
39975 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
39976 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
39977 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
39978
39979 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
39980
39981 @enumerate
39982 @item
39983 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
39984 unless otherwise noted:
39985
39986 @enumerate
39987 @item
39988 The version number, currently 6. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
39989 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
39990 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions
39991 4 and 5 do not. @value{GDBN} will only read version 4 and 5 indices
39992 if the @code{--use-deprecated-index-sections} option is used.
39993
39994 @item
39995 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
39996
39997 @item
39998 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
39999 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
40000 to the next offset.
40001
40002 @item
40003 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
40004
40005 @item
40006 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
40007
40008 @item
40009 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
40010 @end enumerate
40011
40012 @item
40013 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
40014 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
40015 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
40016 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
40017 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
40018 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
40019 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
40020 CU indices.
40021
40022 @item
40023 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
40024 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
40025 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
40026 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
40027
40028 @item
40029 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
40030 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
40031
40032 @enumerate
40033 @item
40034 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
40035
40036 @item
40037 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
40038 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
40039
40040 @item
40041 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
40042 @end enumerate
40043
40044 @item
40045 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
40046 the hash table is always a power of 2.
40047
40048 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
40049 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
40050 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
40051 constant pool.
40052
40053 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
40054 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
40055 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
40056
40057 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
40058 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
40059 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
40060 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
40061 index version:
40062
40063 @table @asis
40064 @item Version 4
40065 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
40066
40067 @item Versions 5 and 6
40068 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
40069 @end table
40070
40071 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
40072
40073 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
40074 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
40075 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
40076 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
40077 collision.
40078
40079 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
40080 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
40081 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
40082 the code.
40083
40084 @item
40085 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
40086 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
40087 strings.
40088
40089 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
40090 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
40091 Each subsequent value is the index of a CU in the CU list. This
40092 element in the hash table is used to indicate which CUs define the
40093 symbol.
40094
40095 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
40096 @end enumerate
40097
40098 @include gpl.texi
40099
40100 @node GNU Free Documentation License
40101 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
40102 @include fdl.texi
40103
40104 @node Index
40105 @unnumbered Index
40106
40107 @printindex cp
40108
40109 @tex
40110 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
40111 % meantime:
40112 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
40113 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
40114 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
40115 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
40116 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
40117 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
40118 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
40119 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
40120 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
40121 \page\colophon
40122 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
40123 @end tex
40124
40125 @bye
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