gdb/doc:
[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 2011, 2012
49 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
50
51 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
52 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
53 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
54 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
55 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
56 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
57
58 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
59 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
60 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
61 @end copying
62
63 @ifnottex
64 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
65
66 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
67 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
68 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
69 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
70 @end ifset
71 Version @value{GDBVN}.
72
73 @insertcopying
74 @end ifnottex
75
76 @titlepage
77 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
78 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
79 @sp 1
80 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
81 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
82 @sp 1
83 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
84 @end ifset
85 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
86 @page
87 @tex
88 {\parskip=0pt
89 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
90 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
91 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
92 }
93 @end tex
94
95 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
96 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
97 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
98 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
99 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
100
101 @insertcopying
102 @end titlepage
103 @page
104
105 @ifnottex
106 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
107
108 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
109
110 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
111
112 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
113 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
114 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
115 @end ifset
116 Version @value{GDBVN}.
117
118 Copyright (C) 1988-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
119
120 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
121 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
122 software in general. We will miss him.
123
124 @menu
125 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
126 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
127
128 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
129 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
130 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
131 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
132 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
133 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
134 * Stack:: Examining the stack
135 * Source:: Examining source files
136 * Data:: Examining data
137 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
138 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
139 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
140 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
141
142 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
143
144 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
145 * Altering:: Altering execution
146 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
147 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
148 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
149 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
150 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
151 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
152 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
153 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
154 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
155 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
156 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
157 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
158 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
159
160 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
161
162 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
163 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
164 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
165 @end ifset
166 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
167 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
168 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
169 @end ifclear
170 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
171 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
172 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
173 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
174 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
175 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
176 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
177 @value{GDBN}
178 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
179 the operating system
180 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
181 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
182 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
183 how you can copy and share GDB
184 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
185 * Index:: Index
186 @end menu
187
188 @end ifnottex
189
190 @contents
191
192 @node Summary
193 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
194
195 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
196 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
197 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
198
199 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
200 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
201
202 @itemize @bullet
203 @item
204 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
205
206 @item
207 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
208
209 @item
210 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
211
212 @item
213 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
214 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
215 @end itemize
216
217 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
218 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
219 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
220
221 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
222 @ref{D,,D}.
223
224 @cindex Modula-2
225 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
226 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
227
228 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
229 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
230
231 @cindex Pascal
232 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
233 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
234 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
235 syntax.
236
237 @cindex Fortran
238 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
239 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
240 underscore.
241
242 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
243 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
244
245 @menu
246 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
247 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
248 @end menu
249
250 @node Free Software
251 @unnumberedsec Free Software
252
253 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
254 General Public License
255 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
256 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
257 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
258 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
259 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
260 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
261
262 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
263 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
264 from anyone else.
265
266 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
267
268 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
269 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
270 include with the free software. Many of our most important
271 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
272 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
273 when an important free software package does not come with a free
274 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
275 gaps today.
276
277 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
278 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
279 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
280 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
281 them from the free software world.
282
283 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
284 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
285 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
286 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
287 contract to make it non-free.
288
289 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
290 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
291 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
292 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
293 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
294 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
295 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
296
297 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
298 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
299 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
300 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
301
302 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
303 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
304 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
305 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
306 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
307 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
308 community.
309
310 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
311 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
312 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
313 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
314 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
315 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
316 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
317 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
318 of the manual.
319
320 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
321 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
322 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
323 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
324 manual to replace it.
325
326 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
327 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
328 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
329 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
330 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
331 the free software community.
332
333 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
334 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
335 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
336 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
337 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
338 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
339 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
340 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
341 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
342
343 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
344 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
345 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
346 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
347 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
348 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
349 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
350 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
351
352 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
353 published by other publishers, at
354 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
355
356 @node Contributors
357 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
358
359 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
360 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
361 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
362 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
363 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
364 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
365 blow-by-blow account.
366
367 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
368
369 @quotation
370 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
371 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
372 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
373 @end quotation
374
375 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
376 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
377 releases:
378 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
379 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
380 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
381 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
382 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
383 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
384 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
385 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
386 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
387
388 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
389 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
390
391 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
392 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
393 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
394 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
395 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
396
397 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
398 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
399 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
400
401 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
402 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
403
404 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
405
406 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
407 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
408 support.
409 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
410 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
411 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
412 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
413 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
414 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
415 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
416 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
417 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
418 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
419 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
420 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
421 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
422 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
423 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
424 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
425
426 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
427
428 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
429 libraries.
430
431 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
432 about several machine instruction sets.
433
434 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
435 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
436 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
437 and RDI targets, respectively.
438
439 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
440 command-line editing and command history.
441
442 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
443 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
444
445 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
446 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
447 symbols.
448
449 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
450 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
451
452 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
453
454 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
455 processors.
456
457 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
458
459 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
460
461 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
462
463 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
464 watchpoints.
465
466 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
467
468 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
469
470 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
471 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
472
473 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
474 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
475 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
476 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
477 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
478 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
479 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
480
481 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
482 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
483
484 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
485 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
486 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
487 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
488 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
489 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
490 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
491 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
492 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
493 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
494 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
495 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
496 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
497 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
498 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
499
500 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
501 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
502
503 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
504 Hat.
505
506 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
507 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
508 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
509 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
510 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
511 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
512
513 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
514 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
515 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
516 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
517 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
518 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
519 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
520 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
521 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
522 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
523 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
524 Weigand.
525
526 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
527 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
528 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
529 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
530
531 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
532 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
533
534 @node Sample Session
535 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
536
537 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
538 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
539 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
540
541 @iftex
542 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
543 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
544 @end iftex
545
546 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
547 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
548
549 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
550 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
551 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
552 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
553 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
554 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
555 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
556 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
557 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
558
559 @smallexample
560 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
561 $ @b{./m4}
562 @b{define(foo,0000)}
563
564 @b{foo}
565 0000
566 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
567
568 @b{bar}
569 0000
570 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
571
572 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
573 @b{baz}
574 @b{Ctrl-d}
575 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
576 @end smallexample
577
578 @noindent
579 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
580
581 @smallexample
582 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
583 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
584 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
585 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
586 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
587 the conditions.
588 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
589 for details.
590
591 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
592 (@value{GDBP})
593 @end smallexample
594
595 @noindent
596 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
597 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
598 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
599 that examples fit in this manual.
600
601 @smallexample
602 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
603 @end smallexample
604
605 @noindent
606 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
607 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
608 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
609 @code{break} command.
610
611 @smallexample
612 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
613 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
614 @end smallexample
615
616 @noindent
617 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
618 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
619 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
620
621 @smallexample
622 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
623 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
624 @b{define(foo,0000)}
625
626 @b{foo}
627 0000
628 @end smallexample
629
630 @noindent
631 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
632 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
633 context where it stops.
634
635 @smallexample
636 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
637
638 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
639 at builtin.c:879
640 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
641 @end smallexample
642
643 @noindent
644 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
645 the next line of the current function.
646
647 @smallexample
648 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
649 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
650 : nil,
651 @end smallexample
652
653 @noindent
654 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
655 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
656 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
657 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
658
659 @smallexample
660 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
661 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
662 at input.c:530
663 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
664 @end smallexample
665
666 @noindent
667 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
668 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
669 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
670 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
671 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
672 stack frame for each active subroutine.
673
674 @smallexample
675 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
676 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
677 at input.c:530
678 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
679 at builtin.c:882
680 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
681 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
682 at macro.c:71
683 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
684 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
685 @end smallexample
686
687 @noindent
688 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
689 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
690 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
691
692 @smallexample
693 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
694 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
695 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
696 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
697 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
698 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
699 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
700 : xstrdup(rq);
701 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
702 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
703 @end smallexample
704
705 @noindent
706 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
707 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
708 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
709 (@code{print}) to see their values.
710
711 @smallexample
712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
713 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
714 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
715 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
716 @end smallexample
717
718 @noindent
719 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
720 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
721 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
722
723 @smallexample
724 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
725 533 xfree(rquote);
726 534
727 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
728 : xstrdup (lq);
729 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
730 : xstrdup (rq);
731 537
732 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
733 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
734 540 @}
735 541
736 542 void
737 @end smallexample
738
739 @noindent
740 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
741 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
742
743 @smallexample
744 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
745 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
746 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
747 540 @}
748 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
749 $3 = 9
750 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
751 $4 = 7
752 @end smallexample
753
754 @noindent
755 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
756 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
757 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
758 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
759 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
760 assignments.
761
762 @smallexample
763 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
764 $5 = 7
765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
766 $6 = 9
767 @end smallexample
768
769 @noindent
770 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
771 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
772 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
773 example that caused trouble initially:
774
775 @smallexample
776 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
777 Continuing.
778
779 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
780
781 baz
782 0000
783 @end smallexample
784
785 @noindent
786 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
787 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
788 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
789
790 @smallexample
791 @b{Ctrl-d}
792 Program exited normally.
793 @end smallexample
794
795 @noindent
796 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
797 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
798 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
799
800 @smallexample
801 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
802 @end smallexample
803
804 @node Invocation
805 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
806
807 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
808 The essentials are:
809 @itemize @bullet
810 @item
811 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
812 @item
813 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
814 @end itemize
815
816 @menu
817 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
818 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
819 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
820 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
821 @end menu
822
823 @node Invoking GDB
824 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
825
826 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
827 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
828
829 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
830 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
831
832 The command-line options described here are designed
833 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
834 options may effectively be unavailable.
835
836 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
837 specifying an executable program:
838
839 @smallexample
840 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
841 @end smallexample
842
843 @noindent
844 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
845 specified:
846
847 @smallexample
848 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
849 @end smallexample
850
851 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
852 to debug a running process:
853
854 @smallexample
855 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
856 @end smallexample
857
858 @noindent
859 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
860 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
861
862 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
863 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
864 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
865 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
866 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
867
868 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
869 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
870 option processing.
871 @smallexample
872 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
873 @end smallexample
874 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
875 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
876
877 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
878 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
879
880 @smallexample
881 @value{GDBP} -silent
882 @end smallexample
883
884 @noindent
885 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
886 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
887
888 @noindent
889 Type
890
891 @smallexample
892 @value{GDBP} -help
893 @end smallexample
894
895 @noindent
896 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
897 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
898
899 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
900 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
901 @samp{-x} option is used.
902
903
904 @menu
905 * File Options:: Choosing files
906 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
907 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
908 @end menu
909
910 @node File Options
911 @subsection Choosing Files
912
913 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
914 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
915 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
916 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
917 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
918 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
919 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
920 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
921 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
922 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
923 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
924 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
925 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
926
927 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
928 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
929 argument and ignore it.
930
931 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
932 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
933 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
934 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
935 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
936
937 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
938 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
939 @c it.
940
941 @table @code
942 @item -symbols @var{file}
943 @itemx -s @var{file}
944 @cindex @code{--symbols}
945 @cindex @code{-s}
946 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
947
948 @item -exec @var{file}
949 @itemx -e @var{file}
950 @cindex @code{--exec}
951 @cindex @code{-e}
952 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
953 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
954
955 @item -se @var{file}
956 @cindex @code{--se}
957 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
958 file.
959
960 @item -core @var{file}
961 @itemx -c @var{file}
962 @cindex @code{--core}
963 @cindex @code{-c}
964 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
965
966 @item -pid @var{number}
967 @itemx -p @var{number}
968 @cindex @code{--pid}
969 @cindex @code{-p}
970 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
971
972 @item -command @var{file}
973 @itemx -x @var{file}
974 @cindex @code{--command}
975 @cindex @code{-x}
976 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
977 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
978 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
979
980 @item -eval-command @var{command}
981 @itemx -ex @var{command}
982 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
983 @cindex @code{-ex}
984 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
985
986 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
987 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
988
989 @smallexample
990 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
991 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
992 @end smallexample
993
994 @item -init-command @var{file}
995 @itemx -ix @var{file}
996 @cindex @code{--init-command}
997 @cindex @code{-ix}
998 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading gdbinit files or the
999 inferior.
1000 @xref{Startup}.
1001
1002 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1003 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1004 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1005 @cindex @code{-iex}
1006 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading gdbinit files or the
1007 inferior.
1008 @xref{Startup}.
1009
1010 @item -directory @var{directory}
1011 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1012 @cindex @code{--directory}
1013 @cindex @code{-d}
1014 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1015
1016 @item -r
1017 @itemx -readnow
1018 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1019 @cindex @code{-r}
1020 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1021 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1022 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1023
1024 @end table
1025
1026 @node Mode Options
1027 @subsection Choosing Modes
1028
1029 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1030 batch mode or quiet mode.
1031
1032 @table @code
1033 @anchor{-nx}
1034 @item -nx
1035 @itemx -n
1036 @cindex @code{--nx}
1037 @cindex @code{-n}
1038 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1039 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1040 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1041 Files}.
1042
1043 @item -quiet
1044 @itemx -silent
1045 @itemx -q
1046 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1047 @cindex @code{--silent}
1048 @cindex @code{-q}
1049 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1050 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1051
1052 @item -batch
1053 @cindex @code{--batch}
1054 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1055 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1056 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1057 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1058 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1059 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1060 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1061
1062 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1063 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1064 make this more useful, the message
1065
1066 @smallexample
1067 Program exited normally.
1068 @end smallexample
1069
1070 @noindent
1071 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1072 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1073 mode.
1074
1075 @item -batch-silent
1076 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1077 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1078 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1079 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1080 for an interactive session.
1081
1082 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1083 messages, for example.
1084
1085 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1086 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1087
1088 @item -return-child-result
1089 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1090 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1091 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1092
1093 @itemize @bullet
1094 @item
1095 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1096 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1097 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1098 @item
1099 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1100 @item
1101 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1102 the exit code will be -1.
1103 @end itemize
1104
1105 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1106 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1107 interface.
1108
1109 @item -nowindows
1110 @itemx -nw
1111 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1112 @cindex @code{-nw}
1113 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1114 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1115 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1116
1117 @item -windows
1118 @itemx -w
1119 @cindex @code{--windows}
1120 @cindex @code{-w}
1121 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1122 used if possible.
1123
1124 @item -cd @var{directory}
1125 @cindex @code{--cd}
1126 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1127 instead of the current directory.
1128
1129 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1130 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1131 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1132 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1133 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1134
1135 @item -fullname
1136 @itemx -f
1137 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1138 @cindex @code{-f}
1139 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1140 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1141 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1142 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1143 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1144 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1145 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1146 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1147 frame.
1148
1149 @item -epoch
1150 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1151 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1152 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1153 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1154 separate window.
1155
1156 @item -annotate @var{level}
1157 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1158 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1159 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1160 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1161 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1162 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1163 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1164 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1165 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1166
1167 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1168 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1169
1170 @item --args
1171 @cindex @code{--args}
1172 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1173 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1174 This option stops option processing.
1175
1176 @item -baud @var{bps}
1177 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1178 @cindex @code{--baud}
1179 @cindex @code{-b}
1180 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1181 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1182
1183 @item -l @var{timeout}
1184 @cindex @code{-l}
1185 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1186 for remote debugging.
1187
1188 @item -tty @var{device}
1189 @itemx -t @var{device}
1190 @cindex @code{--tty}
1191 @cindex @code{-t}
1192 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1193 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1194
1195 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1196 @item -tui
1197 @cindex @code{--tui}
1198 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1199 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1200 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1201 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1202 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1203 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1204
1205 @c @item -xdb
1206 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1207 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1208 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1209 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1210 @c systems.
1211
1212 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1213 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1214 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1215 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1216 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1217 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1218
1219 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1220 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1221 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1222 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1223 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1224 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1225
1226 @item -write
1227 @cindex @code{--write}
1228 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1229 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1230 (@pxref{Patching}).
1231
1232 @item -statistics
1233 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1234 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1235 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1236
1237 @item -version
1238 @cindex @code{--version}
1239 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1240 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1241
1242 @item -use-deprecated-index-sections
1243 @cindex @code{--use-deprecated-index-sections}
1244 This option causes @value{GDBN} to read and use deprecated
1245 @samp{.gdb_index} sections from symbol files. This can speed up
1246 startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
1247 @xref{Index Section Format}.
1248
1249 @end table
1250
1251 @node Startup
1252 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1253 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1254
1255 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1256
1257 @enumerate
1258 @item
1259 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1260 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1261
1262 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1263 @item
1264 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1265 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1266 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1267 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1268 gets loaded.
1269
1270 @item
1271 @cindex init file
1272 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1273 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1274 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1275 that file.
1276
1277 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1278 @item
1279 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1280 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1281 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1282 that file.
1283
1284 @item
1285 Processes command line options and operands.
1286
1287 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1288 @item
1289 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1290 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1291 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1292 This is only done if the current directory is
1293 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1294 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1295 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1296 @value{GDBN}.
1297
1298 @item
1299 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1300 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1301 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1302 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1303
1304 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1305 you must do something like the following:
1306
1307 @smallexample
1308 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1309 @end smallexample
1310
1311 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1312 off too late.
1313
1314 @item
1315 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1316 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1317 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1318
1319 @item
1320 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1321 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1322 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1323 @end enumerate
1324
1325 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1326 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1327 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1328 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1329 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1330 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1331
1332 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1333 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1334
1335 @cindex init file name
1336 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1337 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1338 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1339 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1340 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1341 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1342 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1343 the file to the standard name.
1344
1345
1346 @node Quitting GDB
1347 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1348 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1349 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1350
1351 @table @code
1352 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1353 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1354 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1355 @itemx q
1356 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1357 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1358 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1359 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1360 error code.
1361 @end table
1362
1363 @cindex interrupt
1364 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1365 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1366 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1367 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1368 until a time when it is safe.
1369
1370 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1371 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1372 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1373
1374 @node Shell Commands
1375 @section Shell Commands
1376
1377 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1378 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1379 just use the @code{shell} command.
1380
1381 @table @code
1382 @kindex shell
1383 @kindex !
1384 @cindex shell escape
1385 @item shell @var{command-string}
1386 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1387 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1388 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1389 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1390 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1391 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1392 @end table
1393
1394 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1395 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1396 @value{GDBN}:
1397
1398 @table @code
1399 @kindex make
1400 @cindex calling make
1401 @item make @var{make-args}
1402 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1403 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1404 @end table
1405
1406 @node Logging Output
1407 @section Logging Output
1408 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1409 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1410
1411 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1412 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1413
1414 @table @code
1415 @kindex set logging
1416 @item set logging on
1417 Enable logging.
1418 @item set logging off
1419 Disable logging.
1420 @cindex logging file name
1421 @item set logging file @var{file}
1422 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1423 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1424 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1425 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1426 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1427 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1428 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1429 @kindex show logging
1430 @item show logging
1431 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1432 @end table
1433
1434 @node Commands
1435 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1436
1437 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1438 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1439 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1440 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1441 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1442
1443 @menu
1444 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1445 * Completion:: Command completion
1446 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1447 @end menu
1448
1449 @node Command Syntax
1450 @section Command Syntax
1451
1452 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1453 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1454 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1455 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1456 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1457 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1458
1459 @cindex abbreviation
1460 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1461 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1462 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1463 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1464 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1465 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1466 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1467
1468 @cindex repeating commands
1469 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1470 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1471 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1472 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1473 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1474 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1475 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1476
1477 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1478 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1479 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1480
1481 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1482 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1483 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1484 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1485 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1486
1487 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1488 @cindex comment
1489 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1490 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1491 Files,,Command Files}).
1492
1493 @cindex repeating command sequences
1494 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1495 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1496 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1497 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1498 for editing.
1499
1500 @node Completion
1501 @section Command Completion
1502
1503 @cindex completion
1504 @cindex word completion
1505 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1506 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1507 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1508 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1509
1510 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1511 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1512 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1513 enter it). For example, if you type
1514
1515 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1516 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1517 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1518 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1519 @smallexample
1520 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1521 @end smallexample
1522
1523 @noindent
1524 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1525 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1526
1527 @smallexample
1528 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1529 @end smallexample
1530
1531 @noindent
1532 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1533 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1534 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1535 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1536 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1537 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1538
1539 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1540 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1541 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1542 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1543 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1544 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1545 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1546 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1547 example:
1548
1549 @smallexample
1550 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1551 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1552 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1553 make_abs_section make_function_type
1554 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1555 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1556 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1557 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1558 @end smallexample
1559
1560 @noindent
1561 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1562 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1563 command.
1564
1565 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1566 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1567 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1568 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1569 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1570
1571 @cindex quotes in commands
1572 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1573 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1574 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1575 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1576 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1577 @value{GDBN} commands.
1578
1579 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1580 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1581 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1582 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1583 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1584 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1585 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1586 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1587 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1588 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1589 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1590
1591 @smallexample
1592 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1593 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1594 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1595 @end smallexample
1596
1597 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1598 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1599 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1600 place:
1601
1602 @smallexample
1603 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1604 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1605 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1606 @end smallexample
1607
1608 @noindent
1609 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1610 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1611 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1612
1613 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1614 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1615 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1616 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1617
1618 @cindex completion of structure field names
1619 @cindex structure field name completion
1620 @cindex completion of union field names
1621 @cindex union field name completion
1622 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1623 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1624 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1625 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1626 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1627 left-hand-side:
1628
1629 @smallexample
1630 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1631 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1632 to_data to_isatty to_write
1633 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1634 to_flush to_read
1635 @end smallexample
1636
1637 @noindent
1638 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1639 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1640 follows:
1641
1642 @smallexample
1643 struct ui_file
1644 @{
1645 int *magic;
1646 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1647 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1648 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1649 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1650 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1651 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1652 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1653 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1654 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1655 void *to_data;
1656 @}
1657 @end smallexample
1658
1659
1660 @node Help
1661 @section Getting Help
1662 @cindex online documentation
1663 @kindex help
1664
1665 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1666 using the command @code{help}.
1667
1668 @table @code
1669 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1670 @item help
1671 @itemx h
1672 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1673 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1674
1675 @smallexample
1676 (@value{GDBP}) help
1677 List of classes of commands:
1678
1679 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1680 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1681 data -- Examining data
1682 files -- Specifying and examining files
1683 internals -- Maintenance commands
1684 obscure -- Obscure features
1685 running -- Running the program
1686 stack -- Examining the stack
1687 status -- Status inquiries
1688 support -- Support facilities
1689 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1690 stopping the program
1691 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1692
1693 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1694 commands in that class.
1695 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1696 documentation.
1697 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1698 (@value{GDBP})
1699 @end smallexample
1700 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1701
1702 @item help @var{class}
1703 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1704 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1705 help display for the class @code{status}:
1706
1707 @smallexample
1708 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1709 Status inquiries.
1710
1711 List of commands:
1712
1713 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1714 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1715 info -- Generic command for showing things
1716 about the program being debugged
1717 show -- Generic command for showing things
1718 about the debugger
1719
1720 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1721 documentation.
1722 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1723 (@value{GDBP})
1724 @end smallexample
1725
1726 @item help @var{command}
1727 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1728 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1729
1730 @kindex apropos
1731 @item apropos @var{args}
1732 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1733 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1734 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1735
1736 @smallexample
1737 apropos alias
1738 @end smallexample
1739
1740 @noindent
1741 results in:
1742
1743 @smallexample
1744 @c @group
1745 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1746 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1747 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1748 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1749 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1750 @c @end group
1751 @end smallexample
1752
1753 @kindex complete
1754 @item complete @var{args}
1755 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1756 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1757 command you want completed. For example:
1758
1759 @smallexample
1760 complete i
1761 @end smallexample
1762
1763 @noindent results in:
1764
1765 @smallexample
1766 @group
1767 if
1768 ignore
1769 info
1770 inspect
1771 @end group
1772 @end smallexample
1773
1774 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1775 @end table
1776
1777 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1778 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1779 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1780 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1781 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1782 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1783
1784 @c @group
1785 @table @code
1786 @kindex info
1787 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1788 @item info
1789 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1790 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1791 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1792 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1793 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1794 @w{@code{help info}}.
1795
1796 @kindex set
1797 @item set
1798 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1799 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1800 @code{set prompt $}.
1801
1802 @kindex show
1803 @item show
1804 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1805 @value{GDBN} itself.
1806 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1807 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1808 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1809 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1810
1811 @kindex info set
1812 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1813 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1814 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1815 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1816 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1817 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1818 @end table
1819 @c @end group
1820
1821 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1822 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1823
1824 @table @code
1825 @kindex show version
1826 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1827 @item show version
1828 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1829 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1830 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1831 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1832 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1833 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1834 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1835 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1836 @value{GDBN}.
1837
1838 @kindex show copying
1839 @kindex info copying
1840 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1841 @item show copying
1842 @itemx info copying
1843 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1844
1845 @kindex show warranty
1846 @kindex info warranty
1847 @item show warranty
1848 @itemx info warranty
1849 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1850 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1851
1852 @end table
1853
1854 @node Running
1855 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1856
1857 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1858 debugging information when you compile it.
1859
1860 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1861 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1862 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1863 kill a child process.
1864
1865 @menu
1866 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1867 * Starting:: Starting your program
1868 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1869 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1870
1871 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1872 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1873 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1874 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1875
1876 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1877 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1878 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1879 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1880 @end menu
1881
1882 @node Compilation
1883 @section Compiling for Debugging
1884
1885 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1886 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1887 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1888 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1889 and addresses in the executable code.
1890
1891 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1892 the compiler.
1893
1894 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1895 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1896 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1897 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1898 executables containing debugging information.
1899
1900 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1901 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1902 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1903 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1904 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1905
1906 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1907 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1908 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1909
1910 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1911 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1912 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1913 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1914 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1915 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1916
1917 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1918 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1919 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1920
1921 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1922 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1923 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1924 format in @value{GDBN}.
1925
1926 @need 2000
1927 @node Starting
1928 @section Starting your Program
1929 @cindex starting
1930 @cindex running
1931
1932 @table @code
1933 @kindex run
1934 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1935 @item run
1936 @itemx r
1937 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1938 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1939 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1940 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1941 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1942
1943 @end table
1944
1945 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1946 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1947 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1948 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1949 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1950 message like this one:
1951
1952 @smallexample
1953 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1954 Try "help target" or "continue".
1955 @end smallexample
1956
1957 @noindent
1958 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1959 first (@pxref{load}).
1960
1961 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1962 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1963 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1964 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1965 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1966 divided into four categories:
1967
1968 @table @asis
1969 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1970 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1971 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1972 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1973 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1974 the arguments.
1975 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1976 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1977 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1978
1979 @item The @emph{environment.}
1980 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1981 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1982 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1983 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1984
1985 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1986 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1987 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1988 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1989
1990 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1991 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1992 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1993 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1994 set a different device for your program.
1995 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1996
1997 @cindex pipes
1998 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1999 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2000 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2001 wrong program.
2002 @end table
2003
2004 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2005 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2006 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2007 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2008 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2009
2010 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2011 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2012 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2013 your current breakpoints.
2014
2015 @table @code
2016 @kindex start
2017 @item start
2018 @cindex run to main procedure
2019 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2020 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2021 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2022 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2023 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2024 procedure, depending on the language used.
2025
2026 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2027 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2028 the @samp{run} command.
2029
2030 @cindex elaboration phase
2031 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2032 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2033 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2034 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2035 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2036 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2037 will remain to halt execution.
2038
2039 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2040 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2041 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2042 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2043 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2044
2045 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2046 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2047 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2048 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2049 elaboration code before running your program.
2050
2051 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2052 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2053 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2054 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2055 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2056 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2057 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2058 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2059 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2060 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2061 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2062
2063 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2064 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2065 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2066 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2067
2068 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2069 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2070 environment:
2071
2072 @smallexample
2073 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2074 (@value{GDBP}) run
2075 @end smallexample
2076
2077 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2078 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2079
2080 @kindex set disable-randomization
2081 @item set disable-randomization
2082 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2083 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2084 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2085 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2086 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2087
2088 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2089 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2090
2091 @smallexample
2092 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2093 @end smallexample
2094
2095 @item set disable-randomization off
2096 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2097 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2098 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2099 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2100 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2101 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2102
2103 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2104 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2105 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2106 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2107 a code at its expected addresses.
2108
2109 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2110 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2111 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2112 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2113 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2114 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2115 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2116 a randomly chosen address.
2117
2118 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2119 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2120 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2121 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2122 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2123
2124 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2125 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2126
2127 @item show disable-randomization
2128 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2129 the virtual address space of the started program.
2130
2131 @end table
2132
2133 @node Arguments
2134 @section Your Program's Arguments
2135
2136 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2137 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2138 @code{run} command.
2139 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2140 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2141 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2142 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2143 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2144
2145 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2146 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2147 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2148 the program, not by the shell.
2149
2150 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2151 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2152
2153 @table @code
2154 @kindex set args
2155 @item set args
2156 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2157 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2158 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2159 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2160 it again without arguments.
2161
2162 @kindex show args
2163 @item show args
2164 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2165 @end table
2166
2167 @node Environment
2168 @section Your Program's Environment
2169
2170 @cindex environment (of your program)
2171 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2172 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2173 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2174 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2175 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2176 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2177 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2178
2179 @table @code
2180 @kindex path
2181 @item path @var{directory}
2182 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2183 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2184 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2185 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2186 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2187 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2188 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2189
2190 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2191 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2192 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2193 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2194 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2195 @var{directory} to the search path.
2196 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2197 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2198
2199 @kindex show paths
2200 @item show paths
2201 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2202 environment variable).
2203
2204 @kindex show environment
2205 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2206 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2207 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2208 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2209 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2210
2211 @kindex set environment
2212 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2213 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2214 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2215 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2216 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2217 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2218 null value.
2219 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2220 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2221
2222 For example, this command:
2223
2224 @smallexample
2225 set env USER = foo
2226 @end smallexample
2227
2228 @noindent
2229 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2230 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2231 are not actually required.)
2232
2233 @kindex unset environment
2234 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2235 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2236 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2237 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2238 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2239 @end table
2240
2241 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2242 the shell indicated
2243 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2244 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2245 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2246 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2247 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2248 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2249 @file{.profile}.
2250
2251 @node Working Directory
2252 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2253
2254 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2255 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2256 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2257 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2258 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2259 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2260
2261 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2262 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2263 Specify Files}.
2264
2265 @table @code
2266 @kindex cd
2267 @cindex change working directory
2268 @item cd @var{directory}
2269 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2270
2271 @kindex pwd
2272 @item pwd
2273 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2274 @end table
2275
2276 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2277 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2278 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2279 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2280 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2281 current working directory of the debuggee.
2282
2283 @node Input/Output
2284 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2285
2286 @cindex redirection
2287 @cindex i/o
2288 @cindex terminal
2289 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2290 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2291 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2292 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2293 running your program.
2294
2295 @table @code
2296 @kindex info terminal
2297 @item info terminal
2298 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2299 program is using.
2300 @end table
2301
2302 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2303 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2304
2305 @smallexample
2306 run > outfile
2307 @end smallexample
2308
2309 @noindent
2310 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2311
2312 @kindex tty
2313 @cindex controlling terminal
2314 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2315 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2316 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2317 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2318 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2319
2320 @smallexample
2321 tty /dev/ttyb
2322 @end smallexample
2323
2324 @noindent
2325 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2326 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2327 that as their controlling terminal.
2328
2329 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2330 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2331 terminal.
2332
2333 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2334 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2335 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2336 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2337
2338 @cindex inferior tty
2339 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2340 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2341 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2342 program.
2343
2344 @table @code
2345 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2346 @kindex set inferior-tty
2347 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2348
2349 @item show inferior-tty
2350 @kindex show inferior-tty
2351 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2352 @end table
2353
2354 @node Attach
2355 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2356 @kindex attach
2357 @cindex attach
2358
2359 @table @code
2360 @item attach @var{process-id}
2361 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2362 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2363 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2364 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2365 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2366
2367 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2368 executing the command.
2369 @end table
2370
2371 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2372 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2373 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2374 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2375
2376 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2377 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2378 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2379 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2380 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2381 Specify Files}.
2382
2383 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2384 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2385 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2386 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2387 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2388 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2389 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2390
2391 @table @code
2392 @kindex detach
2393 @item detach
2394 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2395 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2396 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2397 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2398 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2399 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2400 executing the command.
2401 @end table
2402
2403 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2404 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2405 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2406 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2407 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2408 Messages}).
2409
2410 @node Kill Process
2411 @section Killing the Child Process
2412
2413 @table @code
2414 @kindex kill
2415 @item kill
2416 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2417 @end table
2418
2419 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2420 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2421 is running.
2422
2423 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2424 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2425 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2426 outside the debugger.
2427
2428 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2429 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2430 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2431 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2432 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2433 breakpoint settings).
2434
2435 @node Inferiors and Programs
2436 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2437
2438 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2439 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2440 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2441 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2442 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2443 from multiple executables.
2444
2445 @cindex inferior
2446 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2447 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2448 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2449 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2450 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2451 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2452 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2453 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2454 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2455 threads running in it.
2456
2457 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2458 inferiors}}:
2459
2460 @table @code
2461 @kindex info inferiors
2462 @item info inferiors
2463 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2464
2465 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2466
2467 @enumerate
2468 @item
2469 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2470
2471 @item
2472 the target system's inferior identifier
2473
2474 @item
2475 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2476
2477 @end enumerate
2478
2479 @noindent
2480 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2481 indicates the current inferior.
2482
2483 For example,
2484 @end table
2485 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2486
2487 @smallexample
2488 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2489 Num Description Executable
2490 2 process 2307 hello
2491 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2492 @end smallexample
2493
2494 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2495
2496 @table @code
2497 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2498 @item inferior @var{infno}
2499 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2500 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2501 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2502 @end table
2503
2504
2505 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2506 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2507 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2508 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2509 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2510 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2511
2512 @table @code
2513 @kindex add-inferior
2514 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2515 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2516 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2517 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2518 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2519 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2520
2521 @kindex clone-inferior
2522 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2523 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2524 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2525 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2526 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2527
2528 @smallexample
2529 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2530 Num Description Executable
2531 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2532 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2533 Added inferior 2.
2534 1 inferiors added.
2535 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2536 Num Description Executable
2537 2 <null> helloworld
2538 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2539 @end smallexample
2540
2541 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2542
2543 @kindex remove-inferiors
2544 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2545 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2546 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2547 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2548
2549 @end table
2550
2551 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2552 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2553 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2554 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2555
2556 @table @code
2557 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2558 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2559 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2560 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2561 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2562 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2563
2564 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2565 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2566 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2567 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2568 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2569 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2570 @end table
2571
2572 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2573 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2574 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2575 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2576
2577
2578 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2579 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2580
2581 @table @code
2582 @kindex set print inferior-events
2583 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2584 @item set print inferior-events
2585 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2586 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2587 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2588 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2589 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2590 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2591
2592 @kindex show print inferior-events
2593 @item show print inferior-events
2594 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2595 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2596 @end table
2597
2598 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2599 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2600 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2601
2602
2603 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2604 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2605 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2606 info program-spaces}} command.
2607
2608 @table @code
2609 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2610 @item maint info program-spaces
2611 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2612 @value{GDBN}.
2613
2614 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2615
2616 @enumerate
2617 @item
2618 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2619
2620 @item
2621 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2622 the @code{file} command.
2623
2624 @end enumerate
2625
2626 @noindent
2627 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2628 indicates the current program space.
2629
2630 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2631 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2632 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2633
2634 @smallexample
2635 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2636 Id Executable
2637 2 goodbye
2638 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2639 * 1 hello
2640 @end smallexample
2641
2642 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2643 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2644 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2645 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2646 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2647
2648 @smallexample
2649 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2650 Id Executable
2651 * 1 vfork-test
2652 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2653 @end smallexample
2654
2655 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2656 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2657 @end table
2658
2659 @node Threads
2660 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2661
2662 @cindex threads of execution
2663 @cindex multiple threads
2664 @cindex switching threads
2665 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2666 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2667 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2668 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2669 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2670 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2671 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2672
2673 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2674 programs:
2675
2676 @itemize @bullet
2677 @item automatic notification of new threads
2678 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2679 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2680 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2681 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2682 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2683 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2684 messages on thread start and exit.
2685 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2686 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2687 isn't compatible with the program.
2688 @end itemize
2689
2690 @quotation
2691 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2692 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2693 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2694 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2695 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2696 like this:
2697
2698 @smallexample
2699 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2700 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2701 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2702 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2703 @end smallexample
2704 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2705 @c doesn't support threads"?
2706 @end quotation
2707
2708 @cindex focus of debugging
2709 @cindex current thread
2710 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2711 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2712 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2713 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2714 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2715
2716 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2717 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2718 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2719 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2720 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2721 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2722 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2723 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2724 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2725 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2726
2727 @smallexample
2728 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2729 @end smallexample
2730
2731 @noindent
2732 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2733 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2734 further qualifier.
2735
2736 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2737 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2738 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2739 @c program?
2740 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2741 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2742 @c threads ab initio?
2743
2744 @cindex thread number
2745 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2746 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2747 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2748
2749 @table @code
2750 @kindex info threads
2751 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2752 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2753 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2754 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2755 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2756
2757 @enumerate
2758 @item
2759 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2760
2761 @item
2762 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2763
2764 @item
2765 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2766 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2767 program itself.
2768
2769 @item
2770 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2771 @end enumerate
2772
2773 @noindent
2774 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2775 indicates the current thread.
2776
2777 For example,
2778 @end table
2779 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2780
2781 @smallexample
2782 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2783 Id Target Id Frame
2784 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2785 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2786 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2787 at threadtest.c:68
2788 @end smallexample
2789
2790 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2791 Solaris-specific command:
2792
2793 @table @code
2794 @item maint info sol-threads
2795 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2796 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2797 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2798 @end table
2799
2800 @table @code
2801 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2802 @item thread @var{threadno}
2803 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2804 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2805 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2806 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2807 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2808
2809 @smallexample
2810 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2811 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2812 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2813 8 printf ("hello\n");
2814 @end smallexample
2815
2816 @noindent
2817 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2818 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2819 threads.
2820
2821 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2822 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2823 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2824 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2825 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2826 information on convenience variables.
2827
2828 @kindex thread apply
2829 @cindex apply command to several threads
2830 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2831 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2832 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2833 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2834 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2835 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2836 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2837 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2838
2839 @kindex thread name
2840 @cindex name a thread
2841 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2842 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2843 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2844 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2845
2846 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2847 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2848 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2849 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2850 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2851
2852 @kindex thread find
2853 @cindex search for a thread
2854 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2855 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2856 matches the supplied regular expression.
2857
2858 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2859 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2860 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2861 is the LWP id.
2862
2863 @smallexample
2864 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2865 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2866 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2867 Id Target Id Frame
2868 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2869 @end smallexample
2870
2871 @kindex set print thread-events
2872 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2873 @item set print thread-events
2874 @itemx set print thread-events on
2875 @itemx set print thread-events off
2876 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2877 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2878 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2879 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2880 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2881
2882 @kindex show print thread-events
2883 @item show print thread-events
2884 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2885 have started and exited.
2886 @end table
2887
2888 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2889 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2890 programs with multiple threads.
2891
2892 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2893 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2894
2895 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2896 @table @code
2897 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2898 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2899 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2900 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2901 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2902 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2903 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2904 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2905 macro.
2906
2907 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2908 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2909 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2910 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2911 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2912 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2913
2914 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2915 refers to the default system directories that are
2916 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2917 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2918 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2919
2920 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2921 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2922 was loaded in the inferior process.
2923
2924 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2925 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2926 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2927 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2928 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2929 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2930 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2931
2932 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2933 only on some platforms.
2934
2935 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2936 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2937 Display current libthread_db search path.
2938
2939 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2940 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2941 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2942 @item set debug libthread-db
2943 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2944 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2945 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2946 @end table
2947
2948 @node Forks
2949 @section Debugging Forks
2950
2951 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2952 @cindex multiple processes
2953 @cindex processes, multiple
2954 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2955 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2956 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2957 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2958 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2959 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2960 will cause it to terminate.
2961
2962 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2963 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2964 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2965 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2966 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2967 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2968 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2969 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2970 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2971 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2972
2973 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2974 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2975 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2976 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2977
2978 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2979 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2980
2981 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2982 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2983
2984 @table @code
2985 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2986 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2987 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2988 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2989 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2990
2991 @table @code
2992 @item parent
2993 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2994 unimpeded. This is the default.
2995
2996 @item child
2997 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2998 unimpeded.
2999
3000 @end table
3001
3002 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3003 @item show follow-fork-mode
3004 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3005 @end table
3006
3007 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3008 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3009 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3010
3011 @table @code
3012 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3013 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3014 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3015 retain debugger control over them both.
3016
3017 @table @code
3018 @item on
3019 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3020 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3021 independently. This is the default.
3022
3023 @item off
3024 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3025 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3026 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3027 is held suspended.
3028
3029 @end table
3030
3031 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3032 @item show detach-on-fork
3033 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3034 @end table
3035
3036 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3037 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3038 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3039 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3040 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3041 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3042
3043 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3044 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3045 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3046 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3047 and Programs}.
3048
3049 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3050 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3051 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3052 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3053 the child process's @code{main}.
3054
3055 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3056 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3057
3058 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3059 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3060 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3061 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3062 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3063 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3064 command.
3065
3066 @table @code
3067 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3068 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3069
3070 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3071 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3072
3073 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3074
3075 @table @code
3076 @item new
3077 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3078 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3079 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3080 original inferior.
3081
3082 For example:
3083
3084 @smallexample
3085 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3086 (gdb) info inferior
3087 Id Description Executable
3088 * 1 <null> prog1
3089 (@value{GDBP}) run
3090 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3091 Program exited normally.
3092 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3093 Id Description Executable
3094 * 2 <null> prog2
3095 1 <null> prog1
3096 @end smallexample
3097
3098 @item same
3099 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3100 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3101 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3102 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3103 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3104
3105 For example:
3106
3107 @smallexample
3108 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3109 Id Description Executable
3110 * 1 <null> prog1
3111 (@value{GDBP}) run
3112 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3113 Program exited normally.
3114 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3115 Id Description Executable
3116 * 1 <null> prog2
3117 @end smallexample
3118
3119 @end table
3120 @end table
3121
3122 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3123 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3124 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3125
3126 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3127 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3128
3129 @cindex checkpoint
3130 @cindex restart
3131 @cindex bookmark
3132 @cindex snapshot of a process
3133 @cindex rewind program state
3134
3135 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3136 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3137 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3138 later.
3139
3140 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3141 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3142 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3143 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3144 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3145
3146 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3147 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3148 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3149 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3150 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3151 start again from there.
3152
3153 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3154 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3155
3156 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3157
3158 @table @code
3159 @kindex checkpoint
3160 @item checkpoint
3161 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3162 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3163 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3164
3165 @kindex info checkpoints
3166 @item info checkpoints
3167 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3168 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3169 listed:
3170
3171 @table @code
3172 @item Checkpoint ID
3173 @item Process ID
3174 @item Code Address
3175 @item Source line, or label
3176 @end table
3177
3178 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3179 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3180 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3181 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3182 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3183 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3184 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3185
3186 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3187 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3188 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3189 the debugger.
3190
3191 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3192 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3193 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3194
3195 @end table
3196
3197 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3198 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3199 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3200 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3201 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3202 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3203 previously read data can be read again.
3204
3205 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3206 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3207 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3208 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3209 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3210 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3211
3212 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3213 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3214 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3215 different execution path this time.
3216
3217 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3218 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3219 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3220 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3221 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3222 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3223 potentially pose a problem.
3224
3225 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3226
3227 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3228 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3229 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3230 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3231 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3232 next.
3233
3234 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3235 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3236 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3237 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3238 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3239
3240 @node Stopping
3241 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3242
3243 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3244 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3245 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3246
3247 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3248 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3249 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3250 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3251 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3252 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3253 explicitly request this information at any time.
3254
3255 @table @code
3256 @kindex info program
3257 @item info program
3258 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3259 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3260 @end table
3261
3262 @menu
3263 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3264 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3265 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3266 Skipping over functions and files
3267 * Signals:: Signals
3268 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3269 @end menu
3270
3271 @node Breakpoints
3272 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3273
3274 @cindex breakpoints
3275 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3276 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3277 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3278 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3279 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3280 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3281 program.
3282
3283 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3284 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3285 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3286 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3287 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3288 call).
3289
3290 @cindex watchpoints
3291 @cindex data breakpoints
3292 @cindex memory tracing
3293 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3294 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3295 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3296 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3297 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3298 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3299 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3300 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3301 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3302 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3303 same commands.
3304
3305 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3306 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3307 Automatic Display}.
3308
3309 @cindex catchpoints
3310 @cindex breakpoint on events
3311 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3312 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3313 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3314 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3315 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3316 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3317 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3318
3319 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3320 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3321 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3322 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3323 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3324 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3325 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3326 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3327 enable it again.
3328
3329 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3330 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3331 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3332 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3333 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3334 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3335 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3336
3337 @menu
3338 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3339 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3340 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3341 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3342 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3343 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3344 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3345 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3346 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3347 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3348 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3349 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3350 @end menu
3351
3352 @node Set Breaks
3353 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3354
3355 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3356 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3357 @c
3358 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3359
3360 @kindex break
3361 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3362 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3363 @cindex latest breakpoint
3364 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3365 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3366 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3367 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3368 convenience variables.
3369
3370 @table @code
3371 @item break @var{location}
3372 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3373 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3374 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3375 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3376 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3377
3378 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3379 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3380 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3381 that situation.
3382
3383 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3384 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3385 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3386
3387 @item break
3388 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3389 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3390 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3391 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3392 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3393 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3394 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3395 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3396 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3397 inside loops.
3398
3399 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3400 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3401 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3402 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3403 existed when your program stopped.
3404
3405 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3406 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3407 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3408 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3409 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3410 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3411 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3412
3413 @kindex tbreak
3414 @item tbreak @var{args}
3415 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3416 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3417 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3418 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3419
3420 @kindex hbreak
3421 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3422 @item hbreak @var{args}
3423 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3424 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3425 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3426 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3427 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3428 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3429 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3430 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3431 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3432 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3433 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3434 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3435 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3436 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3437 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3438 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3439 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3440 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3441
3442 @kindex thbreak
3443 @item thbreak @var{args}
3444 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3445 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3446 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3447 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3448 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3449 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3450 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3451 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3452
3453 @kindex rbreak
3454 @cindex regular expression
3455 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3456 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3457 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3458 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3459 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3460 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3461 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3462 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3463 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3464
3465 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3466 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3467 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3468 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3469 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3470 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3471
3472 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3473 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3474 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3475 classes.
3476
3477 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3478 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3479 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3480
3481 @smallexample
3482 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3483 @end smallexample
3484
3485 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3486 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3487 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3488 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3489 every function in a given file:
3490
3491 @smallexample
3492 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3493 @end smallexample
3494
3495 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3496 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3497
3498 @kindex info breakpoints
3499 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3500 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3501 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3502 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3503 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3504 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3505 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3506
3507 @table @emph
3508 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3509 @item Type
3510 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3511 @item Disposition
3512 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3513 @item Enabled or Disabled
3514 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3515 that are not enabled.
3516 @item Address
3517 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3518 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3519 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3520 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3521 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3522 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3523 @item What
3524 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3525 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3526 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3527 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3528 @end table
3529
3530 @noindent
3531 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3532 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3533 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3534 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3535 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3536 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3537
3538 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3539 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3540 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3541 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3542
3543 @noindent
3544 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3545 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3546 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3547 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3548 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3549
3550 @noindent
3551 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3552 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3553 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3554 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3555 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3556 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3557
3558 @noindent
3559 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3560 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3561
3562 @end table
3563
3564 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3565 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3566 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3567 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3568
3569 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3570 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3571 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3572 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3573
3574 @itemize @bullet
3575 @item
3576 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3577
3578 @item
3579 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3580 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3581
3582 @item
3583 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3584 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3585
3586 @item
3587 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3588 several places where that function is inlined.
3589 @end itemize
3590
3591 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3592 the relevant locations.
3593
3594 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3595 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3596 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3597 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3598 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3599 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3600 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3601
3602 For example:
3603
3604 @smallexample
3605 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3606 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3607 stop only if i==1
3608 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3609 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3610 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3611 @end smallexample
3612
3613 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3614 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3615 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3616 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3617 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3618 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3619 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3620 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3621 that belong to that breakpoint.
3622
3623 @cindex pending breakpoints
3624 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3625 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3626 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3627 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3628 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3629 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3630 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3631 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3632 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3633 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3634 is not yet resolved.
3635
3636 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3637 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3638 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3639 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3640 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3641 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3642
3643 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3644 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3645 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3646 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3647
3648 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3649 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3650 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3651
3652 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3653 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3654 address specification to an address:
3655
3656 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3657 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3658 @table @code
3659 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3660 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3661 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3662
3663 @item set breakpoint pending on
3664 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3665 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3666
3667 @item set breakpoint pending off
3668 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3669 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3670 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3671
3672 @item show breakpoint pending
3673 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3674 @end table
3675
3676 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3677 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3678 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3679
3680 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3681 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3682 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3683 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3684 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3685 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3686 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3687 breakpoints.
3688
3689 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3690
3691 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3692 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3693 @table @code
3694 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3695 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3696 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3697 breakpoint must be used.
3698
3699 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3700 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3701 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3702 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3703 @end table
3704
3705 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3706 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3707 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3708 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3709 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3710 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3711 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3712 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3713 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3714
3715 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3716 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3717 @table @code
3718 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3719 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3720 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3721 removed from the target when it stops.
3722
3723 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3724 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3725 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3726 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3727 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3728
3729 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3730 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3731 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3732 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3733 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3734 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3735 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3736 @end table
3737
3738 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3739 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3740 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3741
3742 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3743 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3744
3745 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3746
3747 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3748 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3749 @table @code
3750 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3751 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3752 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3753 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3754 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3755
3756 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3757 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3758 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3759 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3760 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3761 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3762 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3763 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3764 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3765 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3766 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3767 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3768 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3769
3770 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3771 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3772 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3773 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3774 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3775 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3776 @end table
3777
3778
3779 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3780 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3781 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3782 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3783 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3784 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3785 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3786 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3787
3788
3789 @node Set Watchpoints
3790 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3791
3792 @cindex setting watchpoints
3793 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3794 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3795 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3796 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3797 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3798
3799 @itemize @bullet
3800 @item
3801 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3802
3803 @item
3804 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3805 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3806 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3807
3808 @item
3809 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3810 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3811 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3812 @end itemize
3813
3814 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3815 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3816 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3817 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3818 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3819 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3820 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3821 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3822 the expression changes.
3823
3824 @cindex software watchpoints
3825 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3826 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3827 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3828 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3829 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3830 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3831 culprit.)
3832
3833 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3834 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3835 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3836
3837 @table @code
3838 @kindex watch
3839 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3840 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3841 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3842 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3843 to watch the value of a single variable:
3844
3845 @smallexample
3846 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3847 @end smallexample
3848
3849 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3850 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3851 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3852 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3853 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3854 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3855
3856 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3857 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3858 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3859 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3860 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3861 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3862 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3863 error.
3864
3865 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3866 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3867 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3868 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3869 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3870 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3871 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3872 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3873 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3874 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3875 Examples:
3876
3877 @smallexample
3878 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3879 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3880 @end smallexample
3881
3882 @kindex rwatch
3883 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3884 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3885 by the program.
3886
3887 @kindex awatch
3888 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3889 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3890 or written into by the program.
3891
3892 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3893 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3894 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3895 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3896 @end table
3897
3898 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3899 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3900 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3901 a never-changing value:
3902
3903 @smallexample
3904 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3905 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3906 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3907 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3908 @end smallexample
3909
3910 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3911 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3912 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3913 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3914 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3915 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3916
3917 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3918 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3919 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3920 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3921 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3922 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3923 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3924 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3925
3926 @table @code
3927 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3928 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3929 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3930
3931 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3932 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3933 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3934 @end table
3935
3936 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3937 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3938 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3939
3940 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3941
3942 @smallexample
3943 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3944 @end smallexample
3945
3946 @noindent
3947 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3948
3949 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3950 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3951 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3952 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3953 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3954 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3955 will print a message like this:
3956
3957 @smallexample
3958 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3959 @end smallexample
3960
3961 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3962 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3963 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3964 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3965 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3966 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3967 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3968 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3969
3970 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3971 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3972 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3973 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3974 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3975 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3976
3977 @smallexample
3978 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3979 @end smallexample
3980
3981 @noindent
3982 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3983
3984 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3985 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3986 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3987 expression with separately allocated resources.
3988
3989 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3990 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3991 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3992
3993 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3994 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3995 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3996 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3997 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3998 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3999 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4000 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4001 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4002
4003 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4004 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4005 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4006 watched expression from every thread.
4007
4008 @quotation
4009 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4010 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4011 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4012 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4013 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4014 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4015 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4016 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4017 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4018 @end quotation
4019
4020 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4021
4022 @node Set Catchpoints
4023 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4024 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4025 @cindex exception handlers
4026 @cindex event handling
4027
4028 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4029 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4030 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4031
4032 @table @code
4033 @kindex catch
4034 @item catch @var{event}
4035 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4036 @table @code
4037 @item throw
4038 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4039 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
4040
4041 @item catch
4042 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4043
4044 @item exception
4045 @cindex Ada exception catching
4046 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4047 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4048 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4049 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4050 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4051
4052 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4053 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4054 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4055 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4056 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4057 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4058 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4059 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4060
4061 @item exception unhandled
4062 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4063
4064 @item assert
4065 A failed Ada assertion.
4066
4067 @item exec
4068 @cindex break on fork/exec
4069 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4070 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4071
4072 @item syscall
4073 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4074 @cindex break on a system call.
4075 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4076 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4077 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4078 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4079 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4080 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4081 will be caught.
4082
4083 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4084 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4085 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4086 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4087
4088 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4089 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4090 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4091 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4092
4093 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4094 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4095 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4096 available choices.
4097
4098 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4099 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4100 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4101 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4102 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4103 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4104 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4105 behind the OS upgrades).
4106
4107 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4108 arguments to it:
4109
4110 @smallexample
4111 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4112 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4113 (@value{GDBP}) r
4114 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4115
4116 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4117 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4118 (@value{GDBP}) c
4119 Continuing.
4120
4121 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4122 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4123 (@value{GDBP})
4124 @end smallexample
4125
4126 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4127
4128 @smallexample
4129 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4130 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4131 (@value{GDBP}) r
4132 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4133
4134 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4135 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4136 (@value{GDBP}) c
4137 Continuing.
4138
4139 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4140 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4141 (@value{GDBP})
4142 @end smallexample
4143
4144 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4145 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4146 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4147
4148 @smallexample
4149 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4150 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4151 (@value{GDBP}) r
4152 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4153
4154 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4155 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4156 (@value{GDBP}) c
4157 Continuing.
4158
4159 Program exited normally.
4160 (@value{GDBP})
4161 @end smallexample
4162
4163 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4164 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4165 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4166 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4167
4168 @smallexample
4169 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4170 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4171 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4172 (@value{GDBP})
4173 @end smallexample
4174
4175 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4176 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4177 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4178 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4179 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4180 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4181
4182 @smallexample
4183 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4184 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4185 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4186 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4187 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4188 (@value{GDBP})
4189 @end smallexample
4190
4191 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4192
4193 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4194 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4195
4196 @smallexample
4197 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4198 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4199 @end smallexample
4200
4201 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4202
4203 @item fork
4204 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4205 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4206
4207 @item vfork
4208 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4209 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4210
4211 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4212 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4213 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4214 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4215 matches one of the affected libraries.
4216
4217 @end table
4218
4219 @item tcatch @var{event}
4220 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4221 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4222
4223 @end table
4224
4225 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4226
4227 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4228 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4229
4230 @itemize @bullet
4231 @item
4232 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4233 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4234 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4235 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4236 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4237 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4238 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4239 disabled within interactive calls.
4240
4241 @item
4242 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4243
4244 @item
4245 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4246 @end itemize
4247
4248 @cindex raise exceptions
4249 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4250 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4251 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4252 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4253 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4254 out where the exception was raised.
4255
4256 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4257 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4258 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4259 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4260
4261 @smallexample
4262 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4263 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4264 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4265 @end smallexample
4266
4267 @noindent
4268 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4269 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4270 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4271
4272 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4273 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4274 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4275 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4276 raised.
4277
4278
4279 @node Delete Breaks
4280 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4281
4282 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4283 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4284 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4285 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4286 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4287 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4288
4289 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4290 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4291 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4292 their breakpoint numbers.
4293
4294 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4295 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4296 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4297
4298 @table @code
4299 @kindex clear
4300 @item clear
4301 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4302 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4303 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4304 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4305
4306 @item clear @var{location}
4307 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4308 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4309 most useful ones are listed below:
4310
4311 @table @code
4312 @item clear @var{function}
4313 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4314 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4315
4316 @item clear @var{linenum}
4317 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4318 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4319 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4320 @end table
4321
4322 @cindex delete breakpoints
4323 @kindex delete
4324 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4325 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4326 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4327 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4328 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4329 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4330 @end table
4331
4332 @node Disabling
4333 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4334
4335 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4336 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4337 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4338 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4339 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4340
4341 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4342 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4343 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4344 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4345 do not know which numbers to use.
4346
4347 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4348 affects all of its locations.
4349
4350 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4351 different states of enablement:
4352
4353 @itemize @bullet
4354 @item
4355 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4356 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4357 @item
4358 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4359 @item
4360 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4361 disabled.
4362 @item
4363 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4364 N times, then becomes disabled.
4365 @item
4366 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4367 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4368 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4369 @end itemize
4370
4371 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4372 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4373
4374 @table @code
4375 @kindex disable
4376 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4377 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4378 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4379 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4380 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4381 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4382 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4383
4384 @kindex enable
4385 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4386 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4387 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4388
4389 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4390 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4391 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4392
4393 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4394 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4395 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4396 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4397 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4398 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4399 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4400
4401 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4402 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4403 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4404 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4405 @end table
4406
4407 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4408 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4409 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4410 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4411 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4412 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4413 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4414 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4415 Stepping}.)
4416
4417 @node Conditions
4418 @subsection Break Conditions
4419 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4420 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4421
4422 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4423 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4424 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4425 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4426 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4427 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4428 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4429 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4430
4431 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4432 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4433 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4434 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4435 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4436
4437 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4438 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4439 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4440 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4441 one.
4442
4443 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4444 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4445 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4446 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4447 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4448 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4449 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4450 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4451 conditions for the
4452 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4453 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4454
4455 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4456 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4457 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4458 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4459 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4460 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4461
4462 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4463 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4464 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4465 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4466 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4467
4468 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4469 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4470 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4471 with the @code{condition} command.
4472
4473 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4474 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4475 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4476 catchpoint.
4477
4478 @table @code
4479 @kindex condition
4480 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4481 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4482 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4483 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4484 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4485 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4486 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4487 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4488 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4489 prints an error message:
4490
4491 @smallexample
4492 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4493 @end smallexample
4494
4495 @noindent
4496 @value{GDBN} does
4497 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4498 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4499 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4500
4501 @item condition @var{bnum}
4502 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4503 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4504 @end table
4505
4506 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4507 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4508 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4509 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4510 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4511 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4512 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4513 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4514 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4515 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4516 your program reaches it.
4517
4518 @table @code
4519 @kindex ignore
4520 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4521 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4522 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4523 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4524 takes no action.
4525
4526 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4527 a count of zero.
4528
4529 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4530 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4531 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4532 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4533
4534 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4535 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4536 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4537
4538 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4539 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4540 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4541 Variables}.
4542 @end table
4543
4544 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4545
4546
4547 @node Break Commands
4548 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4549
4550 @cindex breakpoint commands
4551 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4552 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4553 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4554 enable other breakpoints.
4555
4556 @table @code
4557 @kindex commands
4558 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4559 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4560 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4561 @itemx end
4562 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4563 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4564 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4565
4566 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4567 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4568
4569 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4570 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4571 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4572 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4573 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4574 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4575 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4576 Expressions}).
4577 @end table
4578
4579 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4580 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4581
4582 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4583 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4584 that resumes execution.
4585
4586 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4587 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4588 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4589 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4590 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4591
4592 @kindex silent
4593 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4594 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4595 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4596 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4597 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4598 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4599
4600 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4601 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4602 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4603
4604 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4605 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4606
4607 @smallexample
4608 break foo if x>0
4609 commands
4610 silent
4611 printf "x is %d\n",x
4612 cont
4613 end
4614 @end smallexample
4615
4616 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4617 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4618 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4619 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4620 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4621 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4622 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4623
4624 @smallexample
4625 break 403
4626 commands
4627 silent
4628 set x = y + 4
4629 cont
4630 end
4631 @end smallexample
4632
4633 @node Dynamic Printf
4634 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4635
4636 @cindex dynamic printf
4637 @cindex dprintf
4638 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4639 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4640 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4641 having to recompile it.
4642
4643 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4644 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4645 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4646 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4647 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4648 redirects to files and so forth.
4649
4650 @table @code
4651 @kindex dprintf
4652 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4653 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4654 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4655 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4656
4657 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4658 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4659 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4660 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4661 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4662 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4663
4664 @item gdb
4665 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4666 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4667
4668 @item call
4669 @kindex dprintf-style call
4670 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4671 @code{printf}).
4672
4673 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4674 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4675 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4676 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4677 command.
4678
4679 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4680 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4681 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4682 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4683 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4684 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4685
4686 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4687 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4688 you could do the following:
4689
4690 @example
4691 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4692 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4693 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4694 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4695 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4696 (gdb) info break
4697 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4698 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4699 continue
4700 (gdb)
4701 @end example
4702
4703 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4704 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4705 the variable settings.
4706
4707 @end table
4708
4709 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4710 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4711 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4712 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4713 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4714 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4715
4716 @node Save Breakpoints
4717 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4718
4719 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4720 breakpoints}} command.
4721
4722 @table @code
4723 @kindex save breakpoints
4724 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4725 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4726 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4727 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4728 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4729 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4730 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4731 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4732 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4733 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4734 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4735 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4736 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4737 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4738 that can no longer be recreated.
4739 @end table
4740
4741 @node Static Probe Points
4742 @subsection Static Probe Points
4743
4744 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4745 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4746 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4747 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4748 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4749 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4750 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4751
4752 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4753 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4754 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4755 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4756 in your applications.
4757
4758 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4759 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4760 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4761 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4762 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4763 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4764 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4765 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4766
4767 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4768 probes}, with optional arguments:
4769
4770 @table @code
4771 @kindex info probes
4772 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4773 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4774 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4775 probes from all providers are listed.
4776
4777 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4778 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4779 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4780
4781 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4782 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4783 given, all object files are considered.
4784
4785 @item info probes all
4786 List the available static probes, from all types.
4787 @end table
4788
4789 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4790 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4791 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4792 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4793 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4794 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4795 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4796 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4797 at the current probe point.
4798
4799 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4800 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4801 an error message.
4802
4803
4804 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4805 @node Error in Breakpoints
4806 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4807
4808 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4809 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4810
4811 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4812 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4813 @smallexample
4814 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4815 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4816 @end smallexample
4817
4818 @noindent
4819 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4820 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4821 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4822
4823 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4824 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4825
4826 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4827 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4828 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4829
4830 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4831 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4832 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4833 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4834
4835 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4836 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4837 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4838 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4839 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4840 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4841 first in the bundle.
4842
4843 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4844 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4845 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4846 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4847 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4848 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4849 is hit.
4850
4851 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4852 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4853
4854 @smallexample
4855 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4856 @end smallexample
4857
4858 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4859 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4860 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4861 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4862 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4863 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4864 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4865 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4866
4867 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4868 adjusted breakpoints:
4869
4870 @smallexample
4871 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4872 to 0x00010410.
4873 @end smallexample
4874
4875 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4876 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4877 frequently than expected.
4878
4879 @node Continuing and Stepping
4880 @section Continuing and Stepping
4881
4882 @cindex stepping
4883 @cindex continuing
4884 @cindex resuming execution
4885 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4886 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4887 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4888 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4889 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4890 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4891 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4892 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4893
4894 @table @code
4895 @kindex continue
4896 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4897 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4898 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4899 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4900 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4901 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4902 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4903 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4904 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4905 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4906
4907 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4908 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4909 @code{continue} is ignored.
4910
4911 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4912 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4913 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4914 @code{continue}.
4915 @end table
4916
4917 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4918 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4919 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4920 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4921
4922 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4923 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4924 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4925 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4926 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4927 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4928
4929 @table @code
4930 @kindex step
4931 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4932 @item step
4933 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4934 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4935 abbreviated @code{s}.
4936
4937 @quotation
4938 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4939 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4940 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4941 @c distinction here.
4942 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4943 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4944 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4945 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4946 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4947 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4948 below.
4949 @end quotation
4950
4951 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4952 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4953 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4954 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4955 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4956 called within the line.
4957
4958 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4959 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4960 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4961 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4962 was any debugging information about the routine.
4963
4964 @item step @var{count}
4965 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4966 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4967 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4968
4969 @kindex next
4970 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4971 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4972 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4973 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4974 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4975 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4976 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4977 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4978
4979 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4980
4981
4982 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4983 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4984 @c
4985 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4986 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4987 @c function are executed without stopping.
4988
4989 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4990 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4991 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4992
4993 @kindex set step-mode
4994 @item set step-mode
4995 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4996 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4997 @itemx set step-mode on
4998 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4999 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5000 information rather than stepping over it.
5001
5002 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5003 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5004 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5005
5006 @item set step-mode off
5007 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5008 debug information. This is the default.
5009
5010 @item show step-mode
5011 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5012 source line debug information.
5013
5014 @kindex finish
5015 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5016 @item finish
5017 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5018 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5019 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5020
5021 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5022 ,Returning from a Function}).
5023
5024 @kindex until
5025 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5026 @cindex run until specified location
5027 @item until
5028 @itemx u
5029 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5030 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5031 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5032 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5033 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5034 than the address of the jump.
5035
5036 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5037 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5038 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5039 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5040 through the next iteration.
5041
5042 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5043 stack frame.
5044
5045 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5046 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5047 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5048 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5049 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5050
5051 @smallexample
5052 (@value{GDBP}) f
5053 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5054 206 expand_input();
5055 (@value{GDBP}) until
5056 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5057 @end smallexample
5058
5059 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5060 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5061 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5062 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5063 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5064 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5065 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5066
5067 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5068 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5069 argument.
5070
5071 @item until @var{location}
5072 @itemx u @var{location}
5073 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5074 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5075 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5076 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5077 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5078 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5079 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5080 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5081 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5082 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5083 invocations have returned.
5084
5085 @smallexample
5086 94 int factorial (int value)
5087 95 @{
5088 96 if (value > 1) @{
5089 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5090 98 @}
5091 99 return (value);
5092 100 @}
5093 @end smallexample
5094
5095
5096 @kindex advance @var{location}
5097 @itemx advance @var{location}
5098 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5099 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5100 @ref{Specify Location}.
5101 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5102 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5103 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5104 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5105
5106
5107 @kindex stepi
5108 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5109 @item stepi
5110 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5111 @itemx si
5112 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5113
5114 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5115 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5116 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5117 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5118
5119 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5120
5121 @need 750
5122 @kindex nexti
5123 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5124 @item nexti
5125 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5126 @itemx ni
5127 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5128 proceed until the function returns.
5129
5130 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5131 @end table
5132
5133 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5134 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5135 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5136
5137 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5138 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5139 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5140
5141 For example, consider the following C function:
5142
5143 @smallexample
5144 101 int func()
5145 102 @{
5146 103 foo(boring());
5147 104 bar(boring());
5148 105 @}
5149 @end smallexample
5150
5151 @noindent
5152 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5153 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5154 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5155 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5156
5157 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5158 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5159 is called from many places.
5160
5161 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5162 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5163 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5164 @code{foo}.
5165
5166 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5167 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5168
5169 @table @code
5170 @kindex skip function
5171 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5172 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5173 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5174 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5175 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5176
5177 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5178 will be skipped.
5179
5180 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5181 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5182
5183 @kindex skip file
5184 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5185 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5186 will be skipped over when stepping.
5187
5188 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5189 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5190 @end table
5191
5192 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5193 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5194
5195 @table @code
5196 @kindex info skip
5197 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5198 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5199 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5200 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5201
5202 @table @emph
5203 @item Identifier
5204 A number identifying this skip.
5205 @item Type
5206 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5207 @item Enabled or Disabled
5208 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5209 @item Address
5210 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5211 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5212 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5213 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5214 address here.
5215 @item What
5216 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5217 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5218 where it is defined.
5219 @end table
5220
5221 @kindex skip delete
5222 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5223 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5224 skips.
5225
5226 @kindex skip enable
5227 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5228 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5229 skips.
5230
5231 @kindex skip disable
5232 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5233 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5234 skips.
5235
5236 @end table
5237
5238 @node Signals
5239 @section Signals
5240 @cindex signals
5241
5242 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5243 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5244 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5245 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5246 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5247 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5248 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5249 requested an alarm).
5250
5251 @cindex fatal signals
5252 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5253 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5254 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5255 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5256 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5257 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5258
5259 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5260 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5261 signal.
5262
5263 @cindex handling signals
5264 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5265 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5266 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5267 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5268 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5269
5270 @table @code
5271 @kindex info signals
5272 @kindex info handle
5273 @item info signals
5274 @itemx info handle
5275 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5276 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5277 the defined types of signals.
5278
5279 @item info signals @var{sig}
5280 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5281
5282 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5283
5284 @kindex handle
5285 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5286 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5287 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5288 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5289 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5290 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5291 say what change to make.
5292 @end table
5293
5294 @c @group
5295 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5296 Their full names are:
5297
5298 @table @code
5299 @item nostop
5300 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5301 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5302
5303 @item stop
5304 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5305 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5306
5307 @item print
5308 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5309
5310 @item noprint
5311 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5312 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5313
5314 @item pass
5315 @itemx noignore
5316 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5317 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5318 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5319
5320 @item nopass
5321 @itemx ignore
5322 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5323 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5324 @end table
5325 @c @end group
5326
5327 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5328 program until you
5329 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5330 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5331 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5332 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5333 program sees that signal when you continue.
5334
5335 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5336 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5337 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5338 erroneous signals.
5339
5340 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5341 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5342 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5343 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5344 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5345 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5346 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5347 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5348 Program a Signal}.
5349
5350 @cindex extra signal information
5351 @anchor{extra signal information}
5352
5353 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5354 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5355 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5356 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5357 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5358 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5359 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5360 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5361 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5362 system header.
5363
5364 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5365 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5366
5367 @smallexample
5368 @group
5369 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5370 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5371 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5372 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5373 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5374 type = struct @{
5375 int si_signo;
5376 int si_errno;
5377 int si_code;
5378 union @{
5379 int _pad[28];
5380 struct @{...@} _kill;
5381 struct @{...@} _timer;
5382 struct @{...@} _rt;
5383 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5384 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5385 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5386 @} _sifields;
5387 @}
5388 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5389 type = struct @{
5390 void *si_addr;
5391 @}
5392 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5393 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5394 @end group
5395 @end smallexample
5396
5397 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5398
5399 @node Thread Stops
5400 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5401
5402 @cindex stopped threads
5403 @cindex threads, stopped
5404
5405 @cindex continuing threads
5406 @cindex threads, continuing
5407
5408 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5409 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5410 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5411 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5412 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5413 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5414 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5415 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5416 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5417
5418 @menu
5419 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5420 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5421 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5422 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5423 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5424 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5425 @end menu
5426
5427 @node All-Stop Mode
5428 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5429
5430 @cindex all-stop mode
5431
5432 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5433 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5434 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5435 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5436 underfoot.
5437
5438 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5439 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5440 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5441
5442 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5443 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5444 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5445 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5446 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5447 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5448 stops.
5449
5450 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5451 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5452 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5453 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5454
5455 @cindex automatic thread selection
5456 @cindex switching threads automatically
5457 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5458 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5459 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5460 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5461 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5462 thread.
5463
5464 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5465 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5466
5467 @table @code
5468 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5469 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5470 @cindex lock scheduler
5471 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5472 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5473 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5474 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5475 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5476 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5477 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5478 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5479 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5480 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5481 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5482 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5483
5484 @item show scheduler-locking
5485 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5486 @end table
5487
5488 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5489 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5490 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5491 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5492 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5493 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5494 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5495 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5496 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5497 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5498 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5499 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5500 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5501 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5502
5503 @table @code
5504 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5505 @item set schedule-multiple
5506 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5507 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5508 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5509 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5510 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5511 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5512
5513 @item show schedule-multiple
5514 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5515 multiple processes.
5516 @end table
5517
5518 @node Non-Stop Mode
5519 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5520
5521 @cindex non-stop mode
5522
5523 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5524 @c with more details.
5525
5526 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5527 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5528 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5529 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5530 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5531 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5532
5533 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5534 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5535 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5536 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5537 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5538 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5539 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5540 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5541 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5542 independently and simultaneously.
5543
5544 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5545 or attach to your program:
5546
5547 @smallexample
5548 # Enable the async interface.
5549 set target-async 1
5550
5551 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5552 set pagination off
5553
5554 # Finally, turn it on!
5555 set non-stop on
5556 @end smallexample
5557
5558 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5559
5560 @table @code
5561 @kindex set non-stop
5562 @item set non-stop on
5563 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5564 @item set non-stop off
5565 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5566 @kindex show non-stop
5567 @item show non-stop
5568 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5569 @end table
5570
5571 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5572 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5573 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5574 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5575 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5576 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5577 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5578 default.
5579
5580 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5581 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5582 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5583
5584 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5585 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5586 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5587 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5588 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5589
5590 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5591 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5592 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5593 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5594 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5595
5596 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5597
5598 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5599 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5600 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5601 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5602 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5603 previously current thread.
5604
5605 @node Background Execution
5606 @subsection Background Execution
5607
5608 @cindex foreground execution
5609 @cindex background execution
5610 @cindex asynchronous execution
5611 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5612
5613 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5614 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5615 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5616 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5617 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5618 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5619
5620 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5621 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5622 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5623
5624 @table @code
5625 @kindex set target-async
5626 @item set target-async on
5627 Enable asynchronous mode.
5628 @item set target-async off
5629 Disable asynchronous mode.
5630 @kindex show target-async
5631 @item show target-async
5632 Show the current target-async setting.
5633 @end table
5634
5635 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5636 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5637
5638 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5639 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5640 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5641 are:
5642
5643 @table @code
5644 @kindex run&
5645 @item run
5646 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5647
5648 @item attach
5649 @kindex attach&
5650 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5651
5652 @item step
5653 @kindex step&
5654 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5655
5656 @item stepi
5657 @kindex stepi&
5658 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5659
5660 @item next
5661 @kindex next&
5662 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5663
5664 @item nexti
5665 @kindex nexti&
5666 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5667
5668 @item continue
5669 @kindex continue&
5670 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5671
5672 @item finish
5673 @kindex finish&
5674 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5675
5676 @item until
5677 @kindex until&
5678 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5679
5680 @end table
5681
5682 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5683 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5684 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5685 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5686 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5687 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5688
5689 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5690 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5691
5692 @table @code
5693 @kindex interrupt
5694 @item interrupt
5695 @itemx interrupt -a
5696
5697 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5698 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5699 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5700 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5701 @end table
5702
5703 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5704 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5705
5706 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5707 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5708 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5709
5710 @table @code
5711 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5712 @cindex thread breakpoints
5713 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5714 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5715 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5716 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5717 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5718 specify some source line.
5719
5720 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5721 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5722 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5723 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5724 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5725
5726 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5727 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5728 program.
5729
5730 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5731 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5732 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5733
5734 @smallexample
5735 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5736 @end smallexample
5737
5738 @end table
5739
5740 @node Interrupted System Calls
5741 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5742
5743 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5744 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5745 @cindex premature return from system calls
5746 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5747 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5748 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5749 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5750 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5751 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5752 stop execution.
5753
5754 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5755 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5756 style anyways.
5757
5758 For example, do not write code like this:
5759
5760 @smallexample
5761 sleep (10);
5762 @end smallexample
5763
5764 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5765 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5766
5767 Instead, write this:
5768
5769 @smallexample
5770 int unslept = 10;
5771 while (unslept > 0)
5772 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5773 @end smallexample
5774
5775 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5776 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5777 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5778 @value{GDBN}.
5779
5780 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5781 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5782 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5783 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5784
5785 @node Observer Mode
5786 @subsection Observer Mode
5787
5788 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5789 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5790 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5791 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5792 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5793
5794 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5795 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5796 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5797 mode.
5798
5799 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5800 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5801 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5802 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5803 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5804
5805 @table @code
5806
5807 @kindex observer
5808 @item set observer on
5809 @itemx set observer off
5810 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5811 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5812 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5813 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5814
5815 @item show observer
5816 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5817
5818 @kindex may-write-registers
5819 @item set may-write-registers on
5820 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5821 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5822 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5823 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5824
5825 @item show may-write-registers
5826 Show the current permission to write registers.
5827
5828 @kindex may-write-memory
5829 @item set may-write-memory on
5830 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5831 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5832 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5833 defaults to @code{on}.
5834
5835 @item show may-write-memory
5836 Show the current permission to write memory.
5837
5838 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5839 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5840 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5841 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5842 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5843 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5844
5845 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5846 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5847
5848 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5849 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5850 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5851 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5852 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5853 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5854 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5855
5856 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5857 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5858
5859 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5860 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5861 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5862 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5863 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5864 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5865 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5866
5867 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5868 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5869
5870 @kindex may-interrupt
5871 @item set may-interrupt on
5872 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5873 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5874 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5875 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5876 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5877
5878 @item show may-interrupt
5879 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5880
5881 @end table
5882
5883 @node Reverse Execution
5884 @chapter Running programs backward
5885 @cindex reverse execution
5886 @cindex running programs backward
5887
5888 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5889 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5890 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5891 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5892
5893 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5894 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5895 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5896 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5897 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5898 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5899
5900 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5901 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5902 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5903 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5904 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5905 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5906 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5907 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5908 prior values@footnote{
5909 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5910 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5911 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5912
5913 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5914 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5915 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5916 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5917 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5918 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5919 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5920 }.
5921
5922 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5923 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5924
5925 @table @code
5926 @kindex reverse-continue
5927 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5928 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5929 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5930 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5931 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5932 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5933 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5934
5935 @kindex reverse-step
5936 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5937 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5938 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5939 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5940
5941 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5942 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5943 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5944 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5945 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5946 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5947
5948 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5949 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5950
5951 @kindex reverse-stepi
5952 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5953 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5954 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5955 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5956 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5957 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5958 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5959
5960 @kindex reverse-next
5961 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5962 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5963 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5964 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5965 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5966 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5967 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5968 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5969 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5970 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5971
5972 @kindex reverse-nexti
5973 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5974 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5975 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5976 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5977 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5978 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5979 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5980 frame) is reached.
5981
5982 @kindex reverse-finish
5983 @item reverse-finish
5984 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5985 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5986 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5987 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5988
5989 @kindex set exec-direction
5990 @item set exec-direction
5991 Set the direction of target execution.
5992 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5993 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5994 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5995 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5996 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5997 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5998 @item set exec-direction forward
5999 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6000 This is the default.
6001 @end table
6002
6003
6004 @node Process Record and Replay
6005 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6006 @cindex process record and replay
6007 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6008
6009 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6010 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6011 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6012
6013 @cindex replay mode
6014 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6015 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6016 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6017 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6018 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6019 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6020 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6021 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6022 execution log.
6023
6024 @cindex record mode
6025 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6026 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6027 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6028 for future replay.
6029
6030 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6031 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6032 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6033 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6034 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6035 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6036
6037 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6038 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6039 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6040 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6041
6042 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6043 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6044
6045 @table @code
6046 @kindex target record
6047 @kindex record
6048 @kindex rec
6049 @item target record
6050 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
6051 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
6052 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
6053 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
6054 the @kbd{target record} command.
6055
6056 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
6057
6058 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6059 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6060 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6061 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6062 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6063
6064 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6065 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6066 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6067 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
6068 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
6069 support these two modes.
6070
6071 @kindex record stop
6072 @kindex rec s
6073 @item record stop
6074 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6075 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6076 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6077
6078 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6079 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6080 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6081 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6082 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6083
6084 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6085 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6086 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6087 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6088 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6089
6090 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6091 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6092
6093 @kindex record save
6094 @item record save @var{filename}
6095 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6096 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6097 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6098
6099 @kindex record restore
6100 @item record restore @var{filename}
6101 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6102 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6103
6104 @kindex set record insn-number-max
6105 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
6106 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
6107
6108 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6109 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6110 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6111 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6112 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6113 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6114 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6115 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6116
6117 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
6118 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
6119 instructions is unlimited in this case.
6120
6121 @kindex show record insn-number-max
6122 @item show record insn-number-max
6123 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
6124
6125 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
6126 @item set record stop-at-limit
6127 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
6128 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
6129 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
6130 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
6131 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
6132 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
6133
6134 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6135 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6136
6137 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
6138 @item show record stop-at-limit
6139 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6140
6141 @kindex set record memory-query
6142 @item set record memory-query
6143 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6144 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
6145 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
6146
6147 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6148 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6149 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6150 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6151 results.
6152
6153 @kindex show record memory-query
6154 @item show record memory-query
6155 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6156
6157 @kindex info record
6158 @item info record
6159 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
6160 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6161
6162 @itemize @bullet
6163 @item
6164 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6165 @item
6166 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6167 @item
6168 Highest recorded instruction number.
6169 @item
6170 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6171 @item
6172 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6173 @item
6174 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6175 @end itemize
6176
6177 @kindex record delete
6178 @kindex rec del
6179 @item record delete
6180 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6181 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6182 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6183 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6184 @end table
6185
6186
6187 @node Stack
6188 @chapter Examining the Stack
6189
6190 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6191 stopped and how it got there.
6192
6193 @cindex call stack
6194 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6195 is generated.
6196 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6197 the arguments of the call,
6198 and the local variables of the function being called.
6199 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6200 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6201 stack}.
6202
6203 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6204 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6205
6206 @cindex selected frame
6207 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6208 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6209 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6210 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6211 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6212 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6213
6214 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6215 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6216 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6217
6218 @menu
6219 * Frames:: Stack frames
6220 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6221 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6222 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6223
6224 @end menu
6225
6226 @node Frames
6227 @section Stack Frames
6228
6229 @cindex frame, definition
6230 @cindex stack frame
6231 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6232 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6233 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6234 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6235 which the function is executing.
6236
6237 @cindex initial frame
6238 @cindex outermost frame
6239 @cindex innermost frame
6240 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6241 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6242 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6243 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6244 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6245 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6246 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6247 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6248
6249 @cindex frame pointer
6250 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6251 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6252 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6253 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6254 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6255 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6256
6257 @cindex frame number
6258 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6259 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6260 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6261 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6262 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6263
6264 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6265 @c underflow problems.
6266 @cindex frameless execution
6267 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6268 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6269 @smallexample
6270 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6271 @end smallexample
6272 generates functions without a frame.)
6273 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6274 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6275 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6276 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6277 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6278 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6279 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6280
6281 @table @code
6282 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6283 @cindex current stack frame
6284 @item frame @var{args}
6285 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6286 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6287 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6288 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6289
6290 @kindex select-frame
6291 @cindex selecting frame silently
6292 @item select-frame
6293 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6294 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6295 @code{frame}.
6296 @end table
6297
6298 @node Backtrace
6299 @section Backtraces
6300
6301 @cindex traceback
6302 @cindex call stack traces
6303 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6304 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6305 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6306 stack.
6307
6308 @table @code
6309 @kindex backtrace
6310 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6311 @item backtrace
6312 @itemx bt
6313 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6314 frames in the stack.
6315
6316 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6317 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6318
6319 @item backtrace @var{n}
6320 @itemx bt @var{n}
6321 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6322
6323 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6324 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6325 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6326
6327 @item backtrace full
6328 @itemx bt full
6329 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6330 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6331 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6332 number of frames to print, as described above.
6333 @end table
6334
6335 @kindex where
6336 @kindex info stack
6337 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6338 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6339
6340 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6341 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6342 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6343 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6344 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6345 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6346 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6347 multi-threaded program.
6348
6349 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6350 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6351 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6352 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6353 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6354 line number.
6355
6356 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6357 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6358
6359 @smallexample
6360 @group
6361 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6362 at builtin.c:993
6363 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6364 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6365 at macro.c:71
6366 (More stack frames follow...)
6367 @end group
6368 @end smallexample
6369
6370 @noindent
6371 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6372 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6373 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6374
6375 @noindent
6376 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6377 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6378 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6379 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6380 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6381
6382 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6383 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6384 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6385 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6386 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6387 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6388 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6389 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6390 such a backtrace might look like:
6391
6392 @smallexample
6393 @group
6394 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6395 at builtin.c:993
6396 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6397 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6398 at macro.c:71
6399 (More stack frames follow...)
6400 @end group
6401 @end smallexample
6402
6403 @noindent
6404 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6405 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6406
6407 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6408 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6409 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6410
6411 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6412 @cindex program entry point
6413 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6414 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6415 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6416 @code{main}@footnote{
6417 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6418 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6419 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6420 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6421 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6422 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6423
6424 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6425 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6426
6427 @table @code
6428 @item set backtrace past-main
6429 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6430 @kindex set backtrace
6431 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6432
6433 @item set backtrace past-main off
6434 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6435 default.
6436
6437 @item show backtrace past-main
6438 @kindex show backtrace
6439 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6440
6441 @item set backtrace past-entry
6442 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6443 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6444 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6445 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6446
6447 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6448 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6449 application. This is the default.
6450
6451 @item show backtrace past-entry
6452 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6453
6454 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6455 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6456 @cindex backtrace limit
6457 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6458 unlimited.
6459
6460 @item show backtrace limit
6461 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6462 @end table
6463
6464 @node Selection
6465 @section Selecting a Frame
6466
6467 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6468 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6469 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6470 of the stack frame just selected.
6471
6472 @table @code
6473 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6474 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6475 @item frame @var{n}
6476 @itemx f @var{n}
6477 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6478 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6479 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6480 @code{main}.
6481
6482 @item frame @var{addr}
6483 @itemx f @var{addr}
6484 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6485 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6486 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6487 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6488 switches between them.
6489
6490 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6491 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6492
6493 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6494 pointer and a program counter.
6495
6496 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6497 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6498
6499 @kindex up
6500 @item up @var{n}
6501 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6502 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6503 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6504
6505 @kindex down
6506 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6507 @item down @var{n}
6508 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6509 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6510 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6511 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6512 @end table
6513
6514 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6515 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6516 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6517 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6518
6519 @need 1000
6520 For example:
6521
6522 @smallexample
6523 @group
6524 (@value{GDBP}) up
6525 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6526 at env.c:10
6527 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6528 @end group
6529 @end smallexample
6530
6531 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6532 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6533 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6534 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6535 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6536 for details.
6537
6538 @table @code
6539 @kindex down-silently
6540 @kindex up-silently
6541 @item up-silently @var{n}
6542 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6543 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6544 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6545 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6546 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6547 distracting.
6548 @end table
6549
6550 @node Frame Info
6551 @section Information About a Frame
6552
6553 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6554 stack frame.
6555
6556 @table @code
6557 @item frame
6558 @itemx f
6559 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6560 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6561 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6562 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6563 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6564
6565 @kindex info frame
6566 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6567 @item info frame
6568 @itemx info f
6569 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6570 including:
6571
6572 @itemize @bullet
6573 @item
6574 the address of the frame
6575 @item
6576 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6577 @item
6578 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6579 @item
6580 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6581 @item
6582 the address of the frame's arguments
6583 @item
6584 the address of the frame's local variables
6585 @item
6586 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6587 @item
6588 which registers were saved in the frame
6589 @end itemize
6590
6591 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6592 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6593 the usual conventions.
6594
6595 @item info frame @var{addr}
6596 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6597 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6598 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6599 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6600 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6601 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6602
6603 @kindex info args
6604 @item info args
6605 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6606
6607 @item info locals
6608 @kindex info locals
6609 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6610 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6611 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6612
6613 @end table
6614
6615
6616 @node Source
6617 @chapter Examining Source Files
6618
6619 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6620 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6621 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6622 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6623 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6624 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6625 source files by explicit command.
6626
6627 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6628 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6629 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6630
6631 @menu
6632 * List:: Printing source lines
6633 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6634 * Edit:: Editing source files
6635 * Search:: Searching source files
6636 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6637 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6638 @end menu
6639
6640 @node List
6641 @section Printing Source Lines
6642
6643 @kindex list
6644 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6645 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6646 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6647 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6648 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6649
6650 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6651
6652 @table @code
6653 @item list @var{linenum}
6654 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6655 current source file.
6656
6657 @item list @var{function}
6658 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6659 @var{function}.
6660
6661 @item list
6662 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6663 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6664 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6665 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6666 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6667
6668 @item list -
6669 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6670 @end table
6671
6672 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6673 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6674 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6675
6676 @table @code
6677 @kindex set listsize
6678 @item set listsize @var{count}
6679 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6680 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6681
6682 @kindex show listsize
6683 @item show listsize
6684 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6685 @end table
6686
6687 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6688 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6689 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6690 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6691 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6692
6693 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6694 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6695 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6696 to specify some source line.
6697
6698 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6699
6700 @table @code
6701 @item list @var{linespec}
6702 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6703
6704 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6705 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6706 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6707 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6708 the same source file as the first linespec.
6709
6710 @item list ,@var{last}
6711 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6712
6713 @item list @var{first},
6714 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6715
6716 @item list +
6717 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6718
6719 @item list -
6720 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6721
6722 @item list
6723 As described in the preceding table.
6724 @end table
6725
6726 @node Specify Location
6727 @section Specifying a Location
6728 @cindex specifying location
6729 @cindex linespec
6730
6731 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6732 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6733 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6734 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6735
6736 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6737 @value{GDBN} understands:
6738
6739 @table @code
6740 @item @var{linenum}
6741 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6742
6743 @item -@var{offset}
6744 @itemx +@var{offset}
6745 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6746 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6747 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6748 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6749 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6750 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6751 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6752 linespec.
6753
6754 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6755 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6756 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
6757 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
6758 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
6759 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
6760 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
6761
6762 @item @var{function}
6763 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6764 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6765
6766 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6767 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6768
6769 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6770 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6771 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6772 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6773 functions in different source files.
6774
6775 @item @var{label}
6776 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6777 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6778 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6779 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6780 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6781
6782 @item *@var{address}
6783 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6784 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6785 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6786 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6787 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6788 source files.
6789
6790 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6791 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6792 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6793 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6794 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6795 of @var{address}:
6796
6797 @table @code
6798 @item @var{expression}
6799 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6800
6801 @item @var{funcaddr}
6802 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6803 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6804 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6805 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6806 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6807 (although the Pascal form also works).
6808
6809 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6810 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6811
6812 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6813 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6814 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6815 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6816 functions with identical names in different source files.
6817 @end table
6818
6819 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
6820 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
6821 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
6822 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
6823 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
6824 specifies the location of such a static probe.
6825
6826 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
6827 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
6828 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
6829 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
6830 each one of those probes.
6831
6832 @end table
6833
6834
6835 @node Edit
6836 @section Editing Source Files
6837 @cindex editing source files
6838
6839 @kindex edit
6840 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6841 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6842 The editing program of your choice
6843 is invoked with the current line set to
6844 the active line in the program.
6845 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6846 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6847
6848 @table @code
6849 @item edit @var{location}
6850 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6851 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6852 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6853 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6854 command most commonly used:
6855
6856 @table @code
6857 @item edit @var{number}
6858 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6859
6860 @item edit @var{function}
6861 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6862 @end table
6863
6864 @end table
6865
6866 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6867 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6868 @footnote{
6869 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6870 following command-line syntax:
6871 @smallexample
6872 ex +@var{number} file
6873 @end smallexample
6874 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6875 the file where to start editing.}.
6876 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6877 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6878 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6879 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6880 @smallexample
6881 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6882 export EDITOR
6883 gdb @dots{}
6884 @end smallexample
6885 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6886 @smallexample
6887 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6888 gdb @dots{}
6889 @end smallexample
6890
6891 @node Search
6892 @section Searching Source Files
6893 @cindex searching source files
6894
6895 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6896 regular expression.
6897
6898 @table @code
6899 @kindex search
6900 @kindex forward-search
6901 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6902 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6903 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6904 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6905 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6906 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6907 @code{fo}.
6908
6909 @kindex reverse-search
6910 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6911 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6912 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6913 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6914 this command as @code{rev}.
6915 @end table
6916
6917 @node Source Path
6918 @section Specifying Source Directories
6919
6920 @cindex source path
6921 @cindex directories for source files
6922 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6923 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6924 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6925 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6926 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6927 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6928 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6929
6930 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6931 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6932 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6933 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6934 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6935 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6936 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6937 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6938 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6939 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6940 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6941
6942 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6943 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6944 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6945 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6946 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6947 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6948
6949 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6950 source files.
6951
6952 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6953 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6954 each line is in the file.
6955
6956 @kindex directory
6957 @kindex dir
6958 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6959 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6960 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6961
6962 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6963 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6964
6965 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6966 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6967 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6968 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6969 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6970 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6971 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6972 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6973 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6974 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6975 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6976 name to look up the sources.
6977
6978 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6979 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6980 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6981 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6982 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6983 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6984 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6985 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6986
6987 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6988 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6989 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6990 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6991 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6992 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6993 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6994
6995 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6996 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6997 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6998 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6999 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7000 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7001 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7002 command.
7003
7004 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7005 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7006 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7007 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7008 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7009 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7010 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7011
7012 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7013 @cindex default source path substitution
7014 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7015 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7016 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7017 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7018 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7019 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7020 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7021 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7022 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7023 together.
7024
7025 @table @code
7026 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7027 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7028 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7029 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7030 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7031 part of absolute file names) or
7032 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7033 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7034
7035 @kindex cdir
7036 @kindex cwd
7037 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7038 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7039 @cindex compilation directory
7040 @cindex current directory
7041 @cindex working directory
7042 @cindex directory, current
7043 @cindex directory, compilation
7044 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7045 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7046 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7047 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7048 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7049 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7050
7051 @item directory
7052 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7053
7054 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7055 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7056
7057 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7058 @kindex set directories
7059 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7060 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7061
7062 @item show directories
7063 @kindex show directories
7064 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7065
7066 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7067 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7068 @kindex set substitute-path
7069 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7070 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7071 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7072
7073 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7074 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7075
7076 @smallexample
7077 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7078 @end smallexample
7079
7080 @noindent
7081 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7082 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7083 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7084
7085 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7086 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7087 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7088 the substitution.
7089
7090 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7091
7092 @smallexample
7093 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7094 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7095 @end smallexample
7096
7097 @noindent
7098 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7099 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7100 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7101 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7102
7103
7104 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7105 @kindex unset substitute-path
7106 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7107 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7108 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7109
7110 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7111
7112 @item show substitute-path [path]
7113 @kindex show substitute-path
7114 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7115 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7116
7117 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7118 rules.
7119
7120 @end table
7121
7122 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7123 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7124 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7125
7126 @enumerate
7127 @item
7128 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7129
7130 @item
7131 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7132 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7133 directories in one command.
7134 @end enumerate
7135
7136 @node Machine Code
7137 @section Source and Machine Code
7138 @cindex source line and its code address
7139
7140 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7141 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7142 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7143 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7144 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7145 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7146 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7147 well as hex.
7148
7149 @table @code
7150 @kindex info line
7151 @item info line @var{linespec}
7152 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7153 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7154 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7155 @end table
7156
7157 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7158 the object code for the first line of function
7159 @code{m4_changequote}:
7160
7161 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7162 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7163 @smallexample
7164 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7165 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7166 @end smallexample
7167
7168 @noindent
7169 @cindex code address and its source line
7170 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7171 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7172 @smallexample
7173 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7174 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7175 @end smallexample
7176
7177 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7178 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7179 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7180 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7181 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7182 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7183 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7184 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7185 Variables}).
7186
7187 @table @code
7188 @kindex disassemble
7189 @cindex assembly instructions
7190 @cindex instructions, assembly
7191 @cindex machine instructions
7192 @cindex listing machine instructions
7193 @item disassemble
7194 @itemx disassemble /m
7195 @itemx disassemble /r
7196 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7197 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7198 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7199 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7200 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7201 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7202 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7203 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7204 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7205 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7206
7207 @table @code
7208 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7209 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7210 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7211 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7212 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7213 @end table
7214
7215 @noindent
7216 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7217 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7218
7219 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7220 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7221
7222 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7223 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7224 @end table
7225
7226 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7227 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7228
7229 @smallexample
7230 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7231 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7232 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7233 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7234 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7235 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7236 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7237 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7238 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7239 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7240 End of assembler dump.
7241 @end smallexample
7242
7243 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7244 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7245
7246 @smallexample
7247 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7248 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7249 5 @{
7250 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7251 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7252 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7253 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7254 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7255
7256 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7257 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7258 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7259
7260 7 return 0;
7261 8 @}
7262 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7263 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7264 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7265
7266 End of assembler dump.
7267 @end smallexample
7268
7269 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7270
7271 @smallexample
7272 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7273 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7274 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7275 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7276 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7277 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7278 End of assembler dump.
7279 @end smallexample
7280
7281 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7282 mnemonics or other syntax.
7283
7284 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7285 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7286 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7287 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7288 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7289
7290 @table @code
7291 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7292 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7293 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7294 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7295 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7296 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7297
7298 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7299 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7300 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7301 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7302
7303 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7304 @item show disassembly-flavor
7305 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7306 @end table
7307
7308 @table @code
7309 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7310 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7311 @item set disassemble-next-line
7312 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7313 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7314 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7315 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7316 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7317 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7318 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7319 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7320 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7321 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7322 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7323 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7324 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7325 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7326 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7327 instruction.
7328 @end table
7329
7330
7331 @node Data
7332 @chapter Examining Data
7333
7334 @cindex printing data
7335 @cindex examining data
7336 @kindex print
7337 @kindex inspect
7338 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
7339 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
7340 @c different window or something like that.
7341 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7342 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7343 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7344 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7345 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7346 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7347
7348 @table @code
7349 @item print @var{expr}
7350 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7351 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7352 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7353 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7354 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7355 Formats}.
7356
7357 @item print
7358 @itemx print /@var{f}
7359 @cindex reprint the last value
7360 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7361 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7362 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7363 @end table
7364
7365 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7366 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7367 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7368
7369 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7370 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7371 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7372 Table}.
7373
7374 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7375 @kindex explore
7376 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7377 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7378 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7379 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7380 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7381 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7382 embedded in the higher level data types.
7383
7384 @table @code
7385 @item explore @var{arg}
7386 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7387 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7388 @end table
7389
7390 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7391 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7392 C program as
7393
7394 @smallexample
7395 struct SimpleStruct
7396 @{
7397 int i;
7398 double d;
7399 @};
7400
7401 struct ComplexStruct
7402 @{
7403 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7404 int arr[10];
7405 @};
7406 @end smallexample
7407
7408 @noindent
7409 followed by variable declarations as
7410
7411 @smallexample
7412 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7413 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7414 @end smallexample
7415
7416 @noindent
7417 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7418 @code{explore} command as follows.
7419
7420 @smallexample
7421 (gdb) explore cs
7422 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7423 the following fields:
7424
7425 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7426 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7427
7428 Enter the field number of choice:
7429 @end smallexample
7430
7431 @noindent
7432 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7433 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7434 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7435 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7436 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7437 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7438 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7439 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7440
7441 @smallexample
7442 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7443 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7444 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7445 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7446
7447 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7448 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7449
7450 Press enter to return to parent value:
7451 @end smallexample
7452
7453 @noindent
7454 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7455 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7456 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7457 to explore.
7458
7459 @smallexample
7460 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7461 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7462
7463 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7464
7465 (cs.arr)[5] = 4
7466
7467 Press enter to return to parent value:
7468 @end smallexample
7469
7470 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7471 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7472 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7473 level data structure).
7474
7475 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
7476 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
7477 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
7478 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
7479 same example as above, your can explore the type
7480 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
7481 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
7482
7483 @smallexample
7484 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
7485 @end smallexample
7486
7487 @noindent
7488 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
7489 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
7490 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
7491 example.
7492
7493 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
7494 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
7495 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
7496 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
7497 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
7498
7499 @table @code
7500 @item explore value @var{expr}
7501 @cindex explore value
7502 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
7503 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
7504 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
7505 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
7506 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
7507
7508 @item explore type @var{arg}
7509 @cindex explore type
7510 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
7511 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
7512 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
7513 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
7514 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
7515 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
7516 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
7517 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
7518 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
7519 @end table
7520
7521 @menu
7522 * Expressions:: Expressions
7523 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7524 * Variables:: Program variables
7525 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7526 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7527 * Memory:: Examining memory
7528 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7529 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7530 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7531 * Value History:: Value history
7532 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7533 * Registers:: Registers
7534 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7535 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7536 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7537 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7538 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7539 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7540 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7541 character set than GDB does
7542 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7543 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7544 @end menu
7545
7546 @node Expressions
7547 @section Expressions
7548
7549 @cindex expressions
7550 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7551 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7552 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7553 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7554 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7555 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7556 @ref{Compilation}.
7557
7558 @cindex arrays in expressions
7559 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7560 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7561 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7562 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7563 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7564 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7565
7566 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7567 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7568 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7569 languages.
7570
7571 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7572 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7573
7574 @cindex casts, in expressions
7575 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7576 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7577 at that address in memory.
7578 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7579
7580 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7581 to programming languages:
7582
7583 @table @code
7584 @item @@
7585 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7586 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7587
7588 @item ::
7589 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7590 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7591
7592 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7593 @cindex type casting memory
7594 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7595 @cindex casts, to view memory
7596 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7597 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7598 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7599 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7600 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7601 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7602 @end table
7603
7604 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7605 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7606 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7607
7608 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7609 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7610 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7611 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7612 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7613 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7614 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7615
7616 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7617 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7618 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7619 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7620 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7621 as well.
7622
7623 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7624 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7625 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7626 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7627 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7628 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7629 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7630 choices.
7631
7632 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7633 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7634 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7635
7636 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7637 @smallexample
7638 @group
7639 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7640 [0] cancel
7641 [1] all
7642 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7643 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7644 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7645 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7646 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7647 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7648 > 2 4 6
7649 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7650 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7651 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7652 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7653 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7654 breakpoints.
7655 (@value{GDBP})
7656 @end group
7657 @end smallexample
7658
7659 @table @code
7660 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7661 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7662 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7663
7664 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7665 is ambiguous.
7666
7667 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7668 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7669 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7670 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7671 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7672 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7673 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7674 in the use of the menu.
7675
7676 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7677 when an ambiguity is detected.
7678
7679 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7680 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7681
7682 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7683 @item show multiple-symbols
7684 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7685 @end table
7686
7687 @node Variables
7688 @section Program Variables
7689
7690 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7691 in your program.
7692
7693 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7694 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7695
7696 @itemize @bullet
7697 @item
7698 global (or file-static)
7699 @end itemize
7700
7701 @noindent or
7702
7703 @itemize @bullet
7704 @item
7705 visible according to the scope rules of the
7706 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7707 @end itemize
7708
7709 @noindent This means that in the function
7710
7711 @smallexample
7712 foo (a)
7713 int a;
7714 @{
7715 bar (a);
7716 @{
7717 int b = test ();
7718 bar (b);
7719 @}
7720 @}
7721 @end smallexample
7722
7723 @noindent
7724 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7725 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7726 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7727 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7728
7729 @cindex variable name conflict
7730 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7731 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7732 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7733 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7734 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7735 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
7736 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7737
7738 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7739 @ifnotinfo
7740 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7741 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7742 @end ifnotinfo
7743 @smallexample
7744 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7745 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7746 @end smallexample
7747
7748 @noindent
7749 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7750 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7751 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7752 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7753
7754 @smallexample
7755 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7756 @end smallexample
7757
7758 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
7759 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
7760 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
7761 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
7762 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
7763
7764 @smallexample
7765 void
7766 foo (int a)
7767 @{
7768 if (a < 10)
7769 bar (a);
7770 else
7771 process (a); /* Stop here */
7772 @}
7773
7774 int
7775 bar (int a)
7776 @{
7777 foo (a + 5);
7778 @}
7779 @end smallexample
7780
7781 @noindent
7782 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
7783 here is what you might see
7784 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
7785
7786 @smallexample
7787 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7788 $1 = 10
7789 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7790 $2 = 5
7791 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
7792 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
7793 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7794 $3 = 5
7795 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7796 $4 = 0
7797 @end smallexample
7798
7799 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7800 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7801 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7802 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7803 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7804 @c conflict?? --mew
7805
7806 @cindex wrong values
7807 @cindex variable values, wrong
7808 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7809 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7810 @quotation
7811 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7812 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7813 scope, and just before exit.
7814 @end quotation
7815 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7816 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7817 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7818 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7819 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7820 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7821 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7822 variable definitions may be gone.
7823
7824 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7825 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7826 when compiling.
7827
7828 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7829 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7830 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7831 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7832 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7833 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7834 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7835
7836 @smallexample
7837 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7838 @end smallexample
7839
7840 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7841 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7842 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
7843 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
7844 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7845
7846 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7847 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7848 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7849 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7850
7851 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
7852 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
7853 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
7854 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
7855 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
7856
7857 @smallexample
7858 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
7859 29 i++;
7860 (gdb) next
7861 30 e (i);
7862 (gdb) print i
7863 $1 = 31
7864 (gdb) print i@@entry
7865 $2 = 30
7866 @end smallexample
7867
7868 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7869 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7870 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7871 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7872 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7873 For program code
7874
7875 @smallexample
7876 char var0[] = "A";
7877 signed char var1[] = "A";
7878 @end smallexample
7879
7880 You get during debugging
7881 @smallexample
7882 (gdb) print var0
7883 $1 = "A"
7884 (gdb) print var1
7885 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7886 @end smallexample
7887
7888 @node Arrays
7889 @section Artificial Arrays
7890
7891 @cindex artificial array
7892 @cindex arrays
7893 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7894 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7895 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7896 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7897 program.
7898
7899 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7900 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7901 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7902 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7903 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7904 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7905 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7906 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7907 example. If a program says
7908
7909 @smallexample
7910 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7911 @end smallexample
7912
7913 @noindent
7914 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7915
7916 @smallexample
7917 p *array@@len
7918 @end smallexample
7919
7920 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7921 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7922 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7923 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7924 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7925
7926 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7927 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7928 The value need not be in memory:
7929 @smallexample
7930 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7931 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7932 @end smallexample
7933
7934 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7935 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7936 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7937 @smallexample
7938 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7939 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7940 @end smallexample
7941
7942 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7943 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7944 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7945 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7946 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7947 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7948 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7949 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7950 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7951 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7952
7953 @smallexample
7954 set $i = 0
7955 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7956 @key{RET}
7957 @key{RET}
7958 @dots{}
7959 @end smallexample
7960
7961 @node Output Formats
7962 @section Output Formats
7963
7964 @cindex formatted output
7965 @cindex output formats
7966 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7967 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7968 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7969 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7970 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7971
7972 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7973 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7974 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7975 letters supported are:
7976
7977 @table @code
7978 @item x
7979 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7980 hexadecimal.
7981
7982 @item d
7983 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7984
7985 @item u
7986 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7987
7988 @item o
7989 Print as integer in octal.
7990
7991 @item t
7992 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7993 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7994 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7995 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7996
7997 @item a
7998 @cindex unknown address, locating
7999 @cindex locate address
8000 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8001 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8002 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8003
8004 @smallexample
8005 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8006 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8007 @end smallexample
8008
8009 @noindent
8010 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8011 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8012
8013 @item c
8014 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8015 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8016 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8017 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8018
8019 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8020 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8021 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8022 data.
8023
8024 @item f
8025 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8026 using typical floating point syntax.
8027
8028 @item s
8029 @cindex printing strings
8030 @cindex printing byte arrays
8031 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8032 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8033 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8034 natural types.
8035
8036 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8037 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8038 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8039 array.
8040
8041 @item r
8042 @cindex raw printing
8043 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8044 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8045 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8046 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8047 pretty-printer which might exist.
8048 @end table
8049
8050 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8051
8052 @smallexample
8053 p/x $pc
8054 @end smallexample
8055
8056 @noindent
8057 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8058 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8059
8060 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8061 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8062 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8063
8064 @node Memory
8065 @section Examining Memory
8066
8067 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8068 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8069
8070 @cindex examining memory
8071 @table @code
8072 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8073 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8074 @itemx x @var{addr}
8075 @itemx x
8076 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8077 @end table
8078
8079 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8080 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8081 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8082 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8083 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8084
8085 @table @r
8086 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8087 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8088 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8089 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8090 @c 4.1.2.
8091
8092 @item @var{f}, the display format
8093 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8094 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8095 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8096 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8097 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8098
8099 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8100 The unit size is any of
8101
8102 @table @code
8103 @item b
8104 Bytes.
8105 @item h
8106 Halfwords (two bytes).
8107 @item w
8108 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8109 @item g
8110 Giant words (eight bytes).
8111 @end table
8112
8113 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8114 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8115 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8116 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8117 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8118 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8119 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8120 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8121 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8122 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8123 be altered.
8124
8125 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8126 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8127 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8128 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8129 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8130 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8131 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8132 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8133 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8134 a value from memory).
8135 @end table
8136
8137 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8138 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8139 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8140 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8141 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8142
8143 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8144 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8145 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8146 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8147 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8148
8149 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8150 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8151 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8152 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8153 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8154 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8155 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8156 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8157 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8158
8159 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8160 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8161 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8162 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8163 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8164 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8165 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8166
8167 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8168 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8169
8170 @smallexample
8171 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8172 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8173 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8174 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8175 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8176 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8177 @end smallexample
8178
8179 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8180 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8181 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8182 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8183 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8184 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8185 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8186 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8187 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8188
8189 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8190 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8191 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8192
8193 @cindex remote memory comparison
8194 @cindex verify remote memory image
8195 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8196 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8197 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8198 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8199 situations.
8200
8201 @table @code
8202 @kindex compare-sections
8203 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8204 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8205 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8206 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8207 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8208 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8209 remote request.
8210 @end table
8211
8212 @node Auto Display
8213 @section Automatic Display
8214 @cindex automatic display
8215 @cindex display of expressions
8216
8217 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8218 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8219 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8220 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8221 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8222 The automatic display looks like this:
8223
8224 @smallexample
8225 2: foo = 38
8226 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8227 @end smallexample
8228
8229 @noindent
8230 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8231 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8232 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8233 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8234 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8235 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8236
8237 @table @code
8238 @kindex display
8239 @item display @var{expr}
8240 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8241 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8242
8243 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8244
8245 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8246 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8247 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8248 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8249 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8250
8251 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8252 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8253 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8254 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8255 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8256 @end table
8257
8258 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8259 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8260 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8261
8262 @table @code
8263 @kindex delete display
8264 @kindex undisplay
8265 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8266 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8267 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8268 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8269 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8270 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8271 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8272
8273 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8274 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8275
8276 @kindex disable display
8277 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8278 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8279 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8280 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8281 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8282 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8283 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8284 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8285
8286 @kindex enable display
8287 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8288 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8289 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8290 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8291 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8292 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8293 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8294
8295 @item display
8296 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8297 done when your program stops.
8298
8299 @kindex info display
8300 @item info display
8301 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8302 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8303 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8304 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8305 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8306 @end table
8307
8308 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8309 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8310 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8311 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8312 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8313 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8314 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8315 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8316 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8317 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8318 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8319
8320 @node Print Settings
8321 @section Print Settings
8322
8323 @cindex format options
8324 @cindex print settings
8325 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8326 and symbols are printed.
8327
8328 @noindent
8329 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8330
8331 @table @code
8332 @kindex set print
8333 @item set print address
8334 @itemx set print address on
8335 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8336 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8337 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8338 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8339 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8340 @code{set print address on}:
8341
8342 @smallexample
8343 @group
8344 (@value{GDBP}) f
8345 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8346 at input.c:530
8347 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8348 @end group
8349 @end smallexample
8350
8351 @item set print address off
8352 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8353 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8354
8355 @smallexample
8356 @group
8357 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8358 (@value{GDBP}) f
8359 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8360 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8361 @end group
8362 @end smallexample
8363
8364 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8365 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8366 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8367 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8368
8369 @kindex show print
8370 @item show print address
8371 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8372 @end table
8373
8374 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8375 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8376 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8377 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8378 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8379 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8380 it prints a symbolic address:
8381
8382 @table @code
8383 @item set print symbol-filename on
8384 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8385 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8386 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8387 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8388
8389 @item set print symbol-filename off
8390 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8391 default.
8392
8393 @item show print symbol-filename
8394 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8395 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8396 @end table
8397
8398 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8399 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8400 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8401
8402 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8403 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8404
8405 @table @code
8406 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8407 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8408 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8409 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8410 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
8411 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
8412
8413 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8414 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8415 symbolic address.
8416 @end table
8417
8418 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8419 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8420 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8421 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8422 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8423 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8424 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8425 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8426
8427 @smallexample
8428 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8429 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8430 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8431 @end smallexample
8432
8433 @quotation
8434 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8435 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8436 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8437 @end quotation
8438
8439 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8440 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8441
8442 @table @code
8443 @item set print symbol on
8444 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8445 one exists.
8446
8447 @item set print symbol off
8448 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8449 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8450 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8451
8452 @item show print symbol
8453 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8454 address.
8455 @end table
8456
8457 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8458
8459 @table @code
8460 @item set print array
8461 @itemx set print array on
8462 @cindex pretty print arrays
8463 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8464 but uses more space. The default is off.
8465
8466 @item set print array off
8467 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8468
8469 @item show print array
8470 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8471 arrays.
8472
8473 @cindex print array indexes
8474 @item set print array-indexes
8475 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8476 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8477 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8478 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8479
8480 @item set print array-indexes off
8481 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8482
8483 @item show print array-indexes
8484 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8485 arrays.
8486
8487 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8488 @cindex number of array elements to print
8489 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8490 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8491 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8492 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8493 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8494 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8495 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8496
8497 @item show print elements
8498 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8499 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8500
8501 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8502 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8503 @cindex printing frame argument values
8504 @cindex print all frame argument values
8505 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8506 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8507 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8508 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8509 values are:
8510
8511 @table @code
8512 @item all
8513 The values of all arguments are printed.
8514
8515 @item scalars
8516 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8517 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8518 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8519 only scalar arguments are shown:
8520
8521 @smallexample
8522 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8523 at frame-args.c:23
8524 @end smallexample
8525
8526 @item none
8527 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8528 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8529
8530 @smallexample
8531 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8532 at frame-args.c:23
8533 @end smallexample
8534 @end table
8535
8536 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8537 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8538 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8539 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8540 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8541 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8542 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8543 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8544 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8545 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8546
8547 @item show print frame-arguments
8548 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8549
8550 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8551 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8552 @kindex set print entry-values
8553 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8554 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8555 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8556 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8557 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8558
8559 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8560 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8561 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8562 @code{no} setting.
8563
8564 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8565 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8566 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8567 this information.
8568
8569 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8570
8571 @table @code
8572 @item no
8573 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8574 point.
8575 @smallexample
8576 #0 equal (val=5)
8577 #0 different (val=6)
8578 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8579 #0 born (val=10)
8580 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8581 @end smallexample
8582
8583 @item only
8584 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8585 values are never printed.
8586 @smallexample
8587 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8588 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8589 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8590 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8591 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8592 @end smallexample
8593
8594 @item preferred
8595 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8596 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8597 value for such parameter.
8598 @smallexample
8599 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8600 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8601 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8602 #0 born (val=10)
8603 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8604 @end smallexample
8605
8606 @item if-needed
8607 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8608 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8609 parameter.
8610 @smallexample
8611 #0 equal (val=5)
8612 #0 different (val=6)
8613 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8614 #0 born (val=10)
8615 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8616 @end smallexample
8617
8618 @item both
8619 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8620 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8621 optimizations.
8622 @smallexample
8623 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8624 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8625 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8626 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8627 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8628 @end smallexample
8629
8630 @item compact
8631 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8632 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8633 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8634 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8635 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8636 @smallexample
8637 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8638 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8639 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8640 #0 born (val=10)
8641 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8642 @end smallexample
8643
8644 @item default
8645 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8646 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8647 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8648 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8649 @smallexample
8650 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8651 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8652 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8653 #0 born (val=10)
8654 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8655 @end smallexample
8656 @end table
8657
8658 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8659 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8660
8661 @item show print entry-values
8662 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8663 entry.
8664
8665 @item set print repeats
8666 @cindex repeated array elements
8667 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8668 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8669 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8670 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8671 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8672 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8673 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8674
8675 @item show print repeats
8676 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8677 elements.
8678
8679 @item set print null-stop
8680 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8681 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8682 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8683 contain only short strings.
8684 The default is off.
8685
8686 @item show print null-stop
8687 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8688 @sc{null} character.
8689
8690 @item set print pretty on
8691 @cindex print structures in indented form
8692 @cindex indentation in structure display
8693 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8694 per line, like this:
8695
8696 @smallexample
8697 @group
8698 $1 = @{
8699 next = 0x0,
8700 flags = @{
8701 sweet = 1,
8702 sour = 1
8703 @},
8704 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
8705 @}
8706 @end group
8707 @end smallexample
8708
8709 @item set print pretty off
8710 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8711
8712 @smallexample
8713 @group
8714 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8715 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8716 @end group
8717 @end smallexample
8718
8719 @noindent
8720 This is the default format.
8721
8722 @item show print pretty
8723 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8724
8725 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8726 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8727 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8728 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8729 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8730 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8731 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8732 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8733
8734 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8735 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8736 international character sets, and is the default.
8737
8738 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8739 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8740
8741 @item set print union on
8742 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8743 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8744 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8745
8746 @item set print union off
8747 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8748 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8749 instead.
8750
8751 @item show print union
8752 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8753 structures and other unions.
8754
8755 For example, given the declarations
8756
8757 @smallexample
8758 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8759 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8760 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8761 Bug_forms;
8762
8763 struct thing @{
8764 Species it;
8765 union @{
8766 Tree_forms tree;
8767 Bug_forms bug;
8768 @} form;
8769 @};
8770
8771 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8772 @end smallexample
8773
8774 @noindent
8775 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8776
8777 @smallexample
8778 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8779 @end smallexample
8780
8781 @noindent
8782 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8783
8784 @smallexample
8785 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8786 @end smallexample
8787
8788 @noindent
8789 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8790 and in Pascal.
8791 @end table
8792
8793 @need 1000
8794 @noindent
8795 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8796
8797 @table @code
8798 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8799 @item set print demangle
8800 @itemx set print demangle on
8801 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8802 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8803 linkage. The default is on.
8804
8805 @item show print demangle
8806 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8807
8808 @item set print asm-demangle
8809 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8810 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8811 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8812 The default is off.
8813
8814 @item show print asm-demangle
8815 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8816 or demangled form.
8817
8818 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8819 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8820 @kindex set demangle-style
8821 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8822 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8823 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8824
8825 @table @code
8826 @item auto
8827 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8828
8829 @item gnu
8830 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8831 This is the default.
8832
8833 @item hp
8834 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8835
8836 @item lucid
8837 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8838
8839 @item arm
8840 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8841 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8842 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8843 require further enhancement to permit that.
8844
8845 @end table
8846 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8847
8848 @item show demangle-style
8849 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8850
8851 @item set print object
8852 @itemx set print object on
8853 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8854 @cindex display derived types
8855 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8856 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8857 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
8858 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
8859 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
8860 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
8861 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
8862
8863 @item set print object off
8864 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8865 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8866
8867 @item show print object
8868 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8869
8870 @item set print static-members
8871 @itemx set print static-members on
8872 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8873 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8874
8875 @item set print static-members off
8876 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8877
8878 @item show print static-members
8879 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8880
8881 @item set print pascal_static-members
8882 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8883 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8884 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8885 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8886
8887 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8888 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8889
8890 @item show print pascal_static-members
8891 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8892
8893 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8894 @item set print vtbl
8895 @itemx set print vtbl on
8896 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8897 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8898 @cindex VTBL display
8899 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8900 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8901 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8902
8903 @item set print vtbl off
8904 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8905
8906 @item show print vtbl
8907 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8908 @end table
8909
8910 @node Pretty Printing
8911 @section Pretty Printing
8912
8913 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8914 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8915 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8916
8917 @menu
8918 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8919 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8920 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8921 @end menu
8922
8923 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8924 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8925
8926 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8927 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8928 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8929
8930 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8931 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8932 pretty-printers with their names.
8933 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8934 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8935 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8936 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8937
8938 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8939 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8940 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8941 do anything special.
8942
8943 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8944
8945 @itemize @bullet
8946 @item
8947 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8948 all inferiors.
8949
8950 @item
8951 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8952 when debugging that program.
8953 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8954
8955 @item
8956 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8957 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8958 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8959 @end itemize
8960
8961 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8962 pretty-printers are selected,
8963
8964 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8965 for new types.
8966
8967 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8968 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8969
8970 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8971
8972 @smallexample
8973 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8974 $1 = @{
8975 static npos = 4294967295,
8976 _M_dataplus = @{
8977 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8978 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8979 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8980 @},
8981 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8982 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8983 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8984 @}
8985 @}
8986 @end smallexample
8987
8988 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8989
8990 @smallexample
8991 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8992 $2 = "abcd"
8993 @end smallexample
8994
8995 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8996 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8997 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8998
8999 @table @code
9000 @kindex info pretty-printer
9001 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9002 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9003 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9004
9005 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9006 whose pretty-printers to list.
9007 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9008 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9009 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9010 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9011 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9012
9013 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9014 to list.
9015
9016 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9017 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9018 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9019 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9020
9021 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9022 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9023 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9024 @end table
9025
9026 Example:
9027
9028 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9029 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9030 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9031 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9032
9033 @smallexample
9034 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9035 library1.so:
9036 foo
9037 library2.so:
9038 bar
9039 bar1
9040 bar2
9041 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9042 library2.so:
9043 bar
9044 bar1
9045 bar2
9046 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9047 1 printer disabled
9048 2 of 3 printers enabled
9049 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9050 library1.so:
9051 foo [disabled]
9052 library2.so:
9053 bar
9054 bar1
9055 bar2
9056 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9057 1 printer disabled
9058 1 of 3 printers enabled
9059 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9060 library1.so:
9061 foo [disabled]
9062 library2.so:
9063 bar
9064 bar1 [disabled]
9065 bar2
9066 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9067 1 printer disabled
9068 0 of 3 printers enabled
9069 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9070 library1.so:
9071 foo [disabled]
9072 library2.so:
9073 bar [disabled]
9074 bar1 [disabled]
9075 bar2
9076 @end smallexample
9077
9078 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9079 as can each individual subprinter.
9080
9081 @node Value History
9082 @section Value History
9083
9084 @cindex value history
9085 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9086 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9087 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9088 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9089 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9090 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9091 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9092 symbol table.
9093
9094 @cindex @code{$}
9095 @cindex @code{$$}
9096 @cindex history number
9097 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9098 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9099 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9100 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9101 history number.
9102
9103 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9104 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9105 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9106 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9107 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9108 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9109 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9110
9111 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9112 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9113
9114 @smallexample
9115 p *$
9116 @end smallexample
9117
9118 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9119 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9120
9121 @smallexample
9122 p *$.next
9123 @end smallexample
9124
9125 @noindent
9126 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9127 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9128
9129 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9130 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9131
9132 @smallexample
9133 print x
9134 set x=5
9135 @end smallexample
9136
9137 @noindent
9138 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9139 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9140
9141 @table @code
9142 @kindex show values
9143 @item show values
9144 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9145 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9146 values} does not change the history.
9147
9148 @item show values @var{n}
9149 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9150
9151 @item show values +
9152 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9153 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9154 @end table
9155
9156 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9157 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9158
9159 @node Convenience Vars
9160 @section Convenience Variables
9161
9162 @cindex convenience variables
9163 @cindex user-defined variables
9164 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9165 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9166 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9167 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9168 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9169
9170 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9171 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9172 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9173 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9174 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9175
9176 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9177 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9178 For example:
9179
9180 @smallexample
9181 set $foo = *object_ptr
9182 @end smallexample
9183
9184 @noindent
9185 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9186 @code{object_ptr}.
9187
9188 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9189 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9190 value with another assignment at any time.
9191
9192 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9193 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9194 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9195 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9196
9197 @table @code
9198 @kindex show convenience
9199 @cindex show all user variables
9200 @item show convenience
9201 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
9202 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9203
9204 @kindex init-if-undefined
9205 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9206 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9207 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9208 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9209 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9210 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9211 override default values used in a command script.
9212
9213 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9214 any side-effects do not occur.
9215 @end table
9216
9217 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9218 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9219 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9220
9221 @smallexample
9222 set $i = 0
9223 print bar[$i++]->contents
9224 @end smallexample
9225
9226 @noindent
9227 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9228
9229 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9230 values likely to be useful.
9231
9232 @table @code
9233 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9234 @item $_
9235 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9236 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9237 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9238 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9239 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9240 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9241 to the type of @code{$__}.
9242
9243 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9244 @item $__
9245 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9246 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9247 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9248
9249 @item $_exitcode
9250 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9251 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
9252 the program being debugged terminates.
9253
9254 @item $_probe_argc
9255 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9256 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9257
9258 @item $_sdata
9259 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9260 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9261 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9262 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9263 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9264
9265 @item $_siginfo
9266 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9267 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9268 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9269 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9270 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9271
9272 @item $_tlb
9273 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9274 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9275 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9276 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9277 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9278 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9279
9280 @end table
9281
9282 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9283 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9284 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9285
9286 @cindex convenience functions
9287 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9288 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9289 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9290 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9291 @value{GDBN}.
9292
9293 @table @code
9294 @item help function
9295 @kindex help function
9296 @cindex show all convenience functions
9297 Print a list of all convenience functions.
9298 @end table
9299
9300 @node Registers
9301 @section Registers
9302
9303 @cindex registers
9304 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
9305 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
9306 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
9307 your machine.
9308
9309 @table @code
9310 @kindex info registers
9311 @item info registers
9312 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
9313 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9314
9315 @kindex info all-registers
9316 @cindex floating point registers
9317 @item info all-registers
9318 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
9319 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
9320
9321 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
9322 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
9323 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
9324 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
9325 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
9326 @end table
9327
9328 @cindex stack pointer register
9329 @cindex program counter register
9330 @cindex process status register
9331 @cindex frame pointer register
9332 @cindex standard registers
9333 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
9334 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
9335 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
9336 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
9337 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
9338 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
9339 register that contains the processor status. For example,
9340 you could print the program counter in hex with
9341
9342 @smallexample
9343 p/x $pc
9344 @end smallexample
9345
9346 @noindent
9347 or print the instruction to be executed next with
9348
9349 @smallexample
9350 x/i $pc
9351 @end smallexample
9352
9353 @noindent
9354 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
9355 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
9356 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
9357 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
9358 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
9359 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
9360 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
9361
9362 @smallexample
9363 set $sp += 4
9364 @end smallexample
9365
9366 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
9367 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
9368 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
9369 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
9370 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
9371 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
9372 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9373
9374 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9375 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9376 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9377 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9378 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9379 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9380 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9381
9382 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9383 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9384 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9385 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9386 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9387 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9388 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9389 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9390 prints the data in both formats.
9391
9392 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
9393 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
9394 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9395 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9396 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9397 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9398 registers in @code{struct} notation:
9399
9400 @smallexample
9401 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9402 $1 = @{
9403 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9404 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9405 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9406 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9407 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9408 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9409 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9410 @}
9411 @end smallexample
9412
9413 @noindent
9414 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9415 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9416 value to a @code{struct} member:
9417
9418 @smallexample
9419 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9420 @end smallexample
9421
9422 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9423 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9424 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9425 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9426 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9427 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9428
9429 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9430 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9431 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9432 frame makes no difference.
9433
9434 @node Floating Point Hardware
9435 @section Floating Point Hardware
9436 @cindex floating point
9437
9438 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9439 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9440
9441 @table @code
9442 @kindex info float
9443 @item info float
9444 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9445 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9446 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9447 the ARM and x86 machines.
9448 @end table
9449
9450 @node Vector Unit
9451 @section Vector Unit
9452 @cindex vector unit
9453
9454 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9455 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9456
9457 @table @code
9458 @kindex info vector
9459 @item info vector
9460 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9461 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9462 @end table
9463
9464 @node OS Information
9465 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9466 @cindex OS information
9467
9468 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9469 you debug your program.
9470
9471 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
9472 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
9473 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
9474 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
9475 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
9476 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
9477 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
9478 structure.
9479
9480 @table @code
9481 @item info udot
9482 @kindex info udot
9483 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
9484 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
9485 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
9486 the @code{examine} command.
9487 @end table
9488
9489 @cindex auxiliary vector
9490 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9491 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9492 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9493 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9494 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9495 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9496 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9497 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9498 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9499 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9500 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9501 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9502
9503 @table @code
9504 @kindex info auxv
9505 @item info auxv
9506 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9507 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9508 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9509 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9510 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9511 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9512 an unrecognized tag.
9513 @end table
9514
9515 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
9516 information and show it to you. The types of information available
9517 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
9518 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
9519 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
9520 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9521 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9522
9523 @table @code
9524 @kindex info os
9525 @item info os @var{infotype}
9526
9527 Display OS information of the requested type.
9528
9529 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
9530
9531 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
9532 @table @code
9533 @kindex info os processes
9534 @item processes
9535 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9536 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
9537 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
9538 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
9539 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
9540 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
9541
9542 @kindex info os procgroups
9543 @item procgroups
9544 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
9545 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
9546 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
9547 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
9548 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
9549 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
9550 and the process group leader is listed first.
9551
9552 @kindex info os threads
9553 @item threads
9554 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
9555 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
9556 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
9557 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
9558 process is not listed.
9559
9560 @kindex info os files
9561 @item files
9562 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
9563 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
9564 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
9565 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
9566
9567 @kindex info os sockets
9568 @item sockets
9569 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
9570 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
9571 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
9572 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
9573 connection.
9574
9575 @kindex info os shm
9576 @item shm
9577 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
9578 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
9579 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
9580 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
9581 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
9582 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
9583 attached to, detach from, and changed.
9584
9585 @kindex info os semaphores
9586 @item semaphores
9587 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
9588 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
9589 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
9590 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
9591 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
9592
9593 @kindex info os msg
9594 @item msg
9595 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
9596 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
9597 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
9598 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
9599 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
9600 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
9601 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
9602 the message queue was last changed.
9603
9604 @kindex info os modules
9605 @item modules
9606 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
9607 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
9608 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
9609 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
9610 in memory.
9611 @end table
9612
9613 @item info os
9614 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
9615 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
9616 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
9617 types, this command will report an error.
9618 @end table
9619
9620 @node Memory Region Attributes
9621 @section Memory Region Attributes
9622 @cindex memory region attributes
9623
9624 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9625 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9626 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9627 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9628 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9629 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9630 user can override the fetched regions.
9631
9632 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9633 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9634 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9635 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9636 all memory.
9637
9638 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9639 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9640
9641 @table @code
9642 @kindex mem
9643 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9644 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9645 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9646 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9647 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9648 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9649
9650 @item mem auto
9651 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9652 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9653
9654 @kindex delete mem
9655 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9656 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9657 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9658
9659 @kindex disable mem
9660 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9661 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9662 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9663 It may be enabled again later.
9664
9665 @kindex enable mem
9666 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9667 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9668
9669 @kindex info mem
9670 @item info mem
9671 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9672 for each region:
9673
9674 @table @emph
9675 @item Memory Region Number
9676 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9677 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9678 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9679
9680 @item Lo Address
9681 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9682
9683 @item Hi Address
9684 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9685
9686 @item Attributes
9687 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9688 @end table
9689 @end table
9690
9691
9692 @subsection Attributes
9693
9694 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9695 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9696 write accesses to a memory region.
9697
9698 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9699 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9700 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9701
9702 @table @code
9703 @item ro
9704 Memory is read only.
9705 @item wo
9706 Memory is write only.
9707 @item rw
9708 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9709 @end table
9710
9711 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9712 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9713 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9714 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9715 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9716
9717 @table @code
9718 @item 8
9719 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9720 @item 16
9721 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9722 @item 32
9723 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9724 @item 64
9725 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9726 @end table
9727
9728 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9729 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9730 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9731 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
9732 @c
9733 @c @table @code
9734 @c @item hwbreak
9735 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
9736 @c @item swbreak (default)
9737 @c @end table
9738
9739 @subsubsection Data Cache
9740 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
9741 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
9742 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
9743 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
9744 registers.
9745
9746 @table @code
9747 @item cache
9748 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
9749 @item nocache
9750 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
9751 @end table
9752
9753 @subsection Memory Access Checking
9754 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
9755 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
9756 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
9757 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
9758
9759 @table @code
9760 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
9761 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
9762 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
9763 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
9764 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
9765 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
9766 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
9767 The default value is @code{on}.
9768 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
9769 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
9770 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
9771 @end table
9772
9773
9774 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
9775 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9776 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
9777 @c
9778 @c @table @code
9779 @c @item verify
9780 @c @item noverify (default)
9781 @c @end table
9782
9783 @node Dump/Restore Files
9784 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
9785 @cindex dump/restore files
9786 @cindex append data to a file
9787 @cindex dump data to a file
9788 @cindex restore data from a file
9789
9790 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
9791 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
9792 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
9793 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
9794 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
9795 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
9796 files.
9797
9798 @table @code
9799
9800 @kindex dump
9801 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9802 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9803 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9804 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
9805
9806 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
9807 @table @code
9808 @item binary
9809 Raw binary form.
9810 @item ihex
9811 Intel hex format.
9812 @item srec
9813 Motorola S-record format.
9814 @item tekhex
9815 Tektronix Hex format.
9816 @end table
9817
9818 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
9819 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
9820 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
9821 form.
9822
9823 @kindex append
9824 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9825 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9826 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9827 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
9828 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
9829
9830 @kindex restore
9831 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
9832 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
9833 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
9834 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
9835 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
9836
9837 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
9838 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
9839 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9840 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9841 from that location.
9842
9843 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9844 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9845 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9846 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9847
9848 @end table
9849
9850 @node Core File Generation
9851 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9852 @cindex dump core from inferior
9853
9854 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9855 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9856 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9857 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9858 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9859 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9860 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9861
9862 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9863 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9864 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9865
9866 @table @code
9867 @kindex gcore
9868 @kindex generate-core-file
9869 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9870 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9871 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9872 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9873 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9874 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9875
9876 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9877 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9878 @end table
9879
9880 @node Character Sets
9881 @section Character Sets
9882 @cindex character sets
9883 @cindex charset
9884 @cindex translating between character sets
9885 @cindex host character set
9886 @cindex target character set
9887
9888 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9889 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9890 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9891 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9892 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9893 @dfn{target character set}.
9894
9895 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9896 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9897 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9898 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9899 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9900 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9901 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9902 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9903 character and string literals in expressions.
9904
9905 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9906 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9907 target-charset} command, described below.
9908
9909 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9910 support:
9911
9912 @table @code
9913 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9914 @kindex set target-charset
9915 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9916 list of supported target character sets, type
9917 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9918
9919 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9920 @kindex set host-charset
9921 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9922
9923 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9924 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9925 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9926 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9927 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9928
9929 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9930 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9931 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9932
9933 @item set charset @var{charset}
9934 @kindex set charset
9935 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9936 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9937 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9938 for both host and target.
9939
9940 @item show charset
9941 @kindex show charset
9942 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9943
9944 @item show host-charset
9945 @kindex show host-charset
9946 Show the name of the current host character set.
9947
9948 @item show target-charset
9949 @kindex show target-charset
9950 Show the name of the current target character set.
9951
9952 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9953 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9954 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9955 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9956 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9957 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9958
9959 @item show target-wide-charset
9960 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9961 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9962 @end table
9963
9964 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9965 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9966 @file{charset-test.c}:
9967
9968 @smallexample
9969 #include <stdio.h>
9970
9971 char ascii_hello[]
9972 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9973 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9974 char ibm1047_hello[]
9975 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9976 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9977
9978 main ()
9979 @{
9980 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9981 @}
9982 @end smallexample
9983
9984 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9985 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9986 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9987
9988 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9989
9990 @smallexample
9991 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9992 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9993 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9994 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9995 @dots{}
9996 (@value{GDBP})
9997 @end smallexample
9998
9999 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10000 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10001 strings:
10002
10003 @smallexample
10004 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10005 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10006 (@value{GDBP})
10007 @end smallexample
10008
10009 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10010 initial character set:
10011 @smallexample
10012 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10013 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10014 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10015 (@value{GDBP})
10016 @end smallexample
10017
10018 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10019 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10020 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10021 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10022 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10023
10024 @smallexample
10025 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10026 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10027 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10028 $2 = 72 'H'
10029 (@value{GDBP})
10030 @end smallexample
10031
10032 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10033 literals you use in expressions:
10034
10035 @smallexample
10036 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10037 $3 = 43 '+'
10038 (@value{GDBP})
10039 @end smallexample
10040
10041 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10042 character.
10043
10044 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10045 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10046 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10047
10048 @smallexample
10049 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10050 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10051 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10052 $5 = 200 '\310'
10053 (@value{GDBP})
10054 @end smallexample
10055
10056 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10057 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10058
10059 @smallexample
10060 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10061 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10062 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10063 @end smallexample
10064
10065 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10066 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10067 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10068 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10069 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10070
10071 @smallexample
10072 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10073 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10074 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10075 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10076 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10077 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10078 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10079 $7 = 72 '\110'
10080 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10081 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10082 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10083 $9 = 200 'H'
10084 (@value{GDBP})
10085 @end smallexample
10086
10087 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10088 string literals you use in expressions:
10089
10090 @smallexample
10091 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10092 $10 = 78 '+'
10093 (@value{GDBP})
10094 @end smallexample
10095
10096 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10097 character.
10098
10099 @node Caching Remote Data
10100 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10101 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10102
10103 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10104 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10105 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10106 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10107 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10108 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10109 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10110 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10111 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10112 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10113 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10114 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10115 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10116 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10117 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10118
10119 @table @code
10120 @kindex set remotecache
10121 @item set remotecache on
10122 @itemx set remotecache off
10123 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10124 with old scripts.
10125
10126 @kindex show remotecache
10127 @item show remotecache
10128 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10129
10130 @kindex set stack-cache
10131 @item set stack-cache on
10132 @itemx set stack-cache off
10133 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10134 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10135
10136 @kindex show stack-cache
10137 @item show stack-cache
10138 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10139
10140 @kindex info dcache
10141 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10142 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10143 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10144 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10145 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10146 operation.
10147
10148 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10149 printed in hex.
10150
10151 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10152 @cindex dcache size
10153 @kindex set dcache size
10154 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10155
10156 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10157 @cindex dcache line-size
10158 @kindex set dcache line-size
10159 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10160 Must be a power of 2.
10161
10162 @item show dcache size
10163 @kindex show dcache size
10164 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10165
10166 @item show dcache line-size
10167 @kindex show dcache line-size
10168 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10169
10170 @end table
10171
10172 @node Searching Memory
10173 @section Search Memory
10174 @cindex searching memory
10175
10176 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10177 @code{find} command.
10178
10179 @table @code
10180 @kindex find
10181 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10182 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10183 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10184 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10185 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10186 @end table
10187
10188 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10189 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10190
10191 @table @r
10192 @item @var{s}, search query size
10193 The size of each search query value.
10194
10195 @table @code
10196 @item b
10197 bytes
10198 @item h
10199 halfwords (two bytes)
10200 @item w
10201 words (four bytes)
10202 @item g
10203 giant words (eight bytes)
10204 @end table
10205
10206 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10207 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10208 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10209
10210 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10211 value's type in the current language.
10212 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10213 pattern as a mixture of types.
10214 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10215 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10216 which is typically four bytes.
10217
10218 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10219 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10220 @end table
10221
10222 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10223 (@code{"}).
10224 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10225 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10226
10227 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10228 number of matches found.
10229
10230 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10231 @samp{$_}.
10232 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10233
10234 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10235
10236 @smallexample
10237 void
10238 hello ()
10239 @{
10240 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10241 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10242 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10243 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10244 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10245 @}
10246 @end smallexample
10247
10248 @noindent
10249 you get during debugging:
10250
10251 @smallexample
10252 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10253 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10254 1 pattern found
10255 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10256 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10257 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10258 2 patterns found
10259 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10260 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10261 1 pattern found
10262 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10263 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10264 1 pattern found
10265 (gdb) print $numfound
10266 $1 = 1
10267 (gdb) print $_
10268 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10269 @end smallexample
10270
10271 @node Optimized Code
10272 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10273 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10274 @cindex debugging optimized code
10275
10276 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10277 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10278 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10279 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10280 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10281 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10282 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10283
10284 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10285 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10286 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10287 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
10288
10289 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
10290 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
10291 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
10292 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
10293 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
10294 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
10295
10296 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
10297 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
10298 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
10299 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
10300 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
10301
10302 @menu
10303 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
10304 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
10305 @end menu
10306
10307 @node Inline Functions
10308 @section Inline Functions
10309 @cindex inline functions, debugging
10310
10311 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
10312 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
10313 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
10314 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
10315 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
10316 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
10317 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
10318 @code{info frame} command.
10319
10320 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
10321 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
10322 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
10323 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
10324 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
10325 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
10326 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
10327 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
10328 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
10329 local variables in the caller.
10330
10331 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
10332 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
10333 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
10334 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
10335 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
10336 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
10337 instructions are executed.
10338
10339 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
10340 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
10341 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
10342 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
10343
10344 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
10345 function calls are the same as normal calls:
10346
10347 @itemize @bullet
10348 @item
10349 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
10350 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
10351 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
10352 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
10353 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
10354 or inside the inlined function instead.
10355
10356 @item
10357 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
10358 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
10359 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
10360 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
10361
10362 @end itemize
10363
10364 @node Tail Call Frames
10365 @section Tail Call Frames
10366 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
10367
10368 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
10369 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
10370 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
10371 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
10372 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
10373
10374 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
10375 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
10376 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
10377 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
10378 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
10379 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
10380 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
10381
10382 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
10383 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
10384 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
10385 this information.
10386
10387 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
10388 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
10389
10390 @smallexample
10391 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
10392 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
10393 (gdb) info frame
10394 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
10395 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
10396 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
10397 source language c++.
10398 Arglist at unknown address.
10399 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
10400 @end smallexample
10401
10402 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
10403 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
10404 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
10405 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
10406 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
10407 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
10408
10409 @table @code
10410 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
10411 @item set debug entry-values
10412 @kindex set debug entry-values
10413 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
10414 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
10415 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
10416 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
10417 result.
10418
10419 @item show debug entry-values
10420 @kindex show debug entry-values
10421 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
10422 values at function entry and tail calls.
10423 @end table
10424
10425 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
10426 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
10427 reference by variable @code{x}):
10428
10429 @smallexample
10430 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
10431 void (*x) (void) = c;
10432 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10433 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
10434 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
10435
10436 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
10437 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
10438 a () at t.c:3
10439 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
10440 (gdb) bt
10441 #0 a () at t.c:3
10442 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
10443 @end smallexample
10444
10445 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
10446
10447 @smallexample
10448 int i;
10449 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
10450 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10451 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10452 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10453 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10454 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10455 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10456 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10457
10458 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10459 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10460 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10461 (gdb) bt
10462 #0 f () at t.c:2
10463 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10464 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10465 @end smallexample
10466
10467 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10468 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10469
10470 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10471 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10472 @set ARROW @click{}
10473 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10474 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10475 @end ifset
10476 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10477 @set ARROW ->
10478 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
10479 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
10480 @end ifclear
10481
10482 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
10483 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
10484 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
10485
10486 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
10487 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
10488 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
10489 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
10490 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
10491 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
10492
10493 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
10494 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
10495 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
10496 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
10497 omitted.
10498
10499 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
10500 entry may fail:
10501
10502 @smallexample
10503 int v;
10504 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
10505 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
10506 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
10507 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
10508 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
10509 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
10510
10511 (gdb) bt
10512 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
10513 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
10514 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
10515 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
10516 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
10517 @end smallexample
10518
10519 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
10520 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
10521 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
10522 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
10523 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
10524
10525 @node Macros
10526 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10527
10528 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10529 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10530 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10531 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10532 where it was defined.
10533
10534 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10535 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10536 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10537 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10538
10539 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10540 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10541 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10542 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10543 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10544 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10545 see @ref{List}.
10546
10547 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10548 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10549 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10550
10551 @table @code
10552
10553 @kindex macro expand
10554 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10555 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10556 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10557 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10558 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10559 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10560 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10561 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10562 it can be any string of tokens.
10563
10564 @kindex macro exp1
10565 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10566 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10567 @cindex expand macro once
10568 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10569 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10570 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10571 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10572 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10573 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10574 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10575 can be any string of tokens.
10576
10577 @kindex info macro
10578 @cindex macro definition, showing
10579 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10580 @cindex macros, from debug info
10581 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10582 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10583 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10584 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10585 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10586 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10587
10588 @kindex info macros
10589 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10590 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10591 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10592 command-line where those definitions were established.
10593
10594 @kindex macro define
10595 @cindex user-defined macros
10596 @cindex defining macros interactively
10597 @cindex macros, user-defined
10598 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10599 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10600 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10601 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10602 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10603 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10604 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10605 @var{arglist}.
10606
10607 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10608 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10609 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10610 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10611 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10612
10613 @kindex macro undef
10614 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10615 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10616 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10617 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10618 in the program being debugged.
10619
10620 @kindex macro list
10621 @item macro list
10622 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10623 @end table
10624
10625 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10626 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10627 show our source files:
10628
10629 @smallexample
10630 $ cat sample.c
10631 #include <stdio.h>
10632 #include "sample.h"
10633
10634 #define M 42
10635 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10636
10637 main ()
10638 @{
10639 #define N 28
10640 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10641 #undef N
10642 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10643 #define N 1729
10644 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10645 @}
10646 $ cat sample.h
10647 #define Q <
10648 $
10649 @end smallexample
10650
10651 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10652 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10653 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10654 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10655 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10656 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10657 information.
10658
10659 @smallexample
10660 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10661 $
10662 @end smallexample
10663
10664 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10665
10666 @smallexample
10667 $ gdb -nw sample
10668 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10669 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10670 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10671 (@value{GDBP})
10672 @end smallexample
10673
10674 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10675 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10676 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10677
10678 @smallexample
10679 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10680 3
10681 4 #define M 42
10682 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10683 6
10684 7 main ()
10685 8 @{
10686 9 #define N 28
10687 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10688 11 #undef N
10689 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10690 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10691 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10692 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10693 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10694 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10695 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10696 #define Q <
10697 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10698 expands to: (42 + 1)
10699 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10700 expands to: once (M + 1)
10701 (@value{GDBP})
10702 @end smallexample
10703
10704 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10705 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10706 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10707 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10708
10709 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10710 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10711
10712 @smallexample
10713 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10714 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10715 (@value{GDBP}) run
10716 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10717
10718 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10719 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10720 (@value{GDBP})
10721 @end smallexample
10722
10723 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10724
10725 @smallexample
10726 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10727 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10728 #define N 28
10729 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10730 expands to: 28 < 42
10731 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10732 $1 = 1
10733 (@value{GDBP})
10734 @end smallexample
10735
10736 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
10737 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
10738 thereof) in force at each point:
10739
10740 @smallexample
10741 (@value{GDBP}) next
10742 Hello, world!
10743 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10744 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10745 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
10746 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
10747 (@value{GDBP}) next
10748 We're so creative.
10749 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10750 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10751 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
10752 #define N 1729
10753 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10754 expands to: 1729 < 42
10755 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10756 $2 = 0
10757 (@value{GDBP})
10758 @end smallexample
10759
10760 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
10761 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
10762 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
10763 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
10764
10765 @smallexample
10766 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
10767 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
10768 -D__STDC__=1
10769 (@value{GDBP})
10770 @end smallexample
10771
10772
10773 @node Tracepoints
10774 @chapter Tracepoints
10775 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
10776 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
10777
10778 @cindex tracepoints
10779 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
10780 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
10781 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
10782 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
10783 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
10784 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
10785 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
10786
10787 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
10788 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
10789 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
10790 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
10791 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
10792 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
10793 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
10794 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
10795 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
10796 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
10797 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
10798
10799 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
10800 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
10801 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
10802 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
10803 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
10804 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
10805 Packets}.
10806
10807 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
10808 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
10809 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
10810
10811 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
10812
10813 @menu
10814 * Set Tracepoints::
10815 * Analyze Collected Data::
10816 * Tracepoint Variables::
10817 * Trace Files::
10818 @end menu
10819
10820 @node Set Tracepoints
10821 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
10822
10823 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
10824 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
10825 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
10826 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
10827 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
10828 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
10829 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
10830
10831 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
10832 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
10833 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
10834 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
10835 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
10836 tracepoint was hit.
10837
10838 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
10839 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
10840 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
10841 either.
10842
10843 @cindex fast tracepoints
10844 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
10845 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
10846 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
10847
10848 @cindex static tracepoints
10849 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
10850 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
10851 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
10852 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
10853 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
10854 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
10855 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
10856 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
10857 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
10858 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
10859 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
10860 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
10861 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
10862 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
10863 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
10864 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
10865 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
10866 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
10867 static tracepoint marker.
10868
10869 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
10870 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
10871
10872 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
10873 conditions and actions.
10874
10875 @menu
10876 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
10877 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
10878 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
10879 * Tracepoint Conditions::
10880 * Trace State Variables::
10881 * Tracepoint Actions::
10882 * Listing Tracepoints::
10883 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
10884 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
10885 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
10886 @end menu
10887
10888 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
10889 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
10890
10891 @table @code
10892 @cindex set tracepoint
10893 @kindex trace
10894 @item trace @var{location}
10895 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
10896 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
10897 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
10898 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
10899 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
10900 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
10901 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
10902 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
10903 in tracing}).
10904 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
10905 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
10906 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
10907 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
10908 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
10909 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
10910 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
10911 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
10912 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
10913 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
10914 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
10915 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
10916
10917 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
10918
10919 @smallexample
10920 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
10921
10922 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
10923
10924 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
10925
10926 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
10927
10928 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
10929 @end smallexample
10930
10931 @noindent
10932 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
10933
10934 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
10935 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
10936 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
10937 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
10938 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
10939 information on tracepoint conditions.
10940
10941 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10942 @cindex set fast tracepoint
10943 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
10944 @kindex ftrace
10945 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
10946 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
10947 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
10948 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
10949 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
10950 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
10951 message.
10952
10953 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
10954 @code{trace}.
10955
10956 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
10957 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
10958 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
10959 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
10960 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
10961 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
10962 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
10963 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
10964
10965 @example
10966 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
10967 @end example
10968
10969 @noindent
10970 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
10971 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
10972
10973 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10974 @cindex set static tracepoint
10975 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
10976 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
10977 @kindex strace
10978 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
10979 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
10980 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
10981 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
10982 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
10983
10984 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
10985 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
10986 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
10987 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
10988 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
10989 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
10990 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
10991 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
10992 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
10993 tracing engine:
10994
10995 @smallexample
10996 main ()
10997 @{
10998 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
10999 @}
11000 @end smallexample
11001
11002 @noindent
11003 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11004 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11005
11006 @smallexample
11007 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11008 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11009 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11010 Data: "str %s"
11011 [etc...]
11012 @end smallexample
11013
11014 @noindent
11015 so you may probe the marker above with:
11016
11017 @smallexample
11018 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11019 @end smallexample
11020
11021 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11022 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11023 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11024 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11025 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11026 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11027 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11028 the @samp{Data:} field.
11029
11030 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11031 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11032 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11033
11034 @vindex $tpnum
11035 @cindex last tracepoint number
11036 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11037 @cindex tracepoint number
11038 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11039 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11040
11041 @kindex delete tracepoint
11042 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11043 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11044 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11045 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11046 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11047
11048 Examples:
11049
11050 @smallexample
11051 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11052
11053 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11054 @end smallexample
11055
11056 @noindent
11057 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11058 @end table
11059
11060 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11061 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11062
11063 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11064
11065 @table @code
11066 @kindex disable tracepoint
11067 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11068 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11069 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11070 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11071 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11072 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11073 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11074 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11075 next trace experiment.
11076
11077 @kindex enable tracepoint
11078 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11079 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11080 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11081 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11082 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11083 next time a trace experiment is run.
11084 @end table
11085
11086 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11087 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11088
11089 @table @code
11090 @kindex passcount
11091 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11092 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11093 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11094 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11095 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11096 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11097 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11098 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11099 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11100 user.
11101
11102 Examples:
11103
11104 @smallexample
11105 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11106 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11107
11108 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11109 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11110 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11111 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11112 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11113 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11114 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11115 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11116 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11117 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11118 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11119 @end smallexample
11120 @end table
11121
11122 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11123 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11124 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11125 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11126
11127 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11128 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11129 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11130 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11131 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11132 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11133 is true.
11134
11135 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11136 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11137 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11138 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11139 just as with breakpoints.
11140
11141 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11142 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11143 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11144 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11145 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11146 accesses, and so forth.
11147
11148 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11149 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11150 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11151 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11152 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11153 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11154 search through.
11155
11156 @smallexample
11157 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11158 @end smallexample
11159
11160 @node Trace State Variables
11161 @subsection Trace State Variables
11162 @cindex trace state variables
11163
11164 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11165 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11166 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11167 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11168 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11169 integers.
11170
11171 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11172 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11173 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11174 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11175
11176 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11177 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11178 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11179 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11180 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11181 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11182 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11183 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11184 variable with the same name.
11185
11186 @table @code
11187
11188 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11189 @kindex tvariable
11190 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11191 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11192 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11193 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11194 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11195 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11196 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11197 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11198 value. The default initial value is 0.
11199
11200 @item info tvariables
11201 @kindex info tvariables
11202 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11203 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11204 currently running.
11205
11206 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11207 @kindex delete tvariable
11208 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11209 are specified.
11210
11211 @end table
11212
11213 @node Tracepoint Actions
11214 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11215
11216 @table @code
11217 @kindex actions
11218 @cindex tracepoint actions
11219 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11220 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11221 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11222 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11223 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11224 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11225 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11226 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11227 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11228 @code{while-stepping}.
11229
11230 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11231 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11232 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11233
11234 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11235 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11236 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11237
11238 @smallexample
11239 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11240
11241 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11242
11243 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11244 @end smallexample
11245
11246 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11247 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11248 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11249 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11250 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11251 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11252 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11253 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11254
11255 @smallexample
11256 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11257 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11258 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11259 > collect bar,baz
11260 > collect $regs
11261 > while-stepping 12
11262 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11263 > end
11264 end
11265 @end smallexample
11266
11267 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11268 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11269 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11270 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11271 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11272 special arguments are supported:
11273
11274 @table @code
11275 @item $regs
11276 Collect all registers.
11277
11278 @item $args
11279 Collect all function arguments.
11280
11281 @item $locals
11282 Collect all local variables.
11283
11284 @item $_ret
11285 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
11286 of a backtrace.
11287
11288 @item $_probe_argc
11289 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
11290 tracepoint is located.
11291 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11292
11293 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
11294 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
11295 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
11296 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
11297
11298 @item $_sdata
11299 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
11300 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
11301 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
11302 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
11303 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
11304 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
11305 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
11306 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
11307 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
11308
11309 @smallexample
11310 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
11311 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
11312 @end smallexample
11313
11314 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
11315 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
11316 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
11317 @value{GDBN}.
11318 @end table
11319
11320 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
11321 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
11322 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
11323
11324 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
11325 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
11326 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
11327 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
11328 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
11329 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
11330 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
11331 @samp{mystr}.
11332
11333 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
11334 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
11335
11336 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
11337 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11338 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
11339 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
11340 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
11341 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
11342 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
11343 action were used.
11344
11345 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
11346 @item while-stepping @var{n}
11347 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
11348 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
11349 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
11350 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
11351
11352 @smallexample
11353 > while-stepping 12
11354 > collect $regs, myglobal
11355 > end
11356 >
11357 @end smallexample
11358
11359 @noindent
11360 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
11361 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
11362 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
11363 @code{stepping}.
11364
11365 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11366 @kindex set default-collect
11367 @cindex default collection action
11368 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
11369 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
11370 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
11371 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
11372 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
11373 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
11374
11375 @item show default-collect
11376 @kindex show default-collect
11377 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
11378 tracepoint hit.
11379
11380 @end table
11381
11382 @node Listing Tracepoints
11383 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
11384
11385 @table @code
11386 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11387 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
11388 @cindex information about tracepoints
11389 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
11390 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
11391 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
11392 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
11393 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
11394 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
11395
11396 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
11397 tracing:
11398
11399 @itemize @bullet
11400 @item
11401 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
11402 @end itemize
11403
11404 @smallexample
11405 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
11406 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
11407 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
11408 while-stepping 20
11409 collect globfoo, $regs
11410 end
11411 collect globfoo2
11412 end
11413 pass count 1200
11414 (@value{GDBP})
11415 @end smallexample
11416
11417 @noindent
11418 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
11419 @end table
11420
11421 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11422 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
11423
11424 @table @code
11425 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
11426 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
11427 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
11428 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
11429 program.
11430
11431 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
11432
11433 @table @emph
11434 @item Count
11435 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
11436 stable identifier.
11437 @item ID
11438 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
11439 @item Enabled or Disabled
11440 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
11441 that are not enabled.
11442 @item Address
11443 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
11444 @item What
11445 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
11446 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
11447 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
11448 will be left blank.
11449 @end table
11450
11451 @noindent
11452 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
11453
11454 @table @emph
11455 @item Data
11456 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
11457 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
11458 marker call.
11459 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
11460 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11461 @end table
11462
11463 @smallexample
11464 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11465 Cnt ID Enb Address What
11466 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
11467 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
11468 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
11469 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
11470 Data: str %s
11471 (@value{GDBP})
11472 @end smallexample
11473 @end table
11474
11475 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11476 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11477
11478 @table @code
11479 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
11480 @cindex start a new trace experiment
11481 @cindex collected data discarded
11482 @item tstart
11483 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
11484 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
11485 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
11486 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
11487 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
11488 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
11489 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
11490 information, and so forth.
11491
11492 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
11493 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
11494 @item tstop
11495 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
11496 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
11497 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
11498 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
11499 needs to be stopped quickly.
11500
11501 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
11502 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
11503 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
11504
11505 @kindex tstatus
11506 @cindex status of trace data collection
11507 @cindex trace experiment, status of
11508 @item tstatus
11509 This command displays the status of the current trace data
11510 collection.
11511 @end table
11512
11513 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
11514
11515 @smallexample
11516 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
11517 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11518 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
11519 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
11520 > while-stepping 11
11521 > collect $regs
11522 > end
11523 > end
11524 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11525 [time passes @dots{}]
11526 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
11527 @end smallexample
11528
11529 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
11530 @cindex disconnected tracing
11531 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
11532 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
11533 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
11534 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
11535 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
11536 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11537 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11538 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11539
11540 @table @code
11541 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11542 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11543 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11544 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11545 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11546 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11547 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11548 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11549
11550 @item show disconnected-tracing
11551 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11552 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11553
11554 @end table
11555
11556 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11557 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11558 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11559 it will continue after reconnection.
11560
11561 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11562 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11563 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11564 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11565 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11566 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11567 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11568 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11569 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11570 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11571
11572 @cindex circular trace buffer
11573 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11574 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11575 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11576 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11577 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11578 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11579 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11580 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11581 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11582 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11583 the next run.
11584
11585 @table @code
11586 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11587 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11588 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11589 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11590 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11591 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11592 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11593
11594 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11595 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11596 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11597 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11598 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11599 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11600
11601 @end table
11602
11603 @table @code
11604 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11605 @kindex set trace-user
11606
11607 @item show trace-user
11608 @kindex show trace-user
11609
11610 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11611 @kindex set trace-notes
11612 Set the trace run's notes.
11613
11614 @item show trace-notes
11615 @kindex show trace-notes
11616 Show the trace run's notes.
11617
11618 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11619 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11620 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11621 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11622 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11623
11624 @item show trace-stop-notes
11625 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11626 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11627
11628 @end table
11629
11630 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11631 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11632
11633 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11634 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11635 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11636 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11637 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11638 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11639 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11640 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11641 mentioned here.
11642
11643 @itemize @bullet
11644
11645 @item
11646 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11647 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11648 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11649 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11650 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11651 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11652 cannot be collected either.
11653
11654 @item
11655 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11656 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11657 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11658 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11659 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11660 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11661 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11662 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11663 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11664 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11665
11666 @item
11667 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11668 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11669 in a misleading way.
11670
11671 @item
11672 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11673 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11674 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11675 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11676 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11677 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11678 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11679 by @code{ptr}.
11680
11681 @item
11682 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11683 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11684 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11685 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11686 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11687 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11688 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11689 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11690 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11691 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11692 invalid address.
11693
11694 @item
11695 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11696 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11697 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11698 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11699 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11700 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11701 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
11702 it to zero.
11703
11704 @end itemize
11705
11706 @node Analyze Collected Data
11707 @section Using the Collected Data
11708
11709 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
11710 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
11711 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
11712 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
11713 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
11714 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
11715 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
11716 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
11717 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
11718 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
11719 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
11720 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
11721 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
11722 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
11723 the buffer will fail.
11724
11725 @menu
11726 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
11727 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
11728 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
11729 @end menu
11730
11731 @node tfind
11732 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
11733
11734 @kindex tfind
11735 @cindex select trace snapshot
11736 @cindex find trace snapshot
11737 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
11738 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
11739 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
11740 snapshot is selected.
11741
11742 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
11743
11744 @table @code
11745 @item tfind start
11746 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
11747 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
11748
11749 @item tfind none
11750 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
11751
11752 @item tfind end
11753 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
11754
11755 @item tfind
11756 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
11757
11758 @item tfind -
11759 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
11760 retracing earlier steps.
11761
11762 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
11763 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
11764 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
11765 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
11766 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
11767
11768 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
11769 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
11770 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
11771 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
11772 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
11773
11774 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11775 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
11776 addresses (exclusive).
11777
11778 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11779 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
11780 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
11781
11782 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
11783 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
11784 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
11785 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
11786 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
11787 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
11788 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
11789 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
11790 @end table
11791
11792 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
11793 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
11794 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
11795 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
11796 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
11797 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
11798 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
11799 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
11800 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
11801 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
11802 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
11803 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
11804 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
11805 tracepoint as the current one.
11806
11807 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
11808 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
11809 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
11810 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
11811 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
11812
11813 @smallexample
11814 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11815 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11816 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
11817 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
11818 > tfind
11819 > end
11820
11821 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
11822 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
11823 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
11824 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
11825 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
11826 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
11827 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
11828 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
11829 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
11830 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
11831 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
11832 @end smallexample
11833
11834 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
11835 the buffer:
11836
11837 @smallexample
11838 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11839 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11840 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
11841 > tfind line
11842 > end
11843
11844 Frame 0, X = 1
11845 Frame 7, X = 2
11846 Frame 13, X = 255
11847 @end smallexample
11848
11849 @node tdump
11850 @subsection @code{tdump}
11851 @kindex tdump
11852 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
11853 @cindex tracepoint data, display
11854
11855 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
11856 the current trace snapshot.
11857
11858 @smallexample
11859 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
11860 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11861 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
11862 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
11863 > end
11864
11865 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11866
11867 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
11868 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
11869 at gdb_test.c:444
11870 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
11871
11872 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
11873 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
11874 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
11875 d1 0x18 24
11876 d2 0x80 128
11877 d3 0x33 51
11878 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
11879 d5 0x22 34
11880 d6 0xe0 224
11881 d7 0x380035 3670069
11882 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
11883 a1 0x3000668 50333288
11884 a2 0x100 256
11885 a3 0x322000 3284992
11886 a4 0x3000698 50333336
11887 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
11888 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
11889 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
11890 ps 0x0 0
11891 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
11892 fpcontrol 0x0 0
11893 fpstatus 0x0 0
11894 fpiaddr 0x0 0
11895 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
11896 p1 = (void *) 0x11
11897 p2 = (void *) 0x22
11898 p3 = (void *) 0x33
11899 p4 = (void *) 0x44
11900 p5 = (void *) 0x55
11901 p6 = (void *) 0x66
11902 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
11903
11904 (@value{GDBP})
11905 @end smallexample
11906
11907 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
11908 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
11909 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
11910 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
11911
11912 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
11913 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
11914 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
11915 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
11916 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
11917 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
11918 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
11919 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
11920 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
11921 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
11922
11923 @node save tracepoints
11924 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
11925 @kindex save tracepoints
11926 @kindex save-tracepoints
11927 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
11928
11929 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
11930 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
11931 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
11932 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
11933 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
11934 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
11935
11936 @node Tracepoint Variables
11937 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
11938 @cindex tracepoint variables
11939 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
11940
11941 @table @code
11942 @vindex $trace_frame
11943 @item (int) $trace_frame
11944 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
11945 snapshot is selected.
11946
11947 @vindex $tracepoint
11948 @item (int) $tracepoint
11949 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
11950
11951 @vindex $trace_line
11952 @item (int) $trace_line
11953 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
11954
11955 @vindex $trace_file
11956 @item (char []) $trace_file
11957 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
11958
11959 @vindex $trace_func
11960 @item (char []) $trace_func
11961 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
11962 @end table
11963
11964 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
11965 use @code{output} instead.
11966
11967 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
11968 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
11969 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
11970 which are managed by the target.
11971
11972 @smallexample
11973 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11974
11975 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
11976 > output $trace_file
11977 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
11978 > tfind
11979 > end
11980 @end smallexample
11981
11982 @node Trace Files
11983 @section Using Trace Files
11984 @cindex trace files
11985
11986 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
11987 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
11988 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
11989 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
11990 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
11991
11992 @table @code
11993
11994 @kindex tsave
11995 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
11996 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
11997 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
11998 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
11999 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12000 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12001 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12002 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12003 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12004
12005 @kindex target tfile
12006 @kindex tfile
12007 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12008 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
12009 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
12010 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
12011 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
12012 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
12013 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
12014
12015 @end table
12016
12017 @node Overlays
12018 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12019 @cindex overlays
12020
12021 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12022 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12023 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12024 use overlays.
12025
12026 @menu
12027 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12028 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12029 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12030 mapped by asking the inferior.
12031 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12032 @end menu
12033
12034 @node How Overlays Work
12035 @section How Overlays Work
12036 @cindex mapped overlays
12037 @cindex unmapped overlays
12038 @cindex load address, overlay's
12039 @cindex mapped address
12040 @cindex overlay area
12041
12042 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12043 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12044 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12045 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12046 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12047
12048 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12049 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12050 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12051 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12052 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12053 largest overlay as well.
12054
12055 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12056 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12057 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12058 there.
12059
12060 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12061 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12062 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12063
12064 @smallexample
12065 @group
12066 Data Instruction Larger
12067 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12068 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12069 | | | | | |
12070 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12071 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12072 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12073 | and heap | | | | | |
12074 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12075 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12076 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12077 | | | | | |
12078 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12079 address | | | | | |
12080 | overlay | <-' | | |
12081 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12082 | | <---. | | load address
12083 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12084 | | | |
12085 +-----------+ | |
12086 +-----------+
12087 | |
12088 +-----------+
12089
12090 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12091 @end group
12092 @end smallexample
12093
12094 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12095 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12096 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12097 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12098 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12099 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12100 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12101 program and the overlay area.
12102
12103 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12104 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12105 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12106 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12107 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12108 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12109 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12110
12111 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12112 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12113 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12114
12115 @itemize @bullet
12116
12117 @item
12118 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12119 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12120 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12121 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12122
12123 @item
12124 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12125 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12126 your program's performance.
12127
12128 @item
12129 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12130 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12131 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12132 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12133 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12134 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12135 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12136
12137 @item
12138 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12139 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12140 instruction and data spaces.
12141
12142 @end itemize
12143
12144 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12145 improved in many ways:
12146
12147 @itemize @bullet
12148
12149 @item
12150 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12151 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12152 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12153 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12154 area in the usual way.
12155
12156 @item
12157 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12158 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12159
12160 @item
12161 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12162 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12163 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12164 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12165 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12166 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12167 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12168
12169 @end itemize
12170
12171
12172 @node Overlay Commands
12173 @section Overlay Commands
12174
12175 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12176 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12177 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12178 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12179 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12180 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12181
12182 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12183 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12184
12185 @table @code
12186 @item overlay off
12187 @kindex overlay
12188 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12189 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12190 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12191 overlay support is disabled.
12192
12193 @item overlay manual
12194 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12195 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12196 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12197 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12198 commands described below.
12199
12200 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12201 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12202 @cindex map an overlay
12203 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12204 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12205 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12206 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12207 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12208 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12209
12210 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12211 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12212 @cindex unmap an overlay
12213 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12214 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12215 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12216 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12217
12218 @item overlay auto
12219 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12220 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12221 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12222 Overlay Debugging}.
12223
12224 @item overlay load-target
12225 @itemx overlay load
12226 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12227 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12228 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12229 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
12230 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
12231 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
12232
12233 @item overlay list-overlays
12234 @itemx overlay list
12235 @cindex listing mapped overlays
12236 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
12237 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
12238
12239 @end table
12240
12241 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
12242 of the function the address falls in:
12243
12244 @smallexample
12245 (@value{GDBP}) print main
12246 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
12247 @end smallexample
12248 @noindent
12249 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
12250 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
12251 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
12252 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
12253
12254 @smallexample
12255 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12256 No sections are mapped.
12257 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12258 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
12259 @end smallexample
12260 @noindent
12261 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
12262 name normally:
12263
12264 @smallexample
12265 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
12266 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
12267 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
12268 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
12269 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
12270 @end smallexample
12271
12272 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
12273 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
12274 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
12275 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
12276 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
12277
12278 @itemize @bullet
12279 @item
12280 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
12281 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
12282 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
12283 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
12284 @item
12285 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
12286 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
12287 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
12288 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
12289 breakpoints properly.
12290 @end itemize
12291
12292
12293 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
12294 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
12295 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
12296
12297 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
12298 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
12299 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
12300 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
12301 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
12302 current state of the overlays.
12303
12304 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
12305 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
12306
12307 @table @asis
12308
12309 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
12310 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
12311
12312 @smallexample
12313 struct
12314 @{
12315 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
12316 unsigned long vma;
12317
12318 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
12319 unsigned long size;
12320
12321 /* The overlay's load address. */
12322 unsigned long lma;
12323
12324 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
12325 zero otherwise. */
12326 unsigned long mapped;
12327 @}
12328 @end smallexample
12329
12330 @item @code{_novlys}:
12331 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
12332 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
12333
12334 @end table
12335
12336 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
12337 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
12338 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
12339 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
12340 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
12341 currently mapped.
12342
12343 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
12344 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
12345 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
12346 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
12347 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
12348 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
12349 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
12350 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
12351 are not being executed.
12352
12353 @node Overlay Sample Program
12354 @section Overlay Sample Program
12355 @cindex overlay example program
12356
12357 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
12358 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
12359 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
12360 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
12361 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
12362 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
12363 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
12364
12365 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
12366 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
12367 suite. The program consists of the following files from
12368 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
12369
12370 @table @file
12371 @item overlays.c
12372 The main program file.
12373 @item ovlymgr.c
12374 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
12375 @item foo.c
12376 @itemx bar.c
12377 @itemx baz.c
12378 @itemx grbx.c
12379 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
12380 @item d10v.ld
12381 @itemx m32r.ld
12382 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
12383 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
12384 @end table
12385
12386 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
12387 cross-compiler like this:
12388
12389 @smallexample
12390 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
12391 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
12392 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
12393 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
12394 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
12395 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
12396 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
12397 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
12398 @end smallexample
12399
12400 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
12401 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
12402 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
12403
12404
12405 @node Languages
12406 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
12407 @cindex languages
12408
12409 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
12410 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
12411 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
12412 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
12413 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
12414 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
12415
12416 @cindex working language
12417 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
12418 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
12419 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
12420 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
12421 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
12422 language}.
12423
12424 @menu
12425 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
12426 * Show:: Displaying the language
12427 * Checks:: Type and range checks
12428 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
12429 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
12430 @end menu
12431
12432 @node Setting
12433 @section Switching Between Source Languages
12434
12435 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
12436 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
12437 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
12438 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
12439 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
12440 are printed, etc.
12441
12442 In addition to the working language, every source file that
12443 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
12444 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
12445 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
12446 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
12447 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
12448 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
12449 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
12450 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
12451 Displaying the Language}.
12452
12453 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
12454 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
12455 another language. In that case, make the
12456 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
12457 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
12458 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
12459
12460 @menu
12461 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
12462 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
12463 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
12464 @end menu
12465
12466 @node Filenames
12467 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
12468
12469 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
12470 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
12471
12472 @table @file
12473 @item .ada
12474 @itemx .ads
12475 @itemx .adb
12476 @itemx .a
12477 Ada source file.
12478
12479 @item .c
12480 C source file
12481
12482 @item .C
12483 @itemx .cc
12484 @itemx .cp
12485 @itemx .cpp
12486 @itemx .cxx
12487 @itemx .c++
12488 C@t{++} source file
12489
12490 @item .d
12491 D source file
12492
12493 @item .m
12494 Objective-C source file
12495
12496 @item .f
12497 @itemx .F
12498 Fortran source file
12499
12500 @item .mod
12501 Modula-2 source file
12502
12503 @item .s
12504 @itemx .S
12505 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
12506 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
12507 @end table
12508
12509 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
12510 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
12511
12512 @node Manually
12513 @subsection Setting the Working Language
12514
12515 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
12516 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
12517 your program.
12518
12519 @kindex set language
12520 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
12521 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
12522 a language, such as
12523 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
12524 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
12525
12526 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
12527 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
12528 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
12529 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
12530 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
12531 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
12532 command such as:
12533
12534 @smallexample
12535 print a = b + c
12536 @end smallexample
12537
12538 @noindent
12539 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12540 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12541 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12542 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12543
12544 @node Automatically
12545 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12546
12547 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12548 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12549 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12550 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12551 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12552 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12553 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12554 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12555 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12556
12557 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12558 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12559 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12560 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12561 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12562
12563 @node Show
12564 @section Displaying the Language
12565
12566 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12567 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12568
12569 @table @code
12570 @item show language
12571 @kindex show language
12572 Display the current working language. This is the
12573 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12574 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12575
12576 @item info frame
12577 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12578 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12579 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12580 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12581 information listed here.
12582
12583 @item info source
12584 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12585 Display the source language of this source file.
12586 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12587 information listed here.
12588 @end table
12589
12590 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12591 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12592 with a language explicitly:
12593
12594 @table @code
12595 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12596 @kindex set extension-language
12597 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12598 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12599
12600 @item info extensions
12601 @kindex info extensions
12602 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12603 @end table
12604
12605 @node Checks
12606 @section Type and Range Checking
12607
12608 @quotation
12609 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
12610 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
12611 section documents the intended facilities.
12612 @end quotation
12613 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
12614
12615 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12616 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12617 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
12618 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12619 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12620 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
12621 errors when your program is running.
12622
12623 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
12624 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
12625 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
12626 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
12627 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
12628 automatically based on your program's source language.
12629 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
12630 settings of supported languages.
12631
12632 @menu
12633 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12634 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12635 @end menu
12636
12637 @cindex type checking
12638 @cindex checks, type
12639 @node Type Checking
12640 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12641
12642 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12643 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12644 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12645 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12646
12647 @smallexample
12648 1 + 2 @result{} 3
12649 @exdent but
12650 @error{} 1 + 2.3
12651 @end smallexample
12652
12653 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
12654 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
12655
12656 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
12657 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
12658 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12659 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
12660 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
12661 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
12662 also issues a warning.
12663
12664 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
12665 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12666 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12667 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12668 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
12669 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
12670
12671 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
12672 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
12673 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
12674 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
12675 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
12676 details on specific languages.
12677
12678 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
12679
12680 @kindex set check type
12681 @kindex show check type
12682 @table @code
12683 @item set check type auto
12684 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
12685 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12686 each language.
12687
12688 @item set check type on
12689 @itemx set check type off
12690 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12691 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
12692 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
12693 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12694 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12695
12696 @item set check type warn
12697 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
12698 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
12699 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
12700 numbers and structures.
12701
12702 @item show type
12703 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
12704 is setting it automatically.
12705 @end table
12706
12707 @cindex range checking
12708 @cindex checks, range
12709 @node Range Checking
12710 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12711
12712 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12713 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12714 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12715 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12716 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12717
12718 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12719 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12720 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12721 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12722
12723 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12724 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12725 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
12726 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
12727 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
12728 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
12729
12730 @smallexample
12731 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
12732 @end smallexample
12733
12734 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
12735 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
12736 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
12737
12738 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
12739
12740 @kindex set check range
12741 @kindex show check range
12742 @table @code
12743 @item set check range auto
12744 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
12745 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12746 each language.
12747
12748 @item set check range on
12749 @itemx set check range off
12750 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12751 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
12752 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
12753 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
12754
12755 @item set check range warn
12756 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
12757 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
12758 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
12759 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
12760 systems).
12761
12762 @item show range
12763 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
12764 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
12765 @end table
12766
12767 @node Supported Languages
12768 @section Supported Languages
12769
12770 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
12771 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
12772 @c This is false ...
12773 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
12774 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
12775 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
12776 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
12777 language.
12778
12779 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
12780 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
12781 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
12782 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
12783 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
12784 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
12785 language reference or tutorial.
12786
12787 @menu
12788 * C:: C and C@t{++}
12789 * D:: D
12790 * Go:: Go
12791 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
12792 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
12793 * Fortran:: Fortran
12794 * Pascal:: Pascal
12795 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
12796 * Ada:: Ada
12797 @end menu
12798
12799 @node C
12800 @subsection C and C@t{++}
12801
12802 @cindex C and C@t{++}
12803 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
12804
12805 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
12806 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
12807 together.
12808
12809 @cindex C@t{++}
12810 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
12811 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
12812 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
12813 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
12814 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
12815 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
12816 compiler (@code{aCC}).
12817
12818 @menu
12819 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
12820 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
12821 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
12822 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
12823 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
12824 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
12825 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
12826 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
12827 @end menu
12828
12829 @node C Operators
12830 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
12831
12832 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
12833
12834 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12835 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12836 often defined on groups of types.
12837
12838 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
12839
12840 @itemize @bullet
12841
12842 @item
12843 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
12844 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
12845
12846 @item
12847 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
12848 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
12849
12850 @item
12851 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
12852
12853 @item
12854 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
12855
12856 @end itemize
12857
12858 @noindent
12859 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
12860 in order of increasing precedence:
12861
12862 @table @code
12863 @item ,
12864 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
12865 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
12866 expression being the last expression evaluated.
12867
12868 @item =
12869 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
12870 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
12871
12872 @item @var{op}=
12873 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
12874 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
12875 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
12876 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
12877 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
12878
12879 @item ?:
12880 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
12881 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
12882 integral type.
12883
12884 @item ||
12885 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12886
12887 @item &&
12888 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12889
12890 @item |
12891 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12892
12893 @item ^
12894 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12895
12896 @item &
12897 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12898
12899 @item ==@r{, }!=
12900 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
12901 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
12902
12903 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
12904 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
12905 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
12906 and non-zero for true.
12907
12908 @item <<@r{, }>>
12909 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
12910
12911 @item @@
12912 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12913
12914 @item +@r{, }-
12915 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
12916 pointer types.
12917
12918 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
12919 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
12920 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
12921 integral types.
12922
12923 @item ++@r{, }--
12924 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
12925 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
12926 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
12927 operation takes place.
12928
12929 @item *
12930 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
12931 @code{++}.
12932
12933 @item &
12934 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
12935
12936 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
12937 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
12938 to examine the address
12939 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
12940 stored.
12941
12942 @item -
12943 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
12944 precedence as @code{++}.
12945
12946 @item !
12947 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12948 @code{++}.
12949
12950 @item ~
12951 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12952 @code{++}.
12953
12954
12955 @item .@r{, }->
12956 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
12957 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
12958 pointer based on the stored type information.
12959 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
12960
12961 @item .*@r{, }->*
12962 Dereferences of pointers to members.
12963
12964 @item []
12965 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
12966 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12967
12968 @item ()
12969 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12970
12971 @item ::
12972 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
12973 and @code{class} types.
12974
12975 @item ::
12976 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
12977 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
12978 above.
12979 @end table
12980
12981 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
12982 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
12983 predefined meaning.
12984
12985 @node C Constants
12986 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
12987
12988 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
12989
12990 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
12991 following ways:
12992
12993 @itemize @bullet
12994 @item
12995 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
12996 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
12997 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
12998 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
12999 @code{long} value.
13000
13001 @item
13002 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13003 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13004 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13005 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13006 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13007 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13008 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13009 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13010 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13011 constant.
13012
13013 @item
13014 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13015 integral equivalents.
13016
13017 @item
13018 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13019 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13020 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13021 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13022 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13023 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13024 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13025 @samp{\n} for newline.
13026
13027 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13028 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13029 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13030 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13031
13032 @item
13033 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13034 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13035 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13036 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13037 characters.
13038
13039 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13040 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13041 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13042
13043 @item
13044 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13045 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13046
13047 @item
13048 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13049 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13050 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13051 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13052 @end itemize
13053
13054 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13055 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13056
13057 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13058 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13059
13060 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13061 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13062 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13063 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13064 @quotation
13065 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13066 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13067 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13068 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13069 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13070 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13071 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13072 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13073 @end quotation
13074
13075 @enumerate
13076
13077 @cindex member functions
13078 @item
13079 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13080
13081 @smallexample
13082 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13083 @end smallexample
13084
13085 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13086 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13087 @item
13088 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13089 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13090 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13091 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13092 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13093
13094 @cindex call overloaded functions
13095 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13096 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13097 @item
13098 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13099 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13100 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13101 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13102 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13103 default arguments.
13104
13105 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13106 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13107 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13108 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13109 number of function arguments.
13110
13111 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13112 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13113 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13114
13115 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13116 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13117 @smallexample
13118 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13119 @end smallexample
13120
13121 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13122 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13123
13124 @cindex reference declarations
13125 @item
13126 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13127 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13128 dereferenced.
13129
13130 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13131 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13132 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13133 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13134 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13135
13136 @item
13137 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13138 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13139 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13140 necessary, for example in an expression like
13141 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13142 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13143 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13144
13145 @item
13146 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13147 specification.
13148 @end enumerate
13149
13150 @node C Defaults
13151 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13152
13153 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13154
13155 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
13156 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13157 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13158 selects the working language.
13159
13160 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13161 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13162 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13163 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13164 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13165 for further details.
13166
13167 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
13168 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
13169 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
13170
13171 @node C Checks
13172 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13173
13174 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13175
13176 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
13177 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
13178 considers two variables type equivalent if:
13179
13180 @itemize @bullet
13181 @item
13182 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
13183 enumerated tag.
13184
13185 @item
13186 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
13187 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
13188
13189 @ignore
13190 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
13191 @c FIXME--beers?
13192 @item
13193 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
13194 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
13195 compilers.)
13196 @end ignore
13197 @end itemize
13198
13199 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13200 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13201 that is not itself an array.
13202
13203 @node Debugging C
13204 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13205
13206 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13207 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13208 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13209 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13210
13211 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13212 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13213 ,Expressions}.
13214
13215 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13216 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13217
13218 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13219
13220 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13221 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13222
13223 @table @code
13224 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13225 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13226 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13227 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13228 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13229 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13230
13231 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13232 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13233 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13234 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13235 classes.
13236 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13237
13238 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13239 @item catch throw
13240 @itemx catch catch
13241 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13242 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13243
13244 @cindex inheritance
13245 @item ptype @var{typename}
13246 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13247 @var{typename}.
13248 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13249
13250 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13251 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13252 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13253 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13254 multiple inheritance is in use.
13255
13256 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13257 @item set print demangle
13258 @itemx show print demangle
13259 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13260 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13261 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13262 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13263 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13264
13265 @item set print object
13266 @itemx show print object
13267 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13268 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13269
13270 @item set print vtbl
13271 @itemx show print vtbl
13272 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13273 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13274 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13275 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13276
13277 @kindex set overload-resolution
13278 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13279 @item set overload-resolution on
13280 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
13281 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
13282 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
13283 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
13284 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
13285 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
13286
13287 @item set overload-resolution off
13288 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
13289 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13290 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
13291 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
13292 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
13293 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
13294 argument types.
13295
13296 @kindex show overload-resolution
13297 @item show overload-resolution
13298 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
13299
13300 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
13301 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
13302 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
13303 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
13304 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
13305 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
13306 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
13307 @end table
13308
13309 @node Decimal Floating Point
13310 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
13311 @cindex decimal floating point format
13312
13313 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
13314 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
13315 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
13316 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
13317
13318 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
13319 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
13320 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
13321 target.
13322
13323 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
13324 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
13325 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
13326
13327 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
13328 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
13329 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
13330
13331 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
13332 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
13333 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
13334
13335 @node D
13336 @subsection D
13337
13338 @cindex D
13339 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
13340 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
13341 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
13342
13343 @node Go
13344 @subsection Go
13345
13346 @cindex Go (programming language)
13347 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
13348 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
13349
13350 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
13351
13352 @table @code
13353 @cindex current Go package
13354 @item The current Go package
13355 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
13356 specifying global variables and functions.
13357
13358 For example, given the program:
13359
13360 @example
13361 package main
13362 var myglob = "Shall we?"
13363 func main () @{
13364 // ...
13365 @}
13366 @end example
13367
13368 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
13369
13370 @example
13371 (gdb) p myglob
13372 (gdb) p main.myglob
13373 @end example
13374
13375 @cindex builtin Go types
13376 @item Builtin Go types
13377 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
13378 as a string.
13379
13380 @cindex builtin Go functions
13381 @item Builtin Go functions
13382 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
13383 function and handles it internally.
13384
13385 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
13386 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
13387 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
13388 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
13389 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
13390 @end table
13391
13392 @node Objective-C
13393 @subsection Objective-C
13394
13395 @cindex Objective-C
13396 This section provides information about some commands and command
13397 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
13398 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
13399 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
13400
13401 @menu
13402 * Method Names in Commands::
13403 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
13404 @end menu
13405
13406 @node Method Names in Commands
13407 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
13408
13409 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
13410 names as line specifications:
13411
13412 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
13413 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
13414 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
13415 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
13416 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
13417 @itemize
13418 @item @code{clear}
13419 @item @code{break}
13420 @item @code{info line}
13421 @item @code{jump}
13422 @item @code{list}
13423 @end itemize
13424
13425 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
13426
13427 @smallexample
13428 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
13429 @end smallexample
13430
13431 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
13432 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
13433 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
13434 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
13435 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
13436 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
13437 debugged, enter:
13438
13439 @smallexample
13440 break -[Fruit create]
13441 @end smallexample
13442
13443 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
13444 enter:
13445
13446 @smallexample
13447 list +[NSText initialize]
13448 @end smallexample
13449
13450 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
13451 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
13452 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
13453 is also possible to specify just a method name:
13454
13455 @smallexample
13456 break create
13457 @end smallexample
13458
13459 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
13460 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
13461 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
13462 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
13463 none apply.
13464
13465 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
13466 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
13467
13468 @smallexample
13469 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
13470 @end smallexample
13471
13472 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
13473 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
13474 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
13475 @kindex print-object
13476 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
13477
13478 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
13479
13480 @smallexample
13481 print -[@var{object} hash]
13482 @end smallexample
13483
13484 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
13485 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
13486 @noindent
13487 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
13488 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
13489 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
13490 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
13491 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
13492 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
13493
13494 @node OpenCL C
13495 @subsection OpenCL C
13496
13497 @cindex OpenCL C
13498 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
13499
13500 @menu
13501 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
13502 * OpenCL C Expressions::
13503 * OpenCL C Operators::
13504 @end menu
13505
13506 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
13507 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
13508
13509 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
13510 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
13511 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
13512 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
13513 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
13514
13515 @node OpenCL C Expressions
13516 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
13517
13518 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
13519 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
13520 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
13521 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
13522
13523 @node OpenCL C Operators
13524 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
13525
13526 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
13527 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
13528 vector data types.
13529
13530 @node Fortran
13531 @subsection Fortran
13532 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
13533
13534 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
13535 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
13536
13537 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
13538 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
13539 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
13540 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
13541 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
13542 underscore.
13543
13544 @menu
13545 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
13546 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
13547 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
13548 @end menu
13549
13550 @node Fortran Operators
13551 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
13552
13553 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
13554
13555 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13556 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
13557 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
13558
13559 @table @code
13560 @item **
13561 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
13562 of the second one.
13563
13564 @item :
13565 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
13566 represent a section of array.
13567
13568 @item %
13569 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
13570 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
13571 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
13572 union type.
13573 @end table
13574
13575 @node Fortran Defaults
13576 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
13577
13578 @cindex Fortran Defaults
13579
13580 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
13581 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
13582 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
13583 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
13584
13585 @node Special Fortran Commands
13586 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
13587
13588 @cindex Special Fortran commands
13589
13590 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
13591 such as displaying common blocks.
13592
13593 @table @code
13594 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13595 @kindex info common
13596 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13597 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13598 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13599 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13600 printed.
13601 @end table
13602
13603 @node Pascal
13604 @subsection Pascal
13605
13606 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13607 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13608 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13609 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13610 syntax.
13611
13612 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13613 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13614 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13615
13616 @node Modula-2
13617 @subsection Modula-2
13618
13619 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13620
13621 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13622 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13623 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13624 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13625 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13626 table.
13627
13628 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13629 @menu
13630 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13631 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13632 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13633 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13634 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13635 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13636 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13637 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13638 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13639 @end menu
13640
13641 @node M2 Operators
13642 @subsubsection Operators
13643 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13644
13645 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13646 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13647 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13648 following definitions hold:
13649
13650 @itemize @bullet
13651
13652 @item
13653 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13654 their subranges.
13655
13656 @item
13657 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13658
13659 @item
13660 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13661
13662 @item
13663 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13664 @var{type}}.
13665
13666 @item
13667 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13668
13669 @item
13670 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13671
13672 @item
13673 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13674 @end itemize
13675
13676 @noindent
13677 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13678 increasing precedence:
13679
13680 @table @code
13681 @item ,
13682 Function argument or array index separator.
13683
13684 @item :=
13685 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13686 @var{value}.
13687
13688 @item <@r{, }>
13689 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13690 types.
13691
13692 @item <=@r{, }>=
13693 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13694 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13695 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13696
13697 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13698 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13699 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13700 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13701 comment character.
13702
13703 @item IN
13704 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13705 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13706
13707 @item OR
13708 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13709
13710 @item AND@r{, }&
13711 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13712
13713 @item @@
13714 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13715
13716 @item +@r{, }-
13717 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13718 and difference on set types.
13719
13720 @item *
13721 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13722 on set types.
13723
13724 @item /
13725 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13726 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13727
13728 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
13729 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13730 precedence as @code{*}.
13731
13732 @item -
13733 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13734
13735 @item ^
13736 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13737
13738 @item NOT
13739 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13740 @code{^}.
13741
13742 @item .
13743 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13744 precedence as @code{^}.
13745
13746 @item []
13747 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
13748
13749 @item ()
13750 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
13751 as @code{^}.
13752
13753 @item ::@r{, }.
13754 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
13755 @end table
13756
13757 @quotation
13758 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
13759 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
13760 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
13761 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
13762 @end quotation
13763
13764
13765 @node Built-In Func/Proc
13766 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
13767 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
13768
13769 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
13770 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
13771
13772 @table @var
13773
13774 @item a
13775 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
13776
13777 @item c
13778 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
13779
13780 @item i
13781 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
13782
13783 @item m
13784 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
13785 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
13786 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
13787
13788 @item n
13789 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
13790
13791 @item r
13792 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
13793
13794 @item t
13795 represents a type.
13796
13797 @item v
13798 represents a variable.
13799
13800 @item x
13801 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
13802 explanation of the function for details.
13803 @end table
13804
13805 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
13806
13807 @table @code
13808 @item ABS(@var{n})
13809 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
13810
13811 @item CAP(@var{c})
13812 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
13813 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
13814
13815 @item CHR(@var{i})
13816 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13817
13818 @item DEC(@var{v})
13819 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13820
13821 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
13822 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13823 new value.
13824
13825 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13826 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
13827 set.
13828
13829 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
13830 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
13831
13832 @item HIGH(@var{a})
13833 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
13834
13835 @item INC(@var{v})
13836 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13837
13838 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
13839 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13840 new value.
13841
13842 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13843 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
13844 there. Returns the new set.
13845
13846 @item MAX(@var{t})
13847 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
13848
13849 @item MIN(@var{t})
13850 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
13851
13852 @item ODD(@var{i})
13853 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
13854
13855 @item ORD(@var{x})
13856 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
13857 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
13858 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
13859 integral, character and enumerated types.
13860
13861 @item SIZE(@var{x})
13862 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13863
13864 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
13865 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
13866
13867 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
13868 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13869
13870 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
13871 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13872 @end table
13873
13874 @quotation
13875 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
13876 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
13877 an error.
13878 @end quotation
13879
13880 @cindex Modula-2 constants
13881 @node M2 Constants
13882 @subsubsection Constants
13883
13884 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
13885 ways:
13886
13887 @itemize @bullet
13888
13889 @item
13890 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
13891 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
13892 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
13893 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
13894
13895 @item
13896 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
13897 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
13898 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
13899 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
13900 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
13901 digits.
13902
13903 @item
13904 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
13905 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
13906 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
13907 followed by a @samp{C}.
13908
13909 @item
13910 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
13911 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
13912 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
13913 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
13914 sequences.
13915
13916 @item
13917 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
13918
13919 @item
13920 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
13921 @code{FALSE}.
13922
13923 @item
13924 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
13925
13926 @item
13927 Set constants are not yet supported.
13928 @end itemize
13929
13930 @node M2 Types
13931 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
13932 @cindex Modula-2 types
13933
13934 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
13935 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
13936 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
13937 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
13938 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
13939 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
13940
13941 The first example contains the following section of code:
13942
13943 @smallexample
13944 VAR
13945 s: SET OF CHAR ;
13946 r: [20..40] ;
13947 @end smallexample
13948
13949 @noindent
13950 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
13951 @code{r} and @code{s}.
13952
13953 @smallexample
13954 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13955 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
13956 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13957 SET OF CHAR
13958 (@value{GDBP}) print r
13959 21
13960 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
13961 [20..40]
13962 @end smallexample
13963
13964 @noindent
13965 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
13966
13967 @smallexample
13968 VAR
13969 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
13970 @end smallexample
13971
13972 @noindent
13973 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
13974
13975 @smallexample
13976 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13977 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
13978 @end smallexample
13979
13980 @noindent
13981 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
13982 expressions using the debugger.
13983
13984 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
13985 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
13986
13987 @smallexample
13988 VAR
13989 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
13990 @end smallexample
13991
13992 @smallexample
13993 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13994 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
13995 @end smallexample
13996
13997 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
13998 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
13999 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14000 above.
14001
14002 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14003
14004 @smallexample
14005 TYPE
14006 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14007 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14008 VAR
14009 s: t ;
14010 BEGIN
14011 s := blue ;
14012 @end smallexample
14013
14014 @noindent
14015 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14016 and value of a variable.
14017
14018 @smallexample
14019 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14020 $1 = blue
14021 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14022 type = [blue..yellow]
14023 @end smallexample
14024
14025 @noindent
14026 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14027 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14028 their @code{C} counterparts.
14029
14030 @smallexample
14031 VAR
14032 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14033 BEGIN
14034 s[1] := 1 ;
14035 @end smallexample
14036
14037 @smallexample
14038 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14039 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14040 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14041 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14042 @end smallexample
14043
14044 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14045 pointer types as shown in this example:
14046
14047 @smallexample
14048 VAR
14049 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14050 BEGIN
14051 NEW(s) ;
14052 s^[1] := 1 ;
14053 @end smallexample
14054
14055 @noindent
14056 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14057
14058 @smallexample
14059 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14060 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14061 @end smallexample
14062
14063 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14064 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14065 types:
14066
14067 @smallexample
14068 TYPE
14069 foo = RECORD
14070 f1: CARDINAL ;
14071 f2: CHAR ;
14072 f3: myarray ;
14073 END ;
14074
14075 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14076 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14077 VAR
14078 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14079 @end smallexample
14080
14081 @noindent
14082 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14083 below.
14084
14085 @smallexample
14086 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14087 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14088 f1 : CARDINAL;
14089 f2 : CHAR;
14090 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14091 END
14092 @end smallexample
14093
14094 @node M2 Defaults
14095 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14096 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14097
14098 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14099 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14100 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14101 selected the working language.
14102
14103 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14104 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14105 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14106 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14107
14108 @node Deviations
14109 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14110 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14111
14112 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14113 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14114
14115 @itemize @bullet
14116 @item
14117 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14118 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14119 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14120 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14121 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14122 returned a pointer.)
14123
14124 @item
14125 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14126 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14127 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14128 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14129
14130 @item
14131 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14132 argument.
14133
14134 @item
14135 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14136 @end itemize
14137
14138 @node M2 Checks
14139 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14140 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14141
14142 @quotation
14143 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14144 range checking.
14145 @end quotation
14146 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14147
14148 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14149
14150 @itemize @bullet
14151 @item
14152 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14153 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14154
14155 @item
14156 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14157 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14158 @end itemize
14159
14160 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14161 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14162
14163 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14164 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14165
14166 @node M2 Scope
14167 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14168 @cindex scope
14169 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14170 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14171 @ifinfo
14172 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14173 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14174 @end ifinfo
14175 @ifnotinfo
14176 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14177 @end ifnotinfo
14178
14179 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14180 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14181 similar syntax:
14182
14183 @smallexample
14184
14185 @var{module} . @var{id}
14186 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14187 @end smallexample
14188
14189 @noindent
14190 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14191 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14192 identifier within your program, except another module.
14193
14194 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14195 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14196 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14197 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14198
14199 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14200 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14201 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14202 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14203 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14204 @var{module}.
14205
14206 @node GDB/M2
14207 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14208
14209 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14210 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14211 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14212 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14213 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14214 analogue in Modula-2.
14215
14216 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14217 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14218 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14219 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14220 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14221 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14222
14223 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14224 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14225 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14226
14227 @node Ada
14228 @subsection Ada
14229 @cindex Ada
14230
14231 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14232 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14233 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14234 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14235 to be difficult.
14236
14237
14238 @cindex expressions in Ada
14239 @menu
14240 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14241 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14242 in @value{GDBN}.
14243 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14244 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14245 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14246 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14247 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14248 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14249 Profile
14250 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14251 @end menu
14252
14253 @node Ada Mode Intro
14254 @subsubsection Introduction
14255 @cindex Ada mode, general
14256
14257 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14258 syntax, with some extensions.
14259 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14260
14261 @itemize @bullet
14262 @item
14263 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14264 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14265 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14266 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14267
14268 @item
14269 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14270 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14271
14272 @item
14273 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14274 @end itemize
14275
14276 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14277 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14278 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14279 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
14280 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
14281
14282 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
14283 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
14284 was translated from an Ada source file.
14285
14286 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
14287 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
14288 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
14289 middle (to allow based literals).
14290
14291 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
14292 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
14293 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
14294 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
14295 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
14296 functions to procedures elsewhere.
14297
14298 @node Omissions from Ada
14299 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
14300 @cindex Ada, omissions from
14301
14302 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
14303
14304 @itemize @bullet
14305 @item
14306 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
14307
14308 @itemize @minus
14309 @item
14310 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
14311 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
14312
14313 @item
14314 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
14315
14316 @item
14317 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
14318
14319 @item
14320 @t{'Tag}.
14321
14322 @item
14323 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
14324 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
14325
14326 @item
14327 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
14328 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
14329
14330 @item
14331 @t{'Address}.
14332 @end itemize
14333
14334 @item
14335 The names in
14336 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
14337 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
14338 not currently available.
14339
14340 @item
14341 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
14342 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
14343 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
14344 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
14345 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
14346 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
14347 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
14348 indeterminate values.
14349
14350 @item
14351 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
14352 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
14353 are not implemented.
14354
14355 @item
14356 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
14357 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
14358 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
14359 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
14360 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
14361
14362 @smallexample
14363 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
14364 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
14365 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
14366 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
14367 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
14368 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
14369 @end smallexample
14370
14371 Changing a
14372 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
14373 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
14374 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
14375 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
14376 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
14377 declared to have a type such as:
14378
14379 @smallexample
14380 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
14381 Id : Integer;
14382 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
14383 end record;
14384 @end smallexample
14385
14386 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
14387 assignments:
14388
14389 @smallexample
14390 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
14391 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
14392 @end smallexample
14393
14394 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
14395 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
14396 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
14397 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
14398 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
14399 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
14400 redundant component associations, although which component values are
14401 assigned in such cases is not defined.
14402
14403 @item
14404 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
14405
14406 @item
14407 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
14408 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
14409 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
14410 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
14411 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
14412 the proper resolution.
14413
14414 @item
14415 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
14416
14417 @item
14418 Entry calls are not implemented.
14419
14420 @item
14421 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
14422 formats are not supported.
14423
14424 @item
14425 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
14426
14427 @item
14428 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
14429 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
14430 context.
14431 Should your program
14432 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
14433 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
14434 @end itemize
14435
14436 @node Additions to Ada
14437 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
14438 @cindex Ada, deviations from
14439
14440 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
14441 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
14442
14443 @itemize @bullet
14444 @item
14445 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
14446 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
14447 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
14448 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
14449 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
14450 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
14451 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
14452 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
14453
14454 @item
14455 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
14456 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
14457 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
14458
14459 @item
14460 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
14461 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
14462
14463 @item
14464 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
14465 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
14466 @end itemize
14467
14468 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
14469 additions specific to Ada:
14470
14471 @itemize @bullet
14472 @item
14473 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
14474 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
14475
14476 @smallexample
14477 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
14478 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
14479 @end smallexample
14480
14481 @item
14482 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
14483 the value of its right-hand operand.
14484 This allows, for example,
14485 complex conditional breaks:
14486
14487 @smallexample
14488 (@value{GDBP}) break f
14489 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
14490 @end smallexample
14491
14492 @item
14493 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
14494 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
14495 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
14496 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
14497 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
14498 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
14499 in strings. For example,
14500 @smallexample
14501 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
14502 @end smallexample
14503 @noindent
14504 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
14505 after each period.
14506
14507 @item
14508 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
14509 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
14510 to write
14511
14512 @smallexample
14513 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
14514 @end smallexample
14515
14516 @item
14517 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
14518 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
14519 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
14520 of 3 might print as
14521
14522 @smallexample
14523 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
14524 @end smallexample
14525
14526 @noindent
14527 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
14528 clause.
14529
14530 @item
14531 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
14532 multi-character subsequence of
14533 their names (an exact match gets preference).
14534 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
14535 in place of @t{a'length}.
14536
14537 @item
14538 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
14539 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
14540 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
14541 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
14542 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
14543 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
14544 For example,
14545 @smallexample
14546 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
14547 @end smallexample
14548
14549 @item
14550 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
14551 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
14552 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
14553 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
14554 object.
14555
14556 @end itemize
14557
14558 @node Stopping Before Main Program
14559 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
14560
14561 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
14562 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
14563 before reaching the main procedure.
14564 As defined in the Ada Reference
14565 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
14566 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
14567 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
14568 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
14569
14570 @node Ada Tasks
14571 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
14572 @cindex Ada, tasking
14573
14574 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
14575 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
14576
14577 @table @code
14578 @kindex info tasks
14579 @item info tasks
14580 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
14581
14582
14583 @smallexample
14584 @iftex
14585 @leftskip=0.5cm
14586 @end iftex
14587 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14588 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14589 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14590 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
14591 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
14592 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14593
14594 @end smallexample
14595
14596 @noindent
14597 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14598 task currently being inspected.
14599
14600 @table @asis
14601 @item ID
14602 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14603
14604 @item TID
14605 The Ada task ID.
14606
14607 @item P-ID
14608 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14609
14610 @item Pri
14611 The base priority of the task.
14612
14613 @item State
14614 Current state of the task.
14615
14616 @table @code
14617 @item Unactivated
14618 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14619 executing.
14620
14621 @item Runnable
14622 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14623 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14624
14625 @item Terminated
14626 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14627 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14628 terminated themselves.
14629
14630 @item Child Activation Wait
14631 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14632
14633 @item Accept Statement
14634 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14635
14636 @item Waiting on entry call
14637 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14638
14639 @item Async Select Wait
14640 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14641 select statement.
14642
14643 @item Delay Sleep
14644 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14645 alternative open.
14646
14647 @item Child Termination Wait
14648 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14649 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14650 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14651
14652 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14653 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14654 finish terminating.
14655
14656 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14657 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14658 @end table
14659
14660 @item Name
14661 Name of the task in the program.
14662
14663 @end table
14664
14665 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14666 @item info task @var{taskno}
14667 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14668 the following example:
14669 @smallexample
14670 @iftex
14671 @leftskip=0.5cm
14672 @end iftex
14673 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14674 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14675 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14676 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14677 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14678 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14679 Name: task_1
14680 Thread: 0x807f378
14681 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14682 Base Priority: 15
14683 State: Runnable
14684 @end smallexample
14685
14686 @item task
14687 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14688 @cindex current Ada task ID
14689 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14690
14691 @smallexample
14692 @iftex
14693 @leftskip=0.5cm
14694 @end iftex
14695 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14696 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14697 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14698 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14699 (@value{GDBP}) task
14700 [Current task is 2]
14701 @end smallexample
14702
14703 @item task @var{taskno}
14704 @cindex Ada task switching
14705 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14706 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14707 from the current task to the given task.
14708
14709 @smallexample
14710 @iftex
14711 @leftskip=0.5cm
14712 @end iftex
14713 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14714 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14715 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14716 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14717 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14718 [Switching to task 1]
14719 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14720 (@value{GDBP}) bt
14721 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14722 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14723 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14724 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14725 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14726 @end smallexample
14727
14728 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14729 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14730 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14731 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14732 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14733 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14734 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14735 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14736 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14737
14738 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14739 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14740 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14741 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14742 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14743
14744 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14745 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
14746 program.
14747
14748 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
14749 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
14750 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
14751
14752 For example,
14753
14754 @smallexample
14755 @iftex
14756 @leftskip=0.5cm
14757 @end iftex
14758 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14759 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14760 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14761 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
14762 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14763 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
14764 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
14765 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
14766 (@value{GDBP}) cont
14767 Continuing.
14768 task # 1 running
14769 task # 2 running
14770
14771 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
14772 15 flush;
14773 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14774 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14775 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14776 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
14777 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14778 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
14779 @end smallexample
14780 @end table
14781
14782 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
14783 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14784 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
14785
14786 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
14787 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
14788 the platform being used.
14789 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
14790 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
14791 as usual.
14792
14793 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
14794 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
14795 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
14796 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
14797 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
14798 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
14799
14800 @node Ravenscar Profile
14801 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
14802 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
14803
14804 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
14805 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
14806 requirements.
14807
14808 @table @code
14809 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
14810 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
14811 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
14812 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14813 Profile. This is the default.
14814
14815 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
14816 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
14817 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14818 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
14819 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
14820 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
14821 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
14822
14823 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
14824 @item show ravenscar task-switching
14825 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
14826 using the Ravenscar Profile.
14827
14828 @end table
14829
14830 @node Ada Glitches
14831 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
14832 @cindex Ada, problems
14833
14834 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
14835 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
14836 @value{GDBN},
14837 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
14838 and the GNU Ada compiler.
14839
14840 @itemize @bullet
14841 @item
14842 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
14843 storage are invisible to the debugger.
14844
14845 @item
14846 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
14847 argument lists are treated as positional).
14848
14849 @item
14850 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
14851
14852 @item
14853 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
14854 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
14855 the host machine.
14856
14857 @item
14858 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
14859 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
14860 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
14861 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
14862 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
14863 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
14864 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
14865 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
14866 you can usually resolve the confusion
14867 by qualifying the problematic names with package
14868 @code{Standard} explicitly.
14869 @end itemize
14870
14871 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
14872 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
14873 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
14874 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
14875 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
14876 enabled.
14877
14878 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14879 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14880 @table @code
14881
14882 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
14883 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
14884 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
14885 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
14886 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
14887 This is the default.
14888
14889 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
14890 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
14891 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
14892 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
14893 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
14894 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
14895 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
14896
14897 @end table
14898
14899 @node Unsupported Languages
14900 @section Unsupported Languages
14901
14902 @cindex unsupported languages
14903 @cindex minimal language
14904 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
14905 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
14906 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
14907 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
14908 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
14909 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
14910
14911 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
14912 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
14913 language.
14914
14915 @node Symbols
14916 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
14917
14918 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
14919 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
14920 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
14921 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
14922 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
14923 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
14924 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14925
14926 @cindex symbol names
14927 @cindex names of symbols
14928 @cindex quoting names
14929 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
14930 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
14931 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
14932 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
14933 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
14934 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
14935 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
14936 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
14937
14938 @smallexample
14939 p 'foo.c'::x
14940 @end smallexample
14941
14942 @noindent
14943 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
14944
14945 @table @code
14946 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
14947 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
14948 @kindex set case-sensitive
14949 @item set case-sensitive on
14950 @itemx set case-sensitive off
14951 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
14952 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
14953 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
14954 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
14955 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
14956 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
14957 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
14958 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
14959 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
14960 case-insensitive matches.
14961
14962 @kindex show case-sensitive
14963 @item show case-sensitive
14964 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
14965 lookups.
14966
14967 @kindex info address
14968 @cindex address of a symbol
14969 @item info address @var{symbol}
14970 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
14971 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
14972 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
14973 is always stored.
14974
14975 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
14976 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
14977 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
14978
14979 @kindex info symbol
14980 @cindex symbol from address
14981 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
14982 @item info symbol @var{addr}
14983 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
14984 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
14985 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
14986
14987 @smallexample
14988 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
14989 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
14990 @end smallexample
14991
14992 @noindent
14993 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
14994 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
14995
14996 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
14997 library containing the symbol is also printed:
14998
14999 @smallexample
15000 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15001 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15002 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15003 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15004 @end smallexample
15005
15006 @kindex whatis
15007 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
15008 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15009 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15010 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15011
15012 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15013 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15014 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15015
15016 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15017 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15018 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15019 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15020 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15021 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15022 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15023 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15024 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15025
15026 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15027 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15028 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15029 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15030 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15031 unroll it.
15032
15033 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15034 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15035 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15036
15037 @kindex ptype
15038 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
15039 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15040 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15041 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15042
15043 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15044 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15045 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15046 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15047 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15048 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15049 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15050 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15051
15052 For example, for this variable declaration:
15053
15054 @smallexample
15055 typedef double real_t;
15056 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15057 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15058 complex_t var;
15059 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15060 @end smallexample
15061
15062 @noindent
15063 the two commands give this output:
15064
15065 @smallexample
15066 @group
15067 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15068 type = complex_t
15069 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15070 type = struct complex @{
15071 real_t real;
15072 double imag;
15073 @}
15074 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15075 type = struct complex
15076 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15077 type = struct complex
15078 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15079 type = struct complex @{
15080 real_t real;
15081 double imag;
15082 @}
15083 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15084 type = real_t *
15085 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15086 type = double *
15087 @end group
15088 @end smallexample
15089
15090 @noindent
15091 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15092 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15093
15094 @cindex incomplete type
15095 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15096 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15097 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15098 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15099 given these declarations:
15100
15101 @smallexample
15102 struct foo;
15103 struct foo *fooptr;
15104 @end smallexample
15105
15106 @noindent
15107 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15108
15109 @smallexample
15110 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15111 $1 = <incomplete type>
15112 @end smallexample
15113
15114 @noindent
15115 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15116 completely specified.
15117
15118 @kindex info types
15119 @item info types @var{regexp}
15120 @itemx info types
15121 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15122 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15123 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15124 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15125 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15126 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15127 name is @code{value}.
15128
15129 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15130 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15131 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15132
15133 @kindex info scope
15134 @cindex local variables
15135 @item info scope @var{location}
15136 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15137 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15138 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15139 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15140 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15141
15142 @smallexample
15143 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15144 Scope for command_line_handler:
15145 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15146 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15147 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15148 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15149 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15150 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15151 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15152 @end smallexample
15153
15154 @noindent
15155 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15156 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15157 collect}.
15158
15159 @kindex info source
15160 @item info source
15161 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15162 the function containing the current point of execution:
15163 @itemize @bullet
15164 @item
15165 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15166 @item
15167 the directory it was compiled in,
15168 @item
15169 its length, in lines,
15170 @item
15171 which programming language it is written in,
15172 @item
15173 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15174 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15175 @item
15176 whether the debugging information includes information about
15177 preprocessor macros.
15178 @end itemize
15179
15180
15181 @kindex info sources
15182 @item info sources
15183 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15184 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15185 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15186
15187 @kindex info functions
15188 @item info functions
15189 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15190
15191 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15192 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15193 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15194 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15195 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15196 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15197 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15198 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15199
15200 @kindex info variables
15201 @item info variables
15202 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
15203 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
15204
15205 @item info variables @var{regexp}
15206 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
15207 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
15208 @var{regexp}.
15209
15210 @kindex info classes
15211 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
15212 @item info classes
15213 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
15214 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
15215 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15216 expression.
15217
15218 @kindex info selectors
15219 @item info selectors
15220 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
15221 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
15222 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
15223 expression.
15224
15225 @ignore
15226 This was never implemented.
15227 @kindex info methods
15228 @item info methods
15229 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
15230 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
15231 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
15232 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
15233 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
15234 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
15235 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
15236 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
15237 @end ignore
15238
15239 @cindex opaque data types
15240 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
15241 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
15242 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
15243 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
15244 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
15245 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
15246 another source file. The default is on.
15247
15248 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
15249 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
15250
15251 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
15252 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
15253 is printed as follows:
15254 @smallexample
15255 @{<no data fields>@}
15256 @end smallexample
15257
15258 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
15259 @item show opaque-type-resolution
15260 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
15261
15262 @kindex maint print symbols
15263 @cindex symbol dump
15264 @kindex maint print psymbols
15265 @cindex partial symbol dump
15266 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
15267 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
15268 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
15269 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
15270 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
15271 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
15272 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
15273 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
15274 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
15275 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
15276 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
15277 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
15278 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
15279 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
15280 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
15281 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
15282 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
15283
15284 @kindex maint info symtabs
15285 @kindex maint info psymtabs
15286 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
15287 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15288 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15289 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
15290 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15291 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
15292
15293 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
15294 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
15295 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
15296 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
15297 structure in more detail. For example:
15298
15299 @smallexample
15300 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
15301 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15302 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15303 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15304 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
15305 readin no
15306 fullname (null)
15307 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
15308 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
15309 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
15310 dependencies (none)
15311 @}
15312 @}
15313 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15314 (@value{GDBP})
15315 @end smallexample
15316 @noindent
15317 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
15318 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
15319 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
15320 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
15321 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
15322
15323 @smallexample
15324 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
15325 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
15326 line 1574.
15327 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
15328 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
15329 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
15330 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
15331 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
15332 dirname (null)
15333 fullname (null)
15334 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
15335 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
15336 debugformat DWARF 2
15337 @}
15338 @}
15339 (@value{GDBP})
15340 @end smallexample
15341 @end table
15342
15343
15344 @node Altering
15345 @chapter Altering Execution
15346
15347 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
15348 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
15349 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
15350 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
15351 program.
15352
15353 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
15354 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
15355 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
15356
15357 @menu
15358 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
15359 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
15360 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
15361 * Returning:: Returning from a function
15362 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
15363 * Patching:: Patching your program
15364 @end menu
15365
15366 @node Assignment
15367 @section Assignment to Variables
15368
15369 @cindex assignment
15370 @cindex setting variables
15371 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
15372 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
15373
15374 @smallexample
15375 print x=4
15376 @end smallexample
15377
15378 @noindent
15379 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
15380 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
15381 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
15382 information on operators in supported languages.
15383
15384 @kindex set variable
15385 @cindex variables, setting
15386 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
15387 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
15388 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
15389 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
15390 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
15391
15392 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
15393 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
15394 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
15395 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
15396 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
15397 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
15398 command @code{set width}:
15399
15400 @smallexample
15401 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
15402 type = double
15403 (@value{GDBP}) p width
15404 $4 = 13
15405 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
15406 Invalid syntax in expression.
15407 @end smallexample
15408
15409 @noindent
15410 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
15411 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
15412
15413 @smallexample
15414 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
15415 @end smallexample
15416
15417 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
15418 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
15419 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
15420 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
15421 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
15422 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
15423
15424 @smallexample
15425 @group
15426 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
15427 type = double
15428 (@value{GDBP}) p g
15429 $1 = 1
15430 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
15431 (@value{GDBP}) p g
15432 $2 = 1
15433 (@value{GDBP}) r
15434 The program being debugged has been started already.
15435 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
15436 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
15437 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
15438 Invalid bfd target.
15439 (@value{GDBP}) show g
15440 The current BFD target is "=4".
15441 @end group
15442 @end smallexample
15443
15444 @noindent
15445 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
15446 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
15447 @code{g}, use
15448
15449 @smallexample
15450 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
15451 @end smallexample
15452
15453 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
15454 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
15455 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
15456 same length or shorter.
15457 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
15458 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
15459
15460 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
15461 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
15462 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
15463 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
15464 and representation in memory), and
15465
15466 @smallexample
15467 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
15468 @end smallexample
15469
15470 @noindent
15471 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
15472
15473 @node Jumping
15474 @section Continuing at a Different Address
15475
15476 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
15477 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
15478 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
15479
15480 @table @code
15481 @kindex jump
15482 @item jump @var{linespec}
15483 @itemx jump @var{location}
15484 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
15485 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
15486 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
15487 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
15488 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
15489 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
15490
15491 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
15492 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
15493 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
15494 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
15495 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
15496 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
15497 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
15498 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
15499 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
15500 @end table
15501
15502 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
15503 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
15504 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
15505 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
15506 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
15507 example,
15508
15509 @smallexample
15510 set $pc = 0x485
15511 @end smallexample
15512
15513 @noindent
15514 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
15515 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
15516 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
15517
15518 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
15519 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
15520 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
15521 detail.
15522
15523 @c @group
15524 @node Signaling
15525 @section Giving your Program a Signal
15526 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
15527
15528 @table @code
15529 @kindex signal
15530 @item signal @var{signal}
15531 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
15532 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
15533 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
15534 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
15535
15536 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
15537 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
15538 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
15539 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
15540 signal.
15541
15542 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
15543 after executing the command.
15544 @end table
15545 @c @end group
15546
15547 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
15548 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
15549 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
15550 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
15551 passes the signal directly to your program.
15552
15553
15554 @node Returning
15555 @section Returning from a Function
15556
15557 @table @code
15558 @cindex returning from a function
15559 @kindex return
15560 @item return
15561 @itemx return @var{expression}
15562 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
15563 command. If you give an
15564 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
15565 value.
15566 @end table
15567
15568 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15569 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15570 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15571 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15572
15573 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15574 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15575 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15576 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15577 of functions.
15578
15579 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15580 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15581 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15582 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15583 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15584
15585 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15586 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15587 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15588 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15589 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15590 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15591 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15592 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15593 assignment into the right register(s).
15594
15595 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15596 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15597 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15598 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15599 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15600 into a @code{long long int}:
15601
15602 @smallexample
15603 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15604 29 return 31;
15605 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15606 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15607 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15608 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15609 (@value{GDBP})
15610 @end smallexample
15611
15612 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
15613 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
15614 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
15615 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
15616 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
15617 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
15618 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
15619 an appropriate cast explicitly:
15620
15621 @smallexample
15622 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
15623 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15624 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
15625 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
15626 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
15627 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
15628 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
15629 (@value{GDBP})
15630 @end smallexample
15631
15632 @node Calling
15633 @section Calling Program Functions
15634
15635 @table @code
15636 @cindex calling functions
15637 @cindex inferior functions, calling
15638 @item print @var{expr}
15639 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
15640 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
15641 debugged.
15642
15643 @kindex call
15644 @item call @var{expr}
15645 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15646 returned values.
15647
15648 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15649 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15650 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15651 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15652 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15653 value history.
15654 @end table
15655
15656 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15657 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15658 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15659 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15660
15661 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15662 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15663 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15664 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15665 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15666 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
15667 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
15668 in that case is controlled by the
15669 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
15670
15671 @table @code
15672 @item set unwindonsignal
15673 @kindex set unwindonsignal
15674 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
15675 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
15676 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
15677 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
15678 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
15679 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
15680 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
15681 received.
15682
15683 @item show unwindonsignal
15684 @kindex show unwindonsignal
15685 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15686 @value{GDBN}.
15687
15688 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15689 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15690 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
15691 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
15692 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
15693 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
15694 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
15695 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
15696 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
15697 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
15698
15699 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15700 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15701 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15702 @value{GDBN}.
15703
15704 @end table
15705
15706 @cindex weak alias functions
15707 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
15708 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
15709 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
15710 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
15711 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
15712 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
15713 function instead.
15714
15715 @node Patching
15716 @section Patching Programs
15717
15718 @cindex patching binaries
15719 @cindex writing into executables
15720 @cindex writing into corefiles
15721
15722 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
15723 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
15724 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
15725 patching your program's binary.
15726
15727 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
15728 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
15729 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
15730 repairs.
15731
15732 @table @code
15733 @kindex set write
15734 @item set write on
15735 @itemx set write off
15736 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
15737 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
15738 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
15739
15740 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
15741 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
15742 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
15743
15744 @item show write
15745 @kindex show write
15746 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
15747 as well as reading.
15748 @end table
15749
15750 @node GDB Files
15751 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
15752
15753 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
15754 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
15755 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
15756 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
15757
15758 @menu
15759 * Files:: Commands to specify files
15760 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
15761 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
15762 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
15763 * Data Files:: GDB data files
15764 @end menu
15765
15766 @node Files
15767 @section Commands to Specify Files
15768
15769 @cindex symbol table
15770 @cindex core dump file
15771
15772 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
15773 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
15774 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
15775 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
15776
15777 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
15778 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
15779 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
15780 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
15781 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
15782 new files are useful.
15783
15784 @table @code
15785 @cindex executable file
15786 @kindex file
15787 @item file @var{filename}
15788 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
15789 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
15790 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
15791 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
15792 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
15793 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
15794 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
15795 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
15796
15797 @cindex unlinked object files
15798 @cindex patching object files
15799 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
15800 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
15801 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
15802 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
15803 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
15804 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
15805 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
15806 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
15807
15808 @item file
15809 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
15810 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
15811
15812 @kindex exec-file
15813 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15814 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
15815 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
15816 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
15817 discard information on the executable file.
15818
15819 @kindex symbol-file
15820 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15821 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
15822 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
15823 table and program to run from the same file.
15824
15825 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
15826 program's symbol table.
15827
15828 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
15829 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
15830 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
15831 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
15832 @value{GDBN}.
15833
15834 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
15835 executing it once.
15836
15837 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
15838 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
15839 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
15840 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
15841 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
15842 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
15843 optimized code.
15844
15845 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
15846 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
15847 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
15848 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
15849 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
15850
15851 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
15852 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
15853 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
15854 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
15855 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
15856 Warnings and Messages}.)
15857
15858 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
15859 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
15860 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
15861 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
15862 in stabs format.
15863
15864 @kindex readnow
15865 @cindex reading symbols immediately
15866 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
15867 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15868 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15869 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
15870 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
15871 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
15872 entire symbol table available.
15873
15874 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
15875 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
15876 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
15877 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
15878 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
15879 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
15880 @c files.
15881
15882 @kindex core-file
15883 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
15884 @itemx core
15885 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
15886 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
15887 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
15888 executable file itself for other parts.
15889
15890 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
15891 to be used.
15892
15893 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
15894 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
15895 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
15896 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
15897 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
15898
15899 @kindex add-symbol-file
15900 @cindex dynamic linking
15901 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
15902 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
15903 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
15904 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
15905 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
15906 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
15907 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
15908 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
15909 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
15910 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
15911 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
15912 @var{address} as an expression.
15913
15914 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
15915 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
15916 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
15917 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
15918 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
15919
15920 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
15921 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
15922 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
15923 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
15924 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
15925 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
15926 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
15927 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
15928 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
15929
15930 @itemize @bullet
15931 @item
15932 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
15933 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
15934 @item
15935 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
15936 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
15937 @item
15938 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
15939 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15940 @end itemize
15941
15942 @noindent
15943 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
15944 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
15945 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
15946 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
15947 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
15948 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
15949 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
15950 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
15951 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
15952 way.
15953
15954 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
15955
15956 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
15957 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
15958 @cindex load symbols from memory
15959 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
15960 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
15961 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
15962 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
15963 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
15964 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
15965 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
15966 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
15967 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
15968
15969 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
15970 @kindex assf
15971 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
15972 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
15973 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
15974 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
15975 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
15976 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
15977 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
15978 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
15979 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
15980 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
15981
15982 @kindex section
15983 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
15984 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
15985 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
15986 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
15987 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
15988 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
15989 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
15990 their addresses.
15991
15992 @kindex info files
15993 @kindex info target
15994 @item info files
15995 @itemx info target
15996 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
15997 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
15998 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
15999 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16000 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16001 current ones.
16002
16003 @kindex maint info sections
16004 @item maint info sections
16005 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16006 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16007 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16008 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16009 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16010 may be arbitrarily combined):
16011
16012 @table @code
16013 @item ALLOBJ
16014 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16015 @item @var{sections}
16016 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16017 @item @var{section-flags}
16018 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16019 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16020 @table @code
16021 @item ALLOC
16022 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16023 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16024 @item LOAD
16025 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16026 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16027 @item RELOC
16028 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16029 @item READONLY
16030 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16031 @item CODE
16032 Section contains executable code only.
16033 @item DATA
16034 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16035 @item ROM
16036 Section will reside in ROM.
16037 @item CONSTRUCTOR
16038 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16039 @item HAS_CONTENTS
16040 Section is not empty.
16041 @item NEVER_LOAD
16042 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16043 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16044 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16045 COFF shared library information.
16046 @item IS_COMMON
16047 Section contains common symbols.
16048 @end table
16049 @end table
16050 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16051 @cindex read-only sections
16052 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16053 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16054 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16055 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16056 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16057 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16058 enhancement to debugging performance.
16059
16060 The default is off.
16061
16062 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16063 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16064 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16065 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16066
16067 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16068 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16069 @end table
16070
16071 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16072 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16073 name and remembers it that way.
16074
16075 @cindex shared libraries
16076 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16077 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16078 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16079
16080 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16081 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16082
16083 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16084 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16085 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16086 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16087 debugging a core file).
16088
16089 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16090 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16091
16092 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16093 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16094 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16095
16096 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16097 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16098 particularly large or there are many of them.
16099
16100 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16101 commands:
16102
16103 @table @code
16104 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16105 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16106 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16107 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16108 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16109 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16110 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16111 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16112
16113 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16114 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16115 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16116 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16117 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16118 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16119 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16120 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16121 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16122
16123 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16124 @item show auto-solib-add
16125 Display the current autoloading mode.
16126 @end table
16127
16128 @cindex load shared library
16129 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16130 command:
16131
16132 @table @code
16133 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16134 @kindex info share
16135 @item info share @var{regex}
16136 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16137 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16138 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16139 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16140
16141 @kindex sharedlibrary
16142 @kindex share
16143 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16144 @itemx share @var{regex}
16145 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16146 Unix regular expression.
16147 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16148 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16149 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16150 loaded.
16151
16152 @item nosharedlibrary
16153 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16154 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16155 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16156 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16157 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16158 discarded.
16159 @end table
16160
16161 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16162 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16163 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16164 Catchpoints}).
16165
16166 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16167 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16168 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16169 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16170
16171 @table @code
16172 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16173 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16174 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16175 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16176 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16177 shared library.
16178
16179 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16180 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16181 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16182 library events happen.
16183 @end table
16184
16185 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16186 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16187 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16188 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16189 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16190 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16191 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16192 not.
16193
16194 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16195 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
16196 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
16197 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
16198 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
16199
16200 @table @code
16201 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
16202 @cindex system root, alternate
16203 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
16204 @kindex set sysroot
16205 @item set sysroot @var{path}
16206 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
16207 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
16208 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
16209 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
16210 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
16211 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
16212 under @var{path}.
16213
16214 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
16215 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
16216 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
16217 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
16218 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
16219 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
16220 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
16221 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
16222 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
16223
16224 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
16225 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
16226 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
16227 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
16228 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
16229
16230 @smallexample
16231 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
16232 @end smallexample
16233
16234 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
16235 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
16236 system:
16237
16238 @smallexample
16239 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
16240 @end smallexample
16241
16242 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
16243 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
16244 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
16245 colons:
16246
16247 @smallexample
16248 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
16249 @end smallexample
16250
16251 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
16252 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
16253 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
16254 @samp{z}):
16255
16256 @smallexample
16257 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
16258 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16259 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
16260 @end smallexample
16261
16262 @noindent
16263 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
16264 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
16265 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
16266
16267 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
16268 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
16269
16270 @smallexample
16271 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
16272 @end smallexample
16273
16274 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
16275 if you don't want or need to.
16276
16277 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
16278 sysroot}.
16279
16280 @cindex default system root
16281 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
16282 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
16283 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
16284 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16285 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
16286 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16287 location.
16288
16289 @kindex show sysroot
16290 @item show sysroot
16291 Display the current shared library prefix.
16292
16293 @kindex set solib-search-path
16294 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
16295 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
16296 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
16297 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
16298 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
16299 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
16300 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
16301 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
16302 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
16303 of shared library symbols.
16304
16305 @kindex show solib-search-path
16306 @item show solib-search-path
16307 Display the current shared library search path.
16308
16309 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
16310 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
16311 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
16312 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
16313 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
16314
16315 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
16316 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
16317 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
16318 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
16319 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
16320 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
16321 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
16322 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
16323 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
16324 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
16325 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
16326 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
16327 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
16328 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
16329 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
16330 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
16331 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
16332 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
16333 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
16334 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
16335 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
16336 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
16337
16338 @table @code
16339 @item unix
16340 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
16341 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
16342 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
16343 the forward slash.
16344
16345 @item dos-based
16346 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
16347 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
16348 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
16349 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
16350 considered directory separators.
16351
16352 @item auto
16353 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
16354 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
16355 This is the default.
16356 @end table
16357 @end table
16358
16359 @cindex file name canonicalization
16360 @cindex base name differences
16361 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
16362 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
16363 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
16364 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
16365 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
16366 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
16367 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
16368 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
16369 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
16370 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
16371 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
16372 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
16373 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
16374 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
16375 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
16376
16377 @table @code
16378 @item set basenames-may-differ
16379 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
16380 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16381
16382 @item show basenames-may-differ
16383 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
16384 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
16385 @end table
16386
16387 @node Separate Debug Files
16388 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
16389 @cindex separate debugging information files
16390 @cindex debugging information in separate files
16391 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
16392 @cindex debugging information directory, global
16393 @cindex global debugging information directories
16394 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
16395 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
16396
16397 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
16398 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
16399 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
16400 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
16401 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
16402 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
16403 install only when they need to debug a problem.
16404
16405 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
16406 file:
16407
16408 @itemize @bullet
16409 @item
16410 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
16411 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
16412 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
16413 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
16414 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
16415 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
16416 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
16417 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
16418
16419 @item
16420 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
16421 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
16422 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
16423 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
16424 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
16425 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
16426 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
16427 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
16428 below.
16429 @end itemize
16430
16431 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
16432 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
16433
16434 @itemize @bullet
16435 @item
16436 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
16437 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
16438 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
16439 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
16440 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
16441
16442 @item
16443 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
16444 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
16445 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
16446 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
16447 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
16448 hex characters, not 10.)
16449 @end itemize
16450
16451 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
16452 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
16453 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
16454 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
16455 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
16456 debug information files, in the indicated order:
16457
16458 @itemize @minus
16459 @item
16460 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
16461 @item
16462 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
16463 @item
16464 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
16465 @item
16466 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
16467 @end itemize
16468
16469 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
16470 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
16471 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
16472 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
16473 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
16474
16475 @table @code
16476
16477 @kindex set debug-file-directory
16478 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
16479 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16480 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
16481 concatenating them by a path separator.
16482
16483 @kindex show debug-file-directory
16484 @item show debug-file-directory
16485 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
16486 information files.
16487
16488 @end table
16489
16490 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
16491 @cindex debug link sections
16492 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
16493 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
16494
16495 @itemize
16496 @item
16497 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
16498 a zero byte,
16499 @item
16500 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
16501 boundary within the section, and
16502 @item
16503 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
16504 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
16505 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
16506 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
16507 @end itemize
16508
16509 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
16510 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
16511 described above.
16512
16513 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
16514 @cindex build ID sections
16515 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
16516 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
16517 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
16518 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
16519 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
16520 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
16521 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
16522 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
16523 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
16524
16525 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
16526 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
16527 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
16528 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
16529 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
16530 in an ordinary executable.
16531
16532 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
16533 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
16534 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
16535 following commands:
16536
16537 @smallexample
16538 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
16539 @kbd{strip -g foo}
16540 @end smallexample
16541
16542 @noindent
16543 These commands remove the debugging
16544 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
16545 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
16546 two files:
16547
16548 @itemize @bullet
16549 @item
16550 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
16551 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
16552
16553 @smallexample
16554 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
16555 @end smallexample
16556
16557 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
16558 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
16559 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
16560 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
16561
16562 @item
16563 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
16564 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
16565 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
16566 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
16567 @end itemize
16568
16569 @noindent
16570
16571 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
16572 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
16573 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
16574
16575 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16576 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16577 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16578 @c different ways!
16579 @ifhtml
16580 @display
16581 @html
16582 <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>
16583 + <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
16584 @end html
16585 @end display
16586 @end ifhtml
16587 @ifnothtml
16588 @display
16589 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16590 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16591 @end display
16592 @end ifnothtml
16593
16594 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16595 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16596 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16597 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16598 CRC.
16599
16600 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16601 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16602 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16603 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16604 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16605 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16606
16607 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16608 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16609 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
16610 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
16611 @code{0xffffffff}.
16612
16613 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
16614 @smallexample
16615 unsigned long
16616 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
16617 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
16618 @{
16619 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
16620 @{
16621 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
16622 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
16623 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
16624 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
16625 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
16626 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
16627 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
16628 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
16629 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
16630 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
16631 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
16632 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
16633 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
16634 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
16635 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
16636 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
16637 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
16638 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
16639 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
16640 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
16641 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
16642 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
16643 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
16644 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
16645 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
16646 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
16647 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
16648 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
16649 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
16650 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
16651 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
16652 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
16653 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16654 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16655 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16656 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16657 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16658 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16659 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16660 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16661 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16662 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16663 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16664 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16665 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
16666 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
16667 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
16668 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
16669 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
16670 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
16671 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
16672 0x2d02ef8d
16673 @};
16674 unsigned char *end;
16675
16676 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16677 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
16678 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
16679 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16680 @}
16681 @end smallexample
16682
16683 @noindent
16684 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
16685
16686
16687 @node Index Files
16688 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
16689 @cindex index files
16690 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
16691
16692 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
16693 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
16694 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
16695 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
16696 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
16697 startup.
16698
16699 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
16700 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
16701 using @command{objcopy}.
16702
16703 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
16704
16705 @table @code
16706 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
16707 @kindex save gdb-index
16708 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
16709 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
16710 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
16711 @var{directory}.
16712 @end table
16713
16714 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
16715 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
16716
16717 @smallexample
16718 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
16719 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
16720 @end smallexample
16721
16722 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
16723 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
16724 currently work for programs using Ada.
16725
16726 @node Symbol Errors
16727 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
16728
16729 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
16730 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
16731 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
16732 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
16733 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
16734 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
16735 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
16736 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
16737 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
16738 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16739 Messages}).
16740
16741 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
16742
16743 @table @code
16744 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
16745
16746 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
16747 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
16748 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
16749 in its outer scope blocks.
16750
16751 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
16752 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
16753 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
16754 function.
16755
16756 @item block at @var{address} out of order
16757
16758 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
16759 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
16760 do so.
16761
16762 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
16763 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
16764 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
16765 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16766 Messages}.)
16767
16768 @item bad block start address patched
16769
16770 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
16771 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
16772 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
16773
16774 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
16775 starting on the previous source line.
16776
16777 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
16778
16779 @cindex foo
16780 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
16781 larger than the size of the string table.
16782
16783 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
16784 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
16785 with this name.
16786
16787 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
16788
16789 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
16790 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
16791 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
16792
16793 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
16794 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
16795 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
16796 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
16797 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
16798 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
16799
16800 @item stub type has NULL name
16801
16802 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
16803
16804 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
16805 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
16806 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
16807 it.
16808
16809 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
16810
16811 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
16812
16813 @end table
16814
16815 @node Data Files
16816 @section GDB Data Files
16817
16818 @cindex prefix for data files
16819 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
16820 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
16821
16822 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
16823 is currently using.
16824
16825 @table @code
16826 @kindex set data-directory
16827 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
16828 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
16829 to @var{directory}.
16830
16831 @kindex show data-directory
16832 @item show data-directory
16833 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
16834 @end table
16835
16836 @cindex default data directory
16837 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
16838 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
16839 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
16840 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16841 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
16842 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16843 location.
16844
16845 The data directory may also be specified with the
16846 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
16847 @xref{Mode Options}.
16848
16849 @node Targets
16850 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
16851
16852 @cindex debugging target
16853 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
16854
16855 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
16856 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
16857 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
16858 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
16859 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
16860 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
16861 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
16862 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
16863
16864 @cindex target architecture
16865 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
16866 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
16867 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
16868 command.
16869
16870 @table @code
16871 @kindex set architecture
16872 @kindex show architecture
16873 @item set architecture @var{arch}
16874 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
16875 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
16876 supported architectures.
16877
16878 @item show architecture
16879 Show the current target architecture.
16880
16881 @item set processor
16882 @itemx processor
16883 @kindex set processor
16884 @kindex show processor
16885 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
16886 and @code{show architecture}.
16887 @end table
16888
16889 @menu
16890 * Active Targets:: Active targets
16891 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
16892 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
16893 @end menu
16894
16895 @node Active Targets
16896 @section Active Targets
16897
16898 @cindex stacking targets
16899 @cindex active targets
16900 @cindex multiple targets
16901
16902 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
16903 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
16904 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
16905 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
16906 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
16907 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
16908 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
16909 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
16910 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
16911
16912 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
16913 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
16914 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
16915 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
16916
16917 @node Target Commands
16918 @section Commands for Managing Targets
16919
16920 @table @code
16921 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
16922 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
16923 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
16924 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
16925 protocol of the target machine.
16926
16927 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
16928 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
16929 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
16930
16931 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
16932 after executing the command.
16933
16934 @kindex help target
16935 @item help target
16936 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
16937 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
16938 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16939
16940 @item help target @var{name}
16941 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
16942 select it.
16943
16944 @kindex set gnutarget
16945 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
16946 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
16947 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
16948 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
16949 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
16950 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
16951
16952 @quotation
16953 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
16954 you must know the actual BFD name.
16955 @end quotation
16956
16957 @noindent
16958 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
16959
16960 @kindex show gnutarget
16961 @item show gnutarget
16962 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
16963 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
16964 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
16965 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
16966 @end table
16967
16968 @cindex common targets
16969 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
16970 configuration):
16971
16972 @table @code
16973 @kindex target
16974 @item target exec @var{program}
16975 @cindex executable file target
16976 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
16977 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
16978
16979 @item target core @var{filename}
16980 @cindex core dump file target
16981 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
16982 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
16983
16984 @item target remote @var{medium}
16985 @cindex remote target
16986 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
16987 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
16988 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
16989
16990 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
16991 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
16992
16993 @smallexample
16994 target remote /dev/ttya
16995 @end smallexample
16996
16997 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
16998 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
16999 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17000 clobbered by the download.
17001
17002 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17003 @cindex built-in simulator target
17004 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17005 In general,
17006 @smallexample
17007 target sim
17008 load
17009 run
17010 @end smallexample
17011 @noindent
17012 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17013 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17014 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17015 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17016 Processors}.
17017
17018 @end table
17019
17020 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
17021
17022 @table @code
17023
17024 @item target nrom @var{dev}
17025 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
17026 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
17027
17028 @end table
17029
17030 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17031 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17032
17033 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17034 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17035 various aspects of this process.
17036
17037 @table @code
17038
17039 @item set hash
17040 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17041 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17042 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17043 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17044 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17045 monitor.
17046
17047 @item show hash
17048 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17049 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17050
17051 @item set debug monitor
17052 @kindex set debug monitor
17053 @cindex display remote monitor communications
17054 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17055 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17056
17057 @item show debug monitor
17058 @kindex show debug monitor
17059 Show the current status of displaying communications between
17060 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17061 @end table
17062
17063 @table @code
17064
17065 @kindex load @var{filename}
17066 @item load @var{filename}
17067 @anchor{load}
17068 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17069 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17070 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17071 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17072 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17073 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17074
17075 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17076 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17077 target is @dots{}}''
17078
17079 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17080 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17081 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17082 specifies a fixed address.
17083 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17084
17085 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17086 load programs into flash memory.
17087
17088 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17089 @end table
17090
17091 @node Byte Order
17092 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
17093
17094 @cindex choosing target byte order
17095 @cindex target byte order
17096
17097 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17098 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17099 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17100 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17101 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17102 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17103
17104 @table @code
17105 @kindex set endian
17106 @item set endian big
17107 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17108
17109 @item set endian little
17110 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17111
17112 @item set endian auto
17113 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17114 executable.
17115
17116 @item show endian
17117 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17118
17119 @end table
17120
17121 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17122 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17123 target system.
17124
17125
17126 @node Remote Debugging
17127 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
17128 @cindex remote debugging
17129
17130 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
17131 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
17132 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
17133 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
17134 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
17135
17136 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
17137 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
17138 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
17139 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
17140 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
17141 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
17142
17143 Other remote targets may be available in your
17144 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
17145
17146 @menu
17147 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
17148 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
17149 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
17150 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
17151 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
17152 @end menu
17153
17154 @node Connecting
17155 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
17156
17157 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
17158 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
17159 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
17160 program as the first argument.
17161
17162 @cindex @code{target remote}
17163 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
17164 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
17165 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
17166 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
17167 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
17168 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
17169
17170 @table @code
17171
17172 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
17173 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
17174 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
17175 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
17176
17177 @smallexample
17178 target remote /dev/ttyb
17179 @end smallexample
17180
17181 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
17182 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
17183 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
17184 @code{target} command.
17185
17186 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
17187 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17188 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
17189 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
17190 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
17191 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
17192 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
17193 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
17194 target.
17195
17196 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
17197 @code{manyfarms}:
17198
17199 @smallexample
17200 target remote manyfarms:2828
17201 @end smallexample
17202
17203 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
17204 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
17205 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
17206 port 1234 on your local machine:
17207
17208 @smallexample
17209 target remote :1234
17210 @end smallexample
17211 @noindent
17212
17213 Note that the colon is still required here.
17214
17215 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
17216 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
17217 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
17218 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
17219
17220 @smallexample
17221 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
17222 @end smallexample
17223
17224 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
17225 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
17226 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
17227 cause havoc with your debugging session.
17228
17229 @item target remote | @var{command}
17230 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
17231 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
17232 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
17233 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
17234 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
17235 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
17236 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
17237 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
17238
17239 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
17240 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
17241 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
17242
17243 @end table
17244
17245 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
17246 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
17247 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
17248 need to use @kbd{run}.
17249
17250 @cindex interrupting remote programs
17251 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
17252 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
17253 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
17254 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
17255 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
17256 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
17257
17258 @smallexample
17259 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
17260 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
17261 @end smallexample
17262
17263 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
17264 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
17265 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
17266 goes back to waiting.
17267
17268 @table @code
17269 @kindex detach (remote)
17270 @item detach
17271 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
17272 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
17273 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
17274 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
17275 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
17276
17277 @kindex disconnect
17278 @item disconnect
17279 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
17280 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
17281 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
17282 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
17283 another target.
17284
17285 @cindex send command to remote monitor
17286 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
17287 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
17288 @kindex monitor
17289 @item monitor @var{cmd}
17290 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
17291 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
17292 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
17293 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
17294 and implement.
17295 @end table
17296
17297 @node File Transfer
17298 @section Sending files to a remote system
17299 @cindex remote target, file transfer
17300 @cindex file transfer
17301 @cindex sending files to remote systems
17302
17303 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
17304 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
17305 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
17306 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
17307 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
17308 the only way to upload or download files.
17309
17310 Not all remote targets support these commands.
17311
17312 @table @code
17313 @kindex remote put
17314 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
17315 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
17316 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
17317
17318 @kindex remote get
17319 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
17320 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
17321 on the host system.
17322
17323 @kindex remote delete
17324 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
17325 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
17326
17327 @end table
17328
17329 @node Server
17330 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
17331
17332 @kindex gdbserver
17333 @cindex remote connection without stubs
17334 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
17335 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
17336 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
17337
17338 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
17339 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
17340 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
17341 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
17342 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
17343 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
17344 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
17345 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
17346 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
17347 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
17348 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
17349 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
17350 choice for debugging.
17351
17352 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
17353 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
17354 protocol.
17355
17356 @quotation
17357 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
17358 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
17359 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
17360 target system with the same privileges as the user running
17361 @code{gdbserver}.
17362 @end quotation
17363
17364 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
17365 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
17366 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
17367
17368 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
17369 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
17370 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
17371 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
17372 system does all the symbol handling.
17373
17374 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
17375 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
17376 syntax is:
17377
17378 @smallexample
17379 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
17380 @end smallexample
17381
17382 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
17383 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
17384 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
17385 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
17386 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
17387 @file{/dev/com1}:
17388
17389 @smallexample
17390 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
17391 @end smallexample
17392
17393 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
17394 with it.
17395
17396 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
17397
17398 @smallexample
17399 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
17400 @end smallexample
17401
17402 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
17403 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
17404 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
17405 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
17406 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
17407 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
17408 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
17409 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
17410 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
17411 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
17412 @code{target remote} command.
17413
17414 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
17415 with ssh:
17416
17417 @smallexample
17418 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
17419 @end smallexample
17420
17421 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
17422 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
17423 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
17424 You could elide it if you want to.
17425
17426 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
17427 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
17428 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
17429 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
17430
17431 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
17432 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
17433 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
17434
17435 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
17436 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
17437
17438 @smallexample
17439 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
17440 @end smallexample
17441
17442 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
17443 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
17444
17445 @pindex pidof
17446 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
17447 @code{pidof} utility:
17448
17449 @smallexample
17450 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
17451 @end smallexample
17452
17453 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
17454 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
17455 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
17456
17457 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
17458 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
17459 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
17460
17461 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
17462 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
17463 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
17464 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
17465
17466 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
17467 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
17468 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
17469 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
17470 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
17471 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
17472 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
17473 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
17474 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
17475
17476 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
17477 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
17478 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
17479 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
17480 the program you want to debug.
17481
17482 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
17483 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
17484 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
17485 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
17486 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
17487 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
17488
17489 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
17490
17491 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
17492
17493 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
17494 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
17495 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
17496 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
17497 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
17498 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
17499 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
17500 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
17501
17502 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
17503 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
17504 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
17505
17506 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
17507 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
17508 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
17509 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
17510 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
17511 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
17512 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
17513 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
17514 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
17515 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
17516 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
17517 instance closes its port after the first connection.
17518
17519 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
17520
17521 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17522 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
17523 status information about the debugging process.
17524 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17525 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
17526 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
17527 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
17528
17529 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
17530 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
17531 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
17532 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
17533 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
17534
17535 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
17536 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
17537 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
17538 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
17539
17540 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
17541 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
17542 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
17543 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
17544
17545 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
17546 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
17547 environment:
17548
17549 @smallexample
17550 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
17551 @end smallexample
17552
17553 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
17554
17555 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
17556
17557 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
17558 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
17559 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
17560 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
17561
17562 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
17563 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
17564 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
17565 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
17566 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
17567 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
17568 programs.
17569
17570 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17571 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
17572 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
17573 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
17574 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
17575 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
17576 already on the target.
17577
17578 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
17579 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
17580 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
17581
17582 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
17583 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
17584 Here are the available commands.
17585
17586 @table @code
17587 @item monitor help
17588 List the available monitor commands.
17589
17590 @item monitor set debug 0
17591 @itemx monitor set debug 1
17592 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
17593
17594 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
17595 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
17596 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
17597 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
17598
17599 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
17600 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
17601 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17602 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
17603 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
17604 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
17605
17606 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
17607 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
17608
17609 @item monitor exit
17610 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
17611 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
17612 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
17613 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
17614 of a multi-process mode debug session.
17615
17616 @end table
17617
17618 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17619 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17620
17621 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
17622 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
17623
17624 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
17625 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
17626 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
17627 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
17628 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
17629 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
17630 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
17631 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
17632 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
17633 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
17634 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
17635 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
17636
17637 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
17638
17639 @table @code
17640 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
17641
17642 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
17643 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
17644 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
17645
17646 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
17647
17648 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
17649 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
17650 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
17651 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
17652 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
17653 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
17654
17655 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
17656
17657 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
17658 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
17659 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
17660 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
17661 command for that. For example:
17662
17663 @smallexample
17664 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
17665 @end smallexample
17666
17667 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
17668 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
17669 @end table
17670
17671 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
17672 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
17673 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
17674 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
17675 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
17676 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
17677 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
17678 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
17679 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
17680 @code{gdbserver} like so:
17681
17682 @smallexample
17683 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
17684 @end smallexample
17685
17686 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
17687
17688 @smallexample
17689 $ gdb myprogram
17690 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
17691 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
17692 (@value{GDBP}) b main
17693 (@value{GDBP}) continue
17694 @end smallexample
17695
17696 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
17697 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
17698 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
17699 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
17700 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
17701 tracing.
17702
17703 @node Remote Configuration
17704 @section Remote Configuration
17705
17706 @kindex set remote
17707 @kindex show remote
17708 This section documents the configuration options available when
17709 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
17710 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
17711 system-call-allowed}.
17712
17713 @table @code
17714 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
17715 @cindex address size for remote targets
17716 @cindex bits in remote address
17717 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
17718 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
17719 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
17720 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
17721
17722 @item show remoteaddresssize
17723 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
17724
17725 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
17726 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
17727 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
17728 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
17729 remote targets.
17730
17731 @item show remotebaud
17732 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
17733
17734 @item set remotebreak
17735 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17736 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
17737 @anchor{set remotebreak}
17738 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
17739 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
17740 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
17741 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
17742 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
17743
17744 @item show remotebreak
17745 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
17746 interrupt the remote program.
17747
17748 @item set remoteflow on
17749 @itemx set remoteflow off
17750 @kindex set remoteflow
17751 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
17752 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
17753
17754 @item show remoteflow
17755 @kindex show remoteflow
17756 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
17757
17758 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
17759 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
17760 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
17761 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
17762 @code{ascii}.
17763
17764 @item show remotelogbase
17765 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
17766 protocol.
17767
17768 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
17769 @cindex record serial communications on file
17770 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
17771 default is not to record at all.
17772
17773 @item show remotelogfile.
17774 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
17775 serial communications.
17776
17777 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
17778 @cindex timeout for serial communications
17779 @cindex remote timeout
17780 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
17781 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
17782
17783 @item show remotetimeout
17784 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
17785 responses.
17786
17787 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
17788 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
17789 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
17790 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
17791 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
17792 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
17793 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
17794 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
17795
17796 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
17797 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
17798 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
17799 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
17800 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
17801 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
17802 as unlimited.
17803
17804 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
17805 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
17806 a remote hardware watchpoint.
17807
17808 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
17809 @itemx show remote exec-file
17810 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
17811 @cindex executable file, for remote target
17812 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
17813 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
17814 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
17815 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
17816
17817 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
17818 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17819 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
17820 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
17821 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
17822 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
17823 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
17824 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
17825 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
17826 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
17827
17828 @item show interrupt-sequence
17829 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
17830 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
17831 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
17832 also known as Magic SysRq g.
17833
17834 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
17835 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
17836 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
17837 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
17838 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
17839 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
17840
17841 @item show interrupt-on-connect
17842 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
17843 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
17844
17845 @kindex set tcp
17846 @kindex show tcp
17847 @item set tcp auto-retry on
17848 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
17849 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
17850 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
17851 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
17852 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
17853 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
17854 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
17855 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
17856
17857 @item set tcp auto-retry off
17858 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
17859
17860 @item show tcp auto-retry
17861 Show the current auto-retry setting.
17862
17863 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
17864 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
17865 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
17866 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
17867 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
17868 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
17869 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
17870 value.
17871
17872 @item show tcp connect-timeout
17873 Show the current connection timeout setting.
17874 @end table
17875
17876 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
17877 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
17878 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
17879 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
17880 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
17881 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
17882 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
17883 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
17884 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
17885
17886 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
17887 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
17888 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
17889 @value{GDBN} developers.
17890
17891 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
17892 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
17893 are:
17894
17895 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
17896 @item Command Name
17897 @tab Remote Packet
17898 @tab Related Features
17899
17900 @item @code{fetch-register}
17901 @tab @code{p}
17902 @tab @code{info registers}
17903
17904 @item @code{set-register}
17905 @tab @code{P}
17906 @tab @code{set}
17907
17908 @item @code{binary-download}
17909 @tab @code{X}
17910 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
17911
17912 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
17913 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
17914 @tab @code{info auxv}
17915
17916 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
17917 @tab @code{qSymbol}
17918 @tab Detecting multiple threads
17919
17920 @item @code{attach}
17921 @tab @code{vAttach}
17922 @tab @code{attach}
17923
17924 @item @code{verbose-resume}
17925 @tab @code{vCont}
17926 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
17927
17928 @item @code{run}
17929 @tab @code{vRun}
17930 @tab @code{run}
17931
17932 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
17933 @tab @code{Z0}
17934 @tab @code{break}
17935
17936 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
17937 @tab @code{Z1}
17938 @tab @code{hbreak}
17939
17940 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
17941 @tab @code{Z2}
17942 @tab @code{watch}
17943
17944 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
17945 @tab @code{Z3}
17946 @tab @code{rwatch}
17947
17948 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
17949 @tab @code{Z4}
17950 @tab @code{awatch}
17951
17952 @item @code{target-features}
17953 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
17954 @tab @code{set architecture}
17955
17956 @item @code{library-info}
17957 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
17958 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
17959
17960 @item @code{memory-map}
17961 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
17962 @tab @code{info mem}
17963
17964 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
17965 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
17966 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
17967
17968 @item @code{read-spu-object}
17969 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
17970 @tab @code{info spu}
17971
17972 @item @code{write-spu-object}
17973 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
17974 @tab @code{info spu}
17975
17976 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
17977 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
17978 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
17979
17980 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
17981 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
17982 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
17983
17984 @item @code{threads}
17985 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
17986 @tab @code{info threads}
17987
17988 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
17989 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
17990 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
17991
17992 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
17993 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
17994 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
17995
17996 @item @code{search-memory}
17997 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
17998 @tab @code{find}
17999
18000 @item @code{supported-packets}
18001 @tab @code{qSupported}
18002 @tab Remote communications parameters
18003
18004 @item @code{pass-signals}
18005 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18006 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18007
18008 @item @code{program-signals}
18009 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18010 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18011
18012 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18013 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18014 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18015
18016 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18017 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18018 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18019
18020 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18021 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18022 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18023
18024 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18025 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18026 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18027
18028 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18029 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18030 @tab @code{remote delete}
18031
18032 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18033 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18034 @tab Host I/O
18035
18036 @item @code{noack-packet}
18037 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18038 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18039
18040 @item @code{osdata}
18041 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18042 @tab @code{info os}
18043
18044 @item @code{query-attached}
18045 @tab @code{qAttached}
18046 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
18047
18048 @item @code{traceframe-info}
18049 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18050 @tab Traceframe info
18051
18052 @item @code{install-in-trace}
18053 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18054 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18055
18056 @item @code{disable-randomization}
18057 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18058 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18059
18060 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18061 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18062 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18063 @end multitable
18064
18065 @node Remote Stub
18066 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
18067
18068 @cindex debugging stub, example
18069 @cindex remote stub, example
18070 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
18071 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18072 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18073 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18074 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18075 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18076 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18077 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18078
18079 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18080 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18081 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18082 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18083 program, you need:
18084
18085 @enumerate
18086 @item
18087 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18088 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18089 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18090
18091 @item
18092 A C subroutine library to support your program's
18093 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18094
18095 @item
18096 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18097 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18098 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18099 documentation.
18100 @end enumerate
18101
18102 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18103 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18104 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18105
18106 @table @emph
18107 @item On the host,
18108 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18109 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18110 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18111
18112 @item On the target,
18113 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18114 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18115 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
18116
18117 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
18118 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
18119 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
18120 @end table
18121
18122 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
18123 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
18124 @sc{sparc} boards.
18125
18126 @cindex remote serial stub list
18127 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
18128
18129 @table @code
18130
18131 @item i386-stub.c
18132 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
18133 @cindex Intel
18134 @cindex i386
18135 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
18136
18137 @item m68k-stub.c
18138 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
18139 @cindex Motorola 680x0
18140 @cindex m680x0
18141 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
18142
18143 @item sh-stub.c
18144 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
18145 @cindex Renesas
18146 @cindex SH
18147 For Renesas SH architectures.
18148
18149 @item sparc-stub.c
18150 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
18151 @cindex Sparc
18152 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
18153
18154 @item sparcl-stub.c
18155 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
18156 @cindex Fujitsu
18157 @cindex SparcLite
18158 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
18159
18160 @end table
18161
18162 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
18163 recently added stubs.
18164
18165 @menu
18166 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
18167 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
18168 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
18169 @end menu
18170
18171 @node Stub Contents
18172 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
18173
18174 @cindex remote serial stub
18175 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
18176 subroutines:
18177
18178 @table @code
18179 @item set_debug_traps
18180 @findex set_debug_traps
18181 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
18182 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
18183 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
18184 program's startup code.
18185
18186 @item handle_exception
18187 @findex handle_exception
18188 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
18189 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
18190 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
18191 run when a trap is triggered.
18192
18193 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
18194 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
18195 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
18196 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
18197 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
18198 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
18199 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
18200 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
18201 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
18202 machine.
18203
18204 @item breakpoint
18205 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
18206 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
18207 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
18208 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
18209 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
18210 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
18211 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
18212 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
18213 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
18214 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
18215 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
18216
18217 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
18218 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
18219 start of your debugging session.
18220 @end table
18221
18222 @node Bootstrapping
18223 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
18224
18225 @cindex remote stub, support routines
18226 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
18227 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
18228 debugging target machine.
18229
18230 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
18231 serial port.
18232
18233 @table @code
18234 @item int getDebugChar()
18235 @findex getDebugChar
18236 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
18237 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
18238 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18239
18240 @item void putDebugChar(int)
18241 @findex putDebugChar
18242 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
18243 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
18244 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
18245 @end table
18246
18247 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
18248 @cindex interrupting remote targets
18249 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
18250 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
18251 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
18252 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
18253 remote system to stop.
18254
18255 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
18256 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
18257 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
18258 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
18259
18260 Other routines you need to supply are:
18261
18262 @table @code
18263 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
18264 @findex exceptionHandler
18265 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
18266 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
18267 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
18268 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
18269 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
18270 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
18271 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
18272 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
18273 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
18274 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
18275 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
18276 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
18277 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
18278
18279 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
18280 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
18281 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
18282 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
18283 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
18284
18285 @item void flush_i_cache()
18286 @findex flush_i_cache
18287 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
18288 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
18289 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
18290
18291 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
18292 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
18293 @end table
18294
18295 @noindent
18296 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
18297
18298 @table @code
18299 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
18300 @findex memset
18301 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
18302 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
18303 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
18304 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
18305 @end table
18306
18307 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
18308 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
18309 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
18310 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
18311
18312
18313 @node Debug Session
18314 @subsection Putting it All Together
18315
18316 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
18317 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
18318 steps.
18319
18320 @enumerate
18321 @item
18322 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
18323 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
18324 @display
18325 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
18326 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
18327 @end display
18328
18329 @item
18330 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
18331 procedure is called:
18332
18333 @smallexample
18334 set_debug_traps();
18335 breakpoint();
18336 @end smallexample
18337
18338 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
18339 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
18340 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
18341 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
18342 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
18343 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
18344 progress.
18345
18346 @item
18347 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
18348 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
18349
18350 @smallexample
18351 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
18352 @end smallexample
18353
18354 @noindent
18355 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
18356 function in your program, that function is called when
18357 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
18358 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
18359 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
18360
18361 @item
18362 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
18363 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
18364
18365 @item
18366 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
18367 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
18368
18369 @item
18370 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
18371 @c document that. FIXME.
18372 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
18373 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
18374
18375 @item
18376 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
18377 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18378
18379 @end enumerate
18380
18381 @node Configurations
18382 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
18383
18384 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
18385 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
18386 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
18387
18388 There are three major categories of configurations: native
18389 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
18390 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
18391 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
18392 are quite different from each other.
18393
18394 @menu
18395 * Native::
18396 * Embedded OS::
18397 * Embedded Processors::
18398 * Architectures::
18399 @end menu
18400
18401 @node Native
18402 @section Native
18403
18404 This section describes details specific to particular native
18405 configurations.
18406
18407 @menu
18408 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
18409 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
18410 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
18411 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
18412 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
18413 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
18414 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
18415 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
18416 @end menu
18417
18418 @node HP-UX
18419 @subsection HP-UX
18420
18421 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
18422 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
18423 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
18424
18425
18426 @node BSD libkvm Interface
18427 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
18428
18429 @cindex libkvm
18430 @cindex kernel memory image
18431 @cindex kernel crash dump
18432
18433 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
18434 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
18435 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
18436 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
18437 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
18438 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
18439 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
18440 @code{kvm} target:
18441
18442 @smallexample
18443 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
18444 @end smallexample
18445
18446 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
18447 argument:
18448
18449 @smallexample
18450 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
18451 @end smallexample
18452
18453 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
18454 available:
18455
18456 @table @code
18457 @kindex kvm
18458 @item kvm pcb
18459 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
18460
18461 @item kvm proc
18462 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
18463 modern FreeBSD systems.
18464 @end table
18465
18466 @node SVR4 Process Information
18467 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
18468 @cindex /proc
18469 @cindex examine process image
18470 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
18471
18472 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
18473 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
18474 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
18475 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
18476 proc} is available to report information about the process running
18477 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
18478 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
18479 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
18480 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
18481
18482 @table @code
18483 @kindex info proc
18484 @cindex process ID
18485 @item info proc
18486 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
18487 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
18488 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
18489 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
18490 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
18491 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
18492 executable file's absolute file name.
18493
18494 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
18495 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
18496 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
18497 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
18498 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
18499 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
18500
18501 @item info proc mappings
18502 @cindex memory address space mappings
18503 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
18504 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
18505 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
18506 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
18507 memory access rights to that range.
18508
18509 @item info proc stat
18510 @itemx info proc status
18511 @cindex process detailed status information
18512 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
18513 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
18514 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
18515 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
18516 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
18517 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
18518 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
18519
18520 @item info proc all
18521 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
18522 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
18523
18524 @ignore
18525 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
18526 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
18527 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
18528 @kindex info proc times
18529 @item info proc times
18530 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
18531 its children.
18532
18533 @kindex info proc id
18534 @item info proc id
18535 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
18536 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
18537 @end ignore
18538
18539 @item set procfs-trace
18540 @kindex set procfs-trace
18541 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
18542 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
18543
18544 @item show procfs-trace
18545 @kindex show procfs-trace
18546 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
18547
18548 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
18549 @kindex set procfs-file
18550 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
18551 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
18552 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
18553 standard output.
18554
18555 @item show procfs-file
18556 @kindex show procfs-file
18557 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
18558
18559 @item proc-trace-entry
18560 @itemx proc-trace-exit
18561 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
18562 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
18563 @kindex proc-trace-entry
18564 @kindex proc-trace-exit
18565 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
18566 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
18567 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
18568 from the @code{syscall} interface.
18569
18570 @item info pidlist
18571 @kindex info pidlist
18572 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
18573 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
18574 processes and all the threads within each process.
18575
18576 @item info meminfo
18577 @kindex info meminfo
18578 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
18579 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
18580 @end table
18581
18582 @node DJGPP Native
18583 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
18584 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
18585 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
18586 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
18587
18588 @cindex DPMI
18589 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
18590 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
18591 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
18592 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
18593
18594 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
18595 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
18596 subsection describes those commands.
18597
18598 @table @code
18599 @kindex info dos
18600 @item info dos
18601 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
18602 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18603
18604 @kindex sysinfo
18605 @cindex MS-DOS system info
18606 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
18607 @item info dos sysinfo
18608 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
18609 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
18610 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
18611
18612 @cindex GDT
18613 @cindex LDT
18614 @cindex IDT
18615 @cindex segment descriptor tables
18616 @cindex descriptor tables display
18617 @item info dos gdt
18618 @itemx info dos ldt
18619 @itemx info dos idt
18620 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
18621 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
18622 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
18623 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
18624 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
18625 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
18626 rights.
18627
18628 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
18629 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
18630 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
18631 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
18632 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
18633
18634 @cindex garbled pointers
18635 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
18636 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
18637 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
18638 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
18639 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
18640 debugged program's data segment:
18641
18642 @smallexample
18643 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
18644 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
18645 @end smallexample
18646
18647 @noindent
18648 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
18649 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
18650
18651 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
18652 @item info dos pde
18653 @itemx info dos pte
18654 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
18655 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
18656 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
18657 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
18658 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
18659 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
18660 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
18661 that is currently in use.
18662
18663 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
18664 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
18665 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
18666 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
18667 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
18668 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
18669 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
18670
18671 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
18672 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
18673 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
18674 controller.
18675
18676 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
18677
18678 @cindex physical address from linear address
18679 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
18680 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
18681 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
18682 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
18683 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
18684 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
18685 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
18686
18687 @smallexample
18688 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
18689 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
18690 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
18691 @end smallexample
18692
18693 @noindent
18694 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
18695 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
18696 attributes of that page.
18697
18698 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
18699 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
18700 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
18701 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
18702 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
18703 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
18704
18705 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
18706 transfer buffer:
18707
18708 @smallexample
18709 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
18710 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
18711 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
18712 @end smallexample
18713
18714 @noindent
18715 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
18716 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
18717 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
18718 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
18719 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
18720
18721 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
18722 @end table
18723
18724 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
18725 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
18726 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
18727 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
18728
18729 @table @code
18730 @kindex set com1base
18731 @kindex set com1irq
18732 @kindex set com2base
18733 @kindex set com2irq
18734 @kindex set com3base
18735 @kindex set com3irq
18736 @kindex set com4base
18737 @kindex set com4irq
18738 @item set com1base @var{addr}
18739 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
18740 port.
18741
18742 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
18743 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
18744 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
18745
18746 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
18747 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
18748 other 3 COM ports.
18749
18750 @kindex show com1base
18751 @kindex show com1irq
18752 @kindex show com2base
18753 @kindex show com2irq
18754 @kindex show com3base
18755 @kindex show com3irq
18756 @kindex show com4base
18757 @kindex show com4irq
18758 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
18759 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
18760 lines used by the COM ports.
18761
18762 @item info serial
18763 @kindex info serial
18764 @cindex DOS serial port status
18765 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
18766 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
18767 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
18768 counts of various errors encountered so far.
18769 @end table
18770
18771
18772 @node Cygwin Native
18773 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
18774 @cindex MS Windows debugging
18775 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
18776 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
18777
18778 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
18779 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
18780
18781 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
18782 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
18783 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
18784 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
18785 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
18786 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
18787 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
18788 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
18789
18790 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
18791 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
18792 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
18793
18794 @table @code
18795 @kindex info w32
18796 @item info w32
18797 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
18798 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18799
18800 @item info w32 selector
18801 This command displays information returned by
18802 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
18803 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
18804 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
18805 Without argument, this command displays information
18806 about the six segment registers.
18807
18808 @item info w32 thread-information-block
18809 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
18810 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
18811 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
18812
18813 @kindex info dll
18814 @item info dll
18815 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
18816
18817 @kindex dll-symbols
18818 @item dll-symbols
18819 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
18820 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
18821
18822 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
18823 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
18824 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
18825 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
18826 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
18827 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
18828 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
18829 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
18830 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
18831 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
18832 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
18833
18834 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
18835 @item show cygwin-exceptions
18836 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
18837 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
18838
18839 @kindex set new-console
18840 @item set new-console @var{mode}
18841 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
18842 be started in a new console on next start.
18843 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
18844 be started in the same console as the debugger.
18845
18846 @kindex show new-console
18847 @item show new-console
18848 Displays whether a new console is used
18849 when the debuggee is started.
18850
18851 @kindex set new-group
18852 @item set new-group @var{mode}
18853 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
18854 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
18855 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
18856 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
18857
18858 @kindex show new-group
18859 @item show new-group
18860 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
18861
18862 @kindex set debugevents
18863 @item set debugevents
18864 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
18865 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
18866 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
18867 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
18868 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
18869
18870 @kindex set debugexec
18871 @item set debugexec
18872 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
18873 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
18874
18875 @kindex set debugexceptions
18876 @item set debugexceptions
18877 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
18878 debuggee seen by the debugger.
18879
18880 @kindex set debugmemory
18881 @item set debugmemory
18882 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
18883 and writes by the debugger.
18884
18885 @kindex set shell
18886 @item set shell
18887 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
18888 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
18889
18890 @kindex show shell
18891 @item show shell
18892 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
18893
18894 @end table
18895
18896 @menu
18897 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
18898 @end menu
18899
18900 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
18901 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
18902 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
18903 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
18904
18905 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
18906 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
18907 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
18908 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
18909 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
18910 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
18911 ``minimal symbols''.
18912
18913 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
18914 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
18915 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
18916 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
18917 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
18918 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
18919 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
18920 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
18921 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
18922 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
18923
18924 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
18925
18926 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
18927 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
18928 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
18929 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
18930 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
18931 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
18932 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
18933 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
18934 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
18935
18936 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
18937 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
18938 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
18939 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
18940 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
18941 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
18942
18943 @smallexample
18944 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
18945 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
18946
18947 Non-debugging symbols:
18948 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
18949 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
18950 @end smallexample
18951
18952 @smallexample
18953 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
18954 All functions matching regular expression "!":
18955
18956 Non-debugging symbols:
18957 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
18958 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
18959 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
18960 [etc...]
18961 @end smallexample
18962
18963 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
18964
18965 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
18966 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
18967 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
18968 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
18969 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
18970 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
18971 a function within a DLL without a running program.
18972
18973 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
18974 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
18975 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
18976 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
18977 problem:
18978
18979 @smallexample
18980 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
18981 $1 = 268572168
18982 @end smallexample
18983
18984 @smallexample
18985 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
18986 0x10021610: "\230y\""
18987 @end smallexample
18988
18989 And two possible solutions:
18990
18991 @smallexample
18992 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
18993 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18994 @end smallexample
18995
18996 @smallexample
18997 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
18998 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
18999 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
19000 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19001 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
19002 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19003 @end smallexample
19004
19005 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19006 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19007 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19008 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19009 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19010
19011 @smallexample
19012 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19013 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19014 @end smallexample
19015
19016 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19017 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19018 safe.
19019
19020 @node Hurd Native
19021 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19022 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19023
19024 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19025 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19026
19027 @table @code
19028 @item set signals
19029 @itemx set sigs
19030 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19031 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19032 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19033 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19034 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19035 @code{signals}.
19036
19037 @item show signals
19038 @itemx show sigs
19039 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19040 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19041 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19042
19043 @item set signal-thread
19044 @itemx set sigthread
19045 @kindex set signal-thread
19046 @kindex set sigthread
19047 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19048 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19049 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19050 signal-thread}.
19051
19052 @item show signal-thread
19053 @itemx show sigthread
19054 @kindex show signal-thread
19055 @kindex show sigthread
19056 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19057 delivered a signal.
19058
19059 @item set stopped
19060 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19061 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19062 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19063 continued by delivering a signal to it.
19064
19065 @item show stopped
19066 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19067 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19068 stopped.
19069
19070 @item set exceptions
19071 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19072 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19073 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19074 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19075 trapping on.
19076
19077 @item show exceptions
19078 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19079 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19080
19081 @item set task pause
19082 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19083 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19084 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19085 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19086 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19087 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19088 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19089 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19090 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19091
19092 @item show task pause
19093 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19094 Show the current state of task suspension.
19095
19096 @item set task detach-suspend-count
19097 @cindex task suspend count
19098 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19099 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
19100 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
19101
19102 @item show task detach-suspend-count
19103 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
19104
19105 @item set task exception-port
19106 @itemx set task excp
19107 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19108 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
19109 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
19110 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
19111
19112 @item set noninvasive
19113 @cindex noninvasive task options
19114 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
19115 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
19116 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
19117 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
19118
19119 @item info send-rights
19120 @itemx info receive-rights
19121 @itemx info port-rights
19122 @itemx info port-sets
19123 @itemx info dead-names
19124 @itemx info ports
19125 @itemx info psets
19126 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19127 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19128 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19129 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19130 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19131 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
19132 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
19133 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
19134 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
19135
19136 @item set thread pause
19137 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
19138 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19139 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19140 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
19141 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
19142 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
19143 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
19144 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
19145 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
19146 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
19147 only the current thread.
19148
19149 @item show thread pause
19150 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
19151 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
19152
19153 @item set thread run
19154 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19155
19156 @item show thread run
19157 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
19158
19159 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
19160 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19161 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19162 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
19163 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
19164 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
19165 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
19166
19167 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
19168 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
19169 detaching.
19170
19171 @item set thread exception-port
19172 @itemx set thread excp
19173 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
19174 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
19175 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
19176
19177 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
19178 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
19179 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
19180 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
19181
19182 @item set thread default
19183 @itemx show thread default
19184 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
19185 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
19186 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
19187 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
19188 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
19189 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
19190 the non-default commands.
19191 @end table
19192
19193
19194 @node Neutrino
19195 @subsection QNX Neutrino
19196 @cindex QNX Neutrino
19197
19198 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
19199 Neutrino target:
19200
19201 @table @code
19202 @item set debug nto-debug
19203 @kindex set debug nto-debug
19204 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
19205 Neutrino support.
19206
19207 @item show debug nto-debug
19208 @kindex show debug nto-debug
19209 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
19210 @end table
19211
19212 @node Darwin
19213 @subsection Darwin
19214 @cindex Darwin
19215
19216 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
19217
19218 @table @code
19219 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
19220 @kindex set debug darwin
19221 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
19222 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
19223
19224 @item show debug darwin
19225 @kindex show debug darwin
19226 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
19227
19228 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
19229 @kindex set debug mach-o
19230 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
19231 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
19232 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
19233 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
19234 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
19235 usage.
19236
19237 @item show debug mach-o
19238 @kindex show debug mach-o
19239 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
19240
19241 @item set mach-exceptions on
19242 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
19243 @kindex set mach-exceptions
19244 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
19245 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
19246 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
19247 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
19248
19249 @item show mach-exceptions
19250 @kindex show mach-exceptions
19251 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
19252 @end table
19253
19254
19255 @node Embedded OS
19256 @section Embedded Operating Systems
19257
19258 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
19259 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
19260 architectures.
19261
19262 @menu
19263 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19264 @end menu
19265
19266 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
19267 various real-time operating systems.
19268
19269 @node VxWorks
19270 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
19271
19272 @cindex VxWorks
19273
19274 @table @code
19275
19276 @kindex target vxworks
19277 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
19278 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
19279 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
19280
19281 @end table
19282
19283 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
19284 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
19285
19286 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
19287 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
19288 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19289 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
19290 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
19291 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
19292 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
19293
19294 @table @code
19295 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
19296 @kindex vxworks-timeout
19297 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
19298 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19299 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
19300 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
19301 of a thin network line.
19302 @end table
19303
19304 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
19305 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
19306 procedures.
19307
19308 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
19309 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
19310 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
19311 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
19312 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
19313 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
19314 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
19315 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
19316 manual.
19317 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
19318
19319 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
19320 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19321 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
19322 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
19323
19324 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19325
19326 @smallexample
19327 (vxgdb)
19328 @end smallexample
19329
19330 @menu
19331 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
19332 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
19333 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
19334 @end menu
19335
19336 @node VxWorks Connection
19337 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
19338
19339 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
19340 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
19341
19342 @smallexample
19343 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
19344 @end smallexample
19345
19346 @need 750
19347 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19348
19349 @smallexample
19350 Attaching remote machine across net...
19351 Connected to tt.
19352 @end smallexample
19353
19354 @need 1000
19355 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
19356 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
19357 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
19358 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
19359 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
19360
19361 @smallexample
19362 prog.o: No such file or directory.
19363 @end smallexample
19364
19365 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
19366 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
19367 command again.
19368
19369 @node VxWorks Download
19370 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
19371
19372 @cindex download to VxWorks
19373 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
19374 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
19375 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
19376 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
19377 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
19378 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
19379 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
19380 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
19381 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
19382 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
19383 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
19384 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
19385 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
19386 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
19387 program, type this on VxWorks:
19388
19389 @smallexample
19390 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
19391 @end smallexample
19392
19393 @noindent
19394 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19395
19396 @smallexample
19397 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
19398 (vxgdb) load prog.o
19399 @end smallexample
19400
19401 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
19402
19403 @smallexample
19404 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
19405 @end smallexample
19406
19407 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
19408 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
19409 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
19410 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
19411 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
19412 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
19413 table.)
19414
19415 @node VxWorks Attach
19416 @subsubsection Running Tasks
19417
19418 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
19419 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
19420 follows:
19421
19422 @smallexample
19423 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
19424 @end smallexample
19425
19426 @noindent
19427 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
19428 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
19429 the time of attachment.
19430
19431 @node Embedded Processors
19432 @section Embedded Processors
19433
19434 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
19435 configurations.
19436
19437 @cindex send command to simulator
19438 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
19439 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
19440
19441 @table @code
19442 @item sim @var{command}
19443 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
19444 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
19445 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
19446 acceptable commands.
19447 @end table
19448
19449
19450 @menu
19451 * ARM:: ARM RDI
19452 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
19453 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
19454 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
19455 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
19456 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
19457 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
19458 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
19459 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
19460 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
19461 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
19462 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
19463 * CRIS:: CRIS
19464 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
19465 @end menu
19466
19467 @node ARM
19468 @subsection ARM
19469 @cindex ARM RDI
19470
19471 @table @code
19472 @kindex target rdi
19473 @item target rdi @var{dev}
19474 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
19475 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
19476 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
19477
19478 @kindex target rdp
19479 @item target rdp @var{dev}
19480 ARM Demon monitor.
19481
19482 @end table
19483
19484 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
19485
19486 @table @code
19487 @item set arm disassembler
19488 @kindex set arm
19489 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
19490 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
19491
19492 @item show arm disassembler
19493 @kindex show arm
19494 Show the current disassembly style.
19495
19496 @item set arm apcs32
19497 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
19498 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
19499
19500 @item show arm apcs32
19501 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
19502
19503 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
19504 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
19505 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
19506
19507 @table @code
19508 @item auto
19509 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
19510 @item softfpa
19511 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
19512 processors.
19513 @item fpa
19514 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
19515 @item softvfp
19516 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
19517 @item vfp
19518 VFP co-processor.
19519 @end table
19520
19521 @item show arm fpu
19522 Show the current type of the FPU.
19523
19524 @item set arm abi
19525 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
19526
19527 @item show arm abi
19528 Show the currently used ABI.
19529
19530 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19531 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
19532 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
19533 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
19534 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
19535 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
19536 register).
19537
19538 @item show arm fallback-mode
19539 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
19540
19541 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19542 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
19543 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
19544 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
19545 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
19546
19547 @item show arm force-mode
19548 Show the current forced instruction mode.
19549
19550 @item set debug arm
19551 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
19552 target support subsystem.
19553
19554 @item show debug arm
19555 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
19556 @end table
19557
19558 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
19559 using the RDI interface:
19560
19561 @table @code
19562 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19563 @kindex rdilogfile
19564 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
19565 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
19566 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
19567 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
19568 @file{rdi.log}.
19569
19570 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
19571 @kindex rdilogenable
19572 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
19573 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
19574 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
19575 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
19576 are logged to a file.
19577
19578 @item set rdiromatzero
19579 @kindex set rdiromatzero
19580 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
19581 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
19582 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
19583 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
19584 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
19585
19586 @item show rdiromatzero
19587 @kindex show rdiromatzero
19588 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
19589
19590 @item set rdiheartbeat
19591 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
19592 @cindex RDI heartbeat
19593 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
19594 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
19595 well as the Angel monitor.
19596
19597 @item show rdiheartbeat
19598 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
19599 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
19600 @end table
19601
19602 @table @code
19603 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19604 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
19605
19606 @table @code
19607 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
19608 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
19609 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
19610 The default value is @code{all}.
19611
19612 @table @code
19613 @item none
19614 @item demon
19615 @item angel
19616 @item redboot
19617 @item all
19618 @end table
19619 @end table
19620 @end table
19621
19622 @node M32R/D
19623 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
19624
19625 @table @code
19626 @kindex target m32r
19627 @item target m32r @var{dev}
19628 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
19629
19630 @kindex target m32rsdi
19631 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
19632 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
19633 @end table
19634
19635 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
19636
19637 @table @code
19638 @item set download-path @var{path}
19639 @kindex set download-path
19640 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
19641 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19642
19643 @item show download-path
19644 @kindex show download-path
19645 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19646
19647 @item set board-address @var{addr}
19648 @kindex set board-address
19649 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
19650 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
19651
19652 @item show board-address
19653 @kindex show board-address
19654 Show the current IP address of the target board.
19655
19656 @item set server-address @var{addr}
19657 @kindex set server-address
19658 @cindex download server address (M32R)
19659 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
19660 host machine.
19661
19662 @item show server-address
19663 @kindex show server-address
19664 Display the IP address of the download server.
19665
19666 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19667 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
19668 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
19669 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
19670 executable file is uploaded.
19671
19672 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19673 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
19674 Test the @code{upload} command.
19675 @end table
19676
19677 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
19678
19679 @table @code
19680 @item sdireset
19681 @kindex sdireset
19682 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
19683 This command resets the SDI connection.
19684
19685 @item sdistatus
19686 @kindex sdistatus
19687 This command shows the SDI connection status.
19688
19689 @item debug_chaos
19690 @kindex debug_chaos
19691 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
19692 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
19693
19694 @item use_debug_dma
19695 @kindex use_debug_dma
19696 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
19697
19698 @item use_mon_code
19699 @kindex use_mon_code
19700 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
19701
19702 @item use_ib_break
19703 @kindex use_ib_break
19704 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
19705
19706 @item use_dbt_break
19707 @kindex use_dbt_break
19708 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
19709 @end table
19710
19711 @node M68K
19712 @subsection M68k
19713
19714 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
19715 target command for the following ROM monitor.
19716
19717 @table @code
19718
19719 @kindex target dbug
19720 @item target dbug @var{dev}
19721 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
19722
19723 @end table
19724
19725 @node MicroBlaze
19726 @subsection MicroBlaze
19727 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
19728 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
19729
19730 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
19731 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
19732 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
19733 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
19734 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
19735 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
19736 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
19737 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
19738 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
19739 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
19740 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
19741
19742 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
19743
19744 @table @code
19745 @item target remote :1234
19746 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
19747 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
19748
19749 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
19750 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
19751 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
19752
19753 @item load
19754 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
19755
19756 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
19757 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
19758
19759 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
19760 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
19761 @end table
19762
19763 @node MIPS Embedded
19764 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
19765
19766 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
19767 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
19768 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
19769 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
19770
19771 @need 1000
19772 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
19773
19774 @table @code
19775 @item target mips @var{port}
19776 @kindex target mips @var{port}
19777 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
19778 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
19779 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
19780 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
19781 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
19782 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
19783
19784 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
19785 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
19786 debugger:
19787
19788 @smallexample
19789 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
19790 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
19791 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
19792 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
19793 (@value{GDBP}) run
19794 @end smallexample
19795
19796 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
19797 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
19798 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
19799 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
19800 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
19801
19802 @item target pmon @var{port}
19803 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
19804 PMON ROM monitor.
19805
19806 @item target ddb @var{port}
19807 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
19808 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
19809
19810 @item target lsi @var{port}
19811 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
19812 LSI variant of PMON.
19813
19814 @kindex target r3900
19815 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
19816 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
19817
19818 @kindex target array
19819 @item target array @var{dev}
19820 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
19821
19822 @end table
19823
19824
19825 @noindent
19826 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
19827
19828 @table @code
19829 @item set mipsfpu double
19830 @itemx set mipsfpu single
19831 @itemx set mipsfpu none
19832 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
19833 @itemx show mipsfpu
19834 @kindex set mipsfpu
19835 @kindex show mipsfpu
19836 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
19837 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
19838 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
19839 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
19840 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
19841 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
19842 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
19843 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
19844 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
19845 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
19846 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
19847 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
19848 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
19849
19850 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
19851 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
19852 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
19853
19854 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
19855 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
19856
19857 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
19858 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
19859 @itemx show timeout
19860 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
19861 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
19862 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
19863 @kindex set timeout
19864 @kindex show timeout
19865 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
19866 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
19867 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
19868 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
19869 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
19870 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
19871 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
19872 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
19873 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
19874 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
19875
19876 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
19877 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
19878 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
19879 to run before stopping.
19880
19881 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
19882 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19883 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
19884 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
19885 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
19886 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
19887
19888 @item show syn-garbage-limit
19889 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19890 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
19891 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
19892
19893 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
19894 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19895 @cindex remote monitor prompt
19896 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
19897 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
19898 @table @asis
19899 @item pmon target
19900 @samp{PMON}
19901 @item ddb target
19902 @samp{NEC010}
19903 @item lsi target
19904 @samp{PMON>}
19905 @end table
19906
19907 @item show monitor-prompt
19908 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19909 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
19910 remote monitor.
19911
19912 @item set monitor-warnings
19913 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19914 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
19915 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
19916 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
19917 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
19918
19919 @item show monitor-warnings
19920 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19921 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
19922
19923 @item pmon @var{command}
19924 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
19925 @cindex send PMON command
19926 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
19927 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
19928 @end table
19929
19930 @node OpenRISC 1000
19931 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
19932 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
19933
19934 @cindex or1k boards
19935 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
19936 about platform and commands.
19937
19938 @table @code
19939
19940 @kindex target jtag
19941 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
19942
19943 Connects to remote JTAG server.
19944 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
19945 connected via parallel port to the board.
19946
19947 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
19948
19949 @kindex or1ksim
19950 @item or1ksim @var{command}
19951 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
19952 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
19953
19954 @kindex info or1k spr
19955 @item info or1k spr
19956 Displays spr groups.
19957
19958 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
19959 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
19960 Displays register names in selected group.
19961
19962 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
19963 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
19964 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
19965 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
19966 Shows information about specified spr register.
19967
19968 @kindex spr
19969 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
19970 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
19971 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
19972 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
19973 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
19974 @end table
19975
19976 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
19977 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
19978 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
19979 triggers can be set using:
19980 @table @code
19981 @item $LEA/$LDATA
19982 Load effective address/data
19983 @item $SEA/$SDATA
19984 Store effective address/data
19985 @item $AEA/$ADATA
19986 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
19987 @item $FETCH
19988 Fetch data
19989 @end table
19990
19991 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
19992 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
19993
19994 @code{htrace} commands:
19995 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
19996 @table @code
19997 @kindex hwatch
19998 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
19999 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
20000 or Data. For example:
20001
20002 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
20003
20004 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
20005
20006 @kindex htrace
20007 @item htrace info
20008 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
20009
20010 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
20011 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
20012
20013 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
20014 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
20015
20016 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
20017 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
20018
20019 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
20020 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
20021 triggered.
20022
20023 @item htrace enable
20024 @itemx htrace disable
20025 Enables/disables the HW trace.
20026
20027 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
20028 Clears currently recorded trace data.
20029
20030 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
20031 will be written there.
20032
20033 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
20034 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
20035
20036 @item htrace mode continuous
20037 Set continuous trace mode.
20038
20039 @item htrace mode suspend
20040 Set suspend trace mode.
20041
20042 @end table
20043
20044 @node PowerPC Embedded
20045 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20046
20047 @cindex DVC register
20048 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20049 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20050
20051 @smallexample
20052 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20053 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20054 @end smallexample
20055
20056 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20057 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20058 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20059 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20060 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20061 or newer.
20062
20063 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20064 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20065 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20066 watching variables of scalar types.
20067
20068 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20069 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20070
20071 @smallexample
20072 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20073 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20074 @end smallexample
20075
20076 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20077 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20078
20079 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20080 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20081 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20082 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20083 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20084 use the @code{break-range} command.
20085
20086 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20087
20088 @table @code
20089 @kindex break-range
20090 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20091 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20092 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20093 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20094 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20095 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20096 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20097 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20098 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20099
20100 @kindex set powerpc
20101 @item set powerpc soft-float
20102 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20103 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20104 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20105 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20106
20107 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20108 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20109 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20110 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20111 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20112 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20113 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20114 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20115
20116 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20117 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20118 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20119 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20120 address of its first byte.
20121
20122 @kindex target dink32
20123 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20124 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20125
20126 @kindex target ppcbug
20127 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20128 @kindex target ppcbug1
20129 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20130 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20131
20132 @kindex target sds
20133 @item target sds @var{dev}
20134 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20135 @end table
20136
20137 @cindex SDS protocol
20138 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20139 by @value{GDBN}:
20140
20141 @table @code
20142 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20143 @kindex set sdstimeout
20144 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20145 default is 2 seconds.
20146
20147 @item show sdstimeout
20148 @kindex show sdstimeout
20149 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20150
20151 @item sds @var{command}
20152 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20153 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20154 @end table
20155
20156
20157 @node PA
20158 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20159
20160 @table @code
20161
20162 @kindex target op50n
20163 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20164 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20165
20166 @kindex target w89k
20167 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20168 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20169
20170 @end table
20171
20172 @node Sparclet
20173 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20174
20175 @cindex Sparclet
20176
20177 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20178 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20179 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20180 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20181 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20182
20183 @table @code
20184 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20185 @kindex remotetimeout
20186 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20187 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20188 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20189 @end table
20190
20191 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20192 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20193 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20194 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20195 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20196
20197 @smallexample
20198 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20199 @end smallexample
20200
20201 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20202
20203 @smallexample
20204 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20205 @end smallexample
20206
20207 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20208 Once you have set
20209 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20210 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20211 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20212
20213 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20214
20215 @smallexample
20216 (gdbslet)
20217 @end smallexample
20218
20219 @menu
20220 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20221 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20222 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20223 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20224 @end menu
20225
20226 @node Sparclet File
20227 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20228
20229 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
20230
20231 @smallexample
20232 (gdbslet) file prog
20233 @end smallexample
20234
20235 @need 1000
20236 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
20237 @value{GDBN} locates
20238 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
20239 path.
20240 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
20241 files will be searched as well.
20242 @value{GDBN} locates
20243 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
20244 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
20245 If it fails
20246 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
20247
20248 @smallexample
20249 prog: No such file or directory.
20250 @end smallexample
20251
20252 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
20253 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
20254 @code{target} command again.
20255
20256 @node Sparclet Connection
20257 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
20258
20259 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
20260 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
20261
20262 @smallexample
20263 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
20264 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
20265 main () at ../prog.c:3
20266 @end smallexample
20267
20268 @need 750
20269 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20270
20271 @smallexample
20272 Connected to ttya.
20273 @end smallexample
20274
20275 @node Sparclet Download
20276 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
20277
20278 @cindex download to Sparclet
20279 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
20280 you can use the @value{GDBN}
20281 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
20282 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
20283 command.
20284 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
20285 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
20286 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
20287 of each of the file's sections.
20288 For instance, if the program
20289 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
20290 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20291
20292 @smallexample
20293 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
20294 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
20295 @end smallexample
20296
20297 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
20298 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
20299 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
20300
20301 @node Sparclet Execution
20302 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
20303
20304 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
20305 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
20306 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
20307 manual for the list of commands.
20308
20309 @smallexample
20310 (gdbslet) b main
20311 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
20312 (gdbslet) run
20313 Starting program: prog
20314 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
20315 3 char *symarg = 0;
20316 (gdbslet) step
20317 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
20318 (gdbslet)
20319 @end smallexample
20320
20321 @node Sparclite
20322 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
20323
20324 @table @code
20325
20326 @kindex target sparclite
20327 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
20328 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
20329 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
20330 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
20331 remote protocol.
20332
20333 @end table
20334
20335 @node Z8000
20336 @subsection Zilog Z8000
20337
20338 @cindex Z8000
20339 @cindex simulator, Z8000
20340 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
20341
20342 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
20343 a Z8000 simulator.
20344
20345 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
20346 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
20347 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
20348 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
20349
20350 @table @code
20351 @item target sim @var{args}
20352 @kindex sim
20353 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
20354 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
20355 options, specify them via @var{args}.
20356 @end table
20357
20358 @noindent
20359 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
20360 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
20361 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
20362 to run your program, and so on.
20363
20364 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
20365 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
20366 additional items of information as specially named registers:
20367
20368 @table @code
20369
20370 @item cycles
20371 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
20372
20373 @item insts
20374 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
20375
20376 @item time
20377 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
20378
20379 @end table
20380
20381 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
20382 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
20383 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
20384 simulated clock ticks.
20385
20386 @node AVR
20387 @subsection Atmel AVR
20388 @cindex AVR
20389
20390 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
20391 following AVR-specific commands:
20392
20393 @table @code
20394 @item info io_registers
20395 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
20396 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
20397 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
20398 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
20399 @end table
20400
20401 @node CRIS
20402 @subsection CRIS
20403 @cindex CRIS
20404
20405 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
20406 following CRIS-specific commands:
20407
20408 @table @code
20409 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
20410 @cindex CRIS version
20411 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
20412 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
20413 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
20414
20415 @item show cris-version
20416 Show the current CRIS version.
20417
20418 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
20419 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
20420 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
20421 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
20422 @code{R59}.
20423
20424 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
20425 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
20426
20427 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
20428 @cindex CRIS mode
20429 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
20430 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
20431 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
20432
20433 @item show cris-mode
20434 Show the current CRIS mode.
20435 @end table
20436
20437 @node Super-H
20438 @subsection Renesas Super-H
20439 @cindex Super-H
20440
20441 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
20442 commands:
20443
20444 @table @code
20445 @item regs
20446 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
20447 This command is deprecated, and @code{info all-registers} should be
20448 used instead.
20449
20450 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
20451
20452 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
20453 @kindex set sh calling-convention
20454 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
20455 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
20456 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
20457 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
20458 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
20459 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
20460 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
20461 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
20462 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
20463 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
20464
20465 @item show sh calling-convention
20466 @kindex show sh calling-convention
20467 Show the current calling convention setting.
20468
20469 @end table
20470
20471
20472 @node Architectures
20473 @section Architectures
20474
20475 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
20476 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
20477
20478 @menu
20479 * i386::
20480 * Alpha::
20481 * MIPS::
20482 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
20483 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20484 * PowerPC::
20485 @end menu
20486
20487 @node i386
20488 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
20489
20490 @table @code
20491 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
20492 @kindex set struct-convention
20493 @cindex struct return convention
20494 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
20495 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
20496 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
20497 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
20498 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
20499 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
20500 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
20501 be returned in a register.
20502
20503 @item show struct-convention
20504 @kindex show struct-convention
20505 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
20506 from functions.
20507 @end table
20508
20509 @node Alpha
20510 @subsection Alpha
20511
20512 See the following section.
20513
20514 @node MIPS
20515 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
20516
20517 @cindex stack on Alpha
20518 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
20519 @cindex Alpha stack
20520 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
20521 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
20522 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
20523 find the beginning of a function.
20524
20525 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
20526 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
20527 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
20528 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
20529 commands:
20530
20531 @table @code
20532 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
20533 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
20534 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
20535 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
20536 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
20537 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
20538 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
20539 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
20540
20541 @item show heuristic-fence-post
20542 Display the current limit.
20543 @end table
20544
20545 @noindent
20546 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
20547 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
20548
20549 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
20550 programs:
20551
20552 @table @code
20553 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
20554 @kindex set mips abi
20555 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
20556 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
20557 values of @var{arg} are:
20558
20559 @table @samp
20560 @item auto
20561 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
20562 default).
20563 @item o32
20564 @item o64
20565 @item n32
20566 @item n64
20567 @item eabi32
20568 @item eabi64
20569 @end table
20570
20571 @item show mips abi
20572 @kindex show mips abi
20573 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20574
20575 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
20576 @kindex set mips compression
20577 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
20578 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
20579 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
20580 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
20581 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
20582 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
20583 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
20584 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
20585 provided by the executable.
20586
20587 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
20588 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
20589 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
20590 identified as such.
20591
20592 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
20593 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
20594 implicitly from an executable.
20595
20596 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
20597 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
20598 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
20599 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
20600 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
20601
20602 @item show mips compression
20603 @kindex show mips compression
20604 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
20605 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20606
20607 @item set mipsfpu
20608 @itemx show mipsfpu
20609 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20610
20611 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20612 @kindex set mips mask-address
20613 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
20614 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20615 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20616 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20617 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20618
20619 @item show mips mask-address
20620 @kindex show mips mask-address
20621 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
20622 not.
20623
20624 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20625 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20626 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
20627 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
20628 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20629 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20630
20631 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20632 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20633 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
20634
20635 @item set debug mips
20636 @kindex set debug mips
20637 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
20638 target code in @value{GDBN}.
20639
20640 @item show debug mips
20641 @kindex show debug mips
20642 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
20643 @end table
20644
20645
20646 @node HPPA
20647 @subsection HPPA
20648 @cindex HPPA support
20649
20650 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
20651 following special commands:
20652
20653 @table @code
20654 @item set debug hppa
20655 @kindex set debug hppa
20656 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
20657 messages are to be displayed.
20658
20659 @item show debug hppa
20660 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
20661
20662 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
20663 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
20664 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
20665 given @var{address}.
20666
20667 @end table
20668
20669
20670 @node SPU
20671 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20672 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
20673 @cindex SPU
20674
20675 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
20676 it provides the following special commands:
20677
20678 @table @code
20679 @item info spu event
20680 @kindex info spu
20681 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
20682 and pending event status.
20683
20684 @item info spu signal
20685 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
20686 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
20687 notification channels.
20688
20689 @item info spu mailbox
20690 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
20691 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
20692 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
20693
20694 @item info spu dma
20695 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20696 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20697 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20698
20699 @item info spu proxydma
20700 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20701 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20702 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20703
20704 @end table
20705
20706 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
20707 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
20708 special commands:
20709
20710 @table @code
20711 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
20712 @kindex set spu
20713 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
20714 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
20715 function. The default is @code{off}.
20716
20717 @item show spu stop-on-load
20718 @kindex show spu
20719 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
20720
20721 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
20722 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
20723 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
20724 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
20725 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
20726 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
20727
20728 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
20729 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
20730
20731 @end table
20732
20733 @node PowerPC
20734 @subsection PowerPC
20735 @cindex PowerPC architecture
20736
20737 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
20738 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
20739 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
20740 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
20741 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
20742
20743 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
20744 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
20745 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
20746
20747 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
20748 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
20749
20750
20751 @node Controlling GDB
20752 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
20753
20754 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
20755 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
20756 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
20757 described here.
20758
20759 @menu
20760 * Prompt:: Prompt
20761 * Editing:: Command editing
20762 * Command History:: Command history
20763 * Screen Size:: Screen size
20764 * Numbers:: Numbers
20765 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
20766 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
20767 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
20768 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
20769 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
20770 @end menu
20771
20772 @node Prompt
20773 @section Prompt
20774
20775 @cindex prompt
20776
20777 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
20778 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
20779 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
20780 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
20781 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
20782 which one you are talking to.
20783
20784 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
20785 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
20786 or a prompt that does not.
20787
20788 @table @code
20789 @kindex set prompt
20790 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
20791 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
20792
20793 @kindex show prompt
20794 @item show prompt
20795 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
20796 @end table
20797
20798 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
20799 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
20800 are:
20801
20802 @table @code
20803 @kindex set extended-prompt
20804 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
20805 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
20806 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
20807 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
20808 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
20809 is displayed.
20810
20811 For example:
20812
20813 @smallexample
20814 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
20815 @end smallexample
20816
20817 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
20818 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
20819
20820 @kindex show extended-prompt
20821 @item show extended-prompt
20822 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
20823 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
20824 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
20825 @end table
20826
20827 @node Editing
20828 @section Command Editing
20829 @cindex readline
20830 @cindex command line editing
20831
20832 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
20833 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
20834 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
20835 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
20836 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
20837 debugging sessions.
20838
20839 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
20840 command @code{set}.
20841
20842 @table @code
20843 @kindex set editing
20844 @cindex editing
20845 @item set editing
20846 @itemx set editing on
20847 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
20848
20849 @item set editing off
20850 Disable command line editing.
20851
20852 @kindex show editing
20853 @item show editing
20854 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
20855 @end table
20856
20857 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20858 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
20859 @end ifset
20860 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20861 @xref{Command Line Editing},
20862 @end ifclear
20863 for more details about the Readline
20864 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
20865 encouraged to read that chapter.
20866
20867 @node Command History
20868 @section Command History
20869 @cindex command history
20870
20871 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
20872 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
20873 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
20874 history facility.
20875
20876 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
20877 package, to provide the history facility.
20878 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20879 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
20880 @end ifset
20881 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20882 @xref{Using History Interactively},
20883 @end ifclear
20884 for the detailed description of the History library.
20885
20886 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
20887 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
20888 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
20889 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
20890 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
20891 pressed on a line by itself.
20892
20893 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
20894 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
20895 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
20896 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
20897
20898 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
20899 history.
20900
20901 @table @code
20902 @cindex history substitution
20903 @cindex history file
20904 @kindex set history filename
20905 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
20906 @item set history filename @var{fname}
20907 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
20908 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
20909 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
20910 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
20911 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
20912 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
20913 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
20914 is not set.
20915
20916 @cindex save command history
20917 @kindex set history save
20918 @item set history save
20919 @itemx set history save on
20920 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
20921 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
20922
20923 @item set history save off
20924 Stop recording command history in a file.
20925
20926 @cindex history size
20927 @kindex set history size
20928 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
20929 @item set history size @var{size}
20930 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
20931 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
20932 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
20933 @end table
20934
20935 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
20936 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20937 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
20938 @end ifset
20939 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20940 @xref{Event Designators},
20941 @end ifclear
20942 for more details.
20943
20944 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
20945 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
20946 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
20947 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
20948 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
20949 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
20950 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
20951 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
20952
20953 The commands to control history expansion are:
20954
20955 @table @code
20956 @item set history expansion on
20957 @itemx set history expansion
20958 @kindex set history expansion
20959 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
20960
20961 @item set history expansion off
20962 Disable history expansion.
20963
20964 @c @group
20965 @kindex show history
20966 @item show history
20967 @itemx show history filename
20968 @itemx show history save
20969 @itemx show history size
20970 @itemx show history expansion
20971 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
20972 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
20973 @c @end group
20974 @end table
20975
20976 @table @code
20977 @kindex show commands
20978 @cindex show last commands
20979 @cindex display command history
20980 @item show commands
20981 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
20982
20983 @item show commands @var{n}
20984 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
20985
20986 @item show commands +
20987 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
20988 @end table
20989
20990 @node Screen Size
20991 @section Screen Size
20992 @cindex size of screen
20993 @cindex pauses in output
20994
20995 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
20996 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
20997 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
20998 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
20999 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21000 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21001 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21002 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21003
21004 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21005 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21006 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21007 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21008 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21009 width} commands:
21010
21011 @table @code
21012 @kindex set height
21013 @kindex set width
21014 @kindex show width
21015 @kindex show height
21016 @item set height @var{lpp}
21017 @itemx show height
21018 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21019 @itemx show width
21020 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21021 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21022 commands display the current settings.
21023
21024 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
21025 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
21026 file or to an editor buffer.
21027
21028 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
21029 from wrapping its output.
21030
21031 @item set pagination on
21032 @itemx set pagination off
21033 @kindex set pagination
21034 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21035 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
21036 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21037 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21038
21039 @item show pagination
21040 @kindex show pagination
21041 Show the current pagination mode.
21042 @end table
21043
21044 @node Numbers
21045 @section Numbers
21046 @cindex number representation
21047 @cindex entering numbers
21048
21049 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21050 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21051 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21052 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21053 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21054 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21055 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21056 both input and output with the commands described below.
21057
21058 @table @code
21059 @kindex set input-radix
21060 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21061 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21062 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21063 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21064 example, any of
21065
21066 @smallexample
21067 set input-radix 012
21068 set input-radix 10.
21069 set input-radix 0xa
21070 @end smallexample
21071
21072 @noindent
21073 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21074 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21075 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21076 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21077 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21078 change the radix.
21079
21080 @kindex set output-radix
21081 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21082 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21083 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21084 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21085
21086 @kindex show input-radix
21087 @item show input-radix
21088 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21089
21090 @kindex show output-radix
21091 @item show output-radix
21092 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21093
21094 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21095 @itemx show radix
21096 @kindex set radix
21097 @kindex show radix
21098 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21099 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21100 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21101 default value of 10.
21102
21103 @end table
21104
21105 @node ABI
21106 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21107
21108 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21109 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21110 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21111 current ABI.
21112
21113 @cindex OS ABI
21114 @kindex set osabi
21115 @kindex show osabi
21116
21117 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21118 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21119 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21120 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21121 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21122 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21123 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21124 platform provides.
21125
21126 @table @code
21127 @item show osabi
21128 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21129
21130 @item set osabi
21131 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21132
21133 @item set osabi @var{abi}
21134 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21135 @end table
21136
21137 @cindex float promotion
21138
21139 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21140 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21141 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21142 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21143 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21144 @code{double} and then passed.
21145
21146 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21147 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21148 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21149
21150 @table @code
21151 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21152 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21153 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21154 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21155 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21156
21157 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21158 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21159 functions.
21160
21161 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21162 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21163 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21164 @end table
21165
21166 @kindex set cp-abi
21167 @kindex show cp-abi
21168 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21169 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21170 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21171 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21172 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21173 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21174 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21175 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21176 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21177 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21178 ``auto''.
21179
21180 @table @code
21181 @item show cp-abi
21182 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21183
21184 @item set cp-abi
21185 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21186
21187 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21188 @itemx set cp-abi auto
21189 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
21190 @end table
21191
21192 @node Auto-loading
21193 @section Automatically loading associated files
21194 @cindex auto-loading
21195
21196 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
21197 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
21198 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
21199 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
21200 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
21201 sources).
21202
21203 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
21204 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
21205 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21206
21207 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
21208 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
21209
21210 @table @code
21211 @anchor{set auto-load off}
21212 @kindex set auto-load off
21213 @item set auto-load off
21214 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
21215 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
21216 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
21217 @smallexample
21218 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
21219 @end smallexample
21220
21221 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
21222 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
21223 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
21224 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
21225 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
21226 @code{set auto-load no}.
21227
21228 @anchor{show auto-load}
21229 @kindex show auto-load
21230 @item show auto-load
21231 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
21232 or disabled.
21233
21234 @smallexample
21235 (gdb) show auto-load
21236 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
21237 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
21238 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
21239 is on.
21240 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
21241 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21242 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21243 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
21244 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
21245 @end smallexample
21246
21247 @anchor{info auto-load}
21248 @kindex info auto-load
21249 @item info auto-load
21250 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
21251 not.
21252
21253 @smallexample
21254 (gdb) info auto-load
21255 gdb-scripts:
21256 Loaded Script
21257 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
21258 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
21259 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
21260 loaded.
21261 python-scripts:
21262 Loaded Script
21263 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
21264 @end smallexample
21265 @end table
21266
21267 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
21268
21269 @itemize @bullet
21270 @item
21271 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21272 @item
21273 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21274 @item
21275 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
21276 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21277 @item
21278 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
21279 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21280 @item
21281 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21282 @end itemize
21283
21284 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
21285
21286 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
21287 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
21288 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
21289 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
21290 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
21291 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
21292 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
21293 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21294 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21295 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21296 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21297 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
21298 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
21299 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
21300 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21301 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
21302 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21303 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
21304 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
21305 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21306 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21307 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
21308 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
21309 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21310 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
21311 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21312 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
21313 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
21314 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
21315 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
21316 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
21317 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
21318 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
21319 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
21320 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
21321 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
21322 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
21323 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
21324 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
21325 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
21326 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
21327 @end multitable
21328
21329 @menu
21330 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21331 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
21332 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
21333 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
21334 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
21335 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
21336 @end menu
21337
21338 @node Init File in the Current Directory
21339 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
21340 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
21341
21342 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
21343 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
21344 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
21345
21346 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
21347 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21348
21349 @table @code
21350 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
21351 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
21352 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
21353 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
21354 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
21355
21356 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
21357 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
21358 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
21359 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21360 current directory is enabled or disabled.
21361
21362 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
21363 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
21364 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
21365 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
21366 current directory have been auto-loaded.
21367 @end table
21368
21369 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
21370 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
21371 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
21372
21373 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
21374
21375 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
21376 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
21377
21378 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
21379 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
21380 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
21381 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
21382 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
21383 library.
21384
21385 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
21386 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21387
21388 @table @code
21389 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
21390 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
21391 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
21392 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
21393
21394 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
21395 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
21396 @item show auto-load libthread-db
21397 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
21398 enabled or disabled.
21399
21400 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
21401 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
21402 @item info auto-load libthread-db
21403 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
21404 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
21405 @end table
21406
21407 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
21408 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
21409 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
21410
21411 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
21412 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
21413 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
21414
21415 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
21416 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
21417
21418 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
21419 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
21420
21421 @table @code
21422 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
21423 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
21424 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
21425 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
21426
21427 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
21428 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
21429 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
21430 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
21431 disabled.
21432
21433 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
21434 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
21435 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
21436 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
21437 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
21438 auto-loaded.
21439 @end table
21440
21441 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
21442 matching names are printed.
21443
21444 @node Auto-loading safe path
21445 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
21446 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
21447
21448 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
21449 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
21450 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
21451 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
21452
21453 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
21454 get loaded:
21455
21456 @smallexample
21457 $ ./gdb -q ./gdb
21458 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
21459 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
21460 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
21461 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
21462 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
21463 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
21464 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
21465 @end smallexample
21466
21467 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
21468
21469 @table @code
21470 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
21471 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
21472 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
21473 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
21474 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
21475 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
21476 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
21477
21478 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
21479 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
21480 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
21481
21482 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
21483 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
21484 @item show auto-load safe-path
21485 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
21486 scripts.
21487
21488 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
21489 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
21490 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
21491 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
21492 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
21493 host platform path separator in use.
21494 @end table
21495
21496 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
21497 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
21498 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
21499 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
21500 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
21501
21502 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
21503 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
21504 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
21505 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
21506 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
21507 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
21508 init file in the current directory
21509 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
21510
21511 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
21512 example, you could use one of the following ways:
21513
21514 @table @asis
21515 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
21516 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
21517 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
21518 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
21519
21520 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
21521 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
21522 @value{GDBN} session.
21523
21524 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
21525 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21526 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
21527 from trusted sources.
21528
21529 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
21530 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
21531 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
21532 trusted sources.
21533 @end table
21534
21535 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
21536 also suppresses any such warning messages:
21537
21538 @table @asis
21539 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
21540 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
21541
21542 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
21543 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
21544 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
21545 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
21546 @end table
21547
21548 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
21549 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
21550 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
21551 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
21552 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
21553 recommended to be entered.
21554
21555 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
21556 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
21557 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
21558
21559 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
21560 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
21561 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
21562 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
21563 be printed.
21564
21565 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
21566 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
21567 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
21568
21569 @smallexample
21570 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
21571 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
21572 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
21573 for objfile "/tmp/true".
21574 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
21575 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
21576 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
21577 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
21578 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
21579 @end smallexample
21580
21581 @table @code
21582 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
21583 @kindex set debug auto-load
21584 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
21585 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
21586
21587 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
21588 @kindex show debug auto-load
21589 @item show debug auto-load
21590 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
21591 on or off.
21592 @end table
21593
21594 @node Messages/Warnings
21595 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
21596
21597 @cindex verbose operation
21598 @cindex optional warnings
21599 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
21600 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
21601 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
21602 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
21603
21604 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
21605 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
21606 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
21607
21608 @table @code
21609 @kindex set verbose
21610 @item set verbose on
21611 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21612
21613 @item set verbose off
21614 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
21615
21616 @kindex show verbose
21617 @item show verbose
21618 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
21619 @end table
21620
21621 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
21622 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
21623 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
21624 Symbol Files}).
21625
21626 @table @code
21627
21628 @kindex set complaints
21629 @item set complaints @var{limit}
21630 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
21631 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
21632 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
21633 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
21634
21635 @kindex show complaints
21636 @item show complaints
21637 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
21638
21639 @end table
21640
21641 @anchor{confirmation requests}
21642 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
21643 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
21644 you try to run a program which is already running:
21645
21646 @smallexample
21647 (@value{GDBP}) run
21648 The program being debugged has been started already.
21649 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
21650 @end smallexample
21651
21652 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
21653 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
21654
21655 @table @code
21656
21657 @kindex set confirm
21658 @cindex flinching
21659 @cindex confirmation
21660 @cindex stupid questions
21661 @item set confirm off
21662 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
21663 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
21664 automatically disables confirmation requests.
21665
21666 @item set confirm on
21667 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
21668
21669 @kindex show confirm
21670 @item show confirm
21671 Displays state of confirmation requests.
21672
21673 @end table
21674
21675 @cindex command tracing
21676 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
21677 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
21678 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
21679 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
21680
21681 @table @code
21682 @kindex set trace-commands
21683 @cindex command scripts, debugging
21684 @item set trace-commands on
21685 Enable command tracing.
21686 @item set trace-commands off
21687 Disable command tracing.
21688 @item show trace-commands
21689 Display the current state of command tracing.
21690 @end table
21691
21692 @node Debugging Output
21693 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
21694 @cindex optional debugging messages
21695
21696 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
21697 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
21698 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
21699 section documents those commands.
21700
21701 @table @code
21702 @kindex set exec-done-display
21703 @item set exec-done-display
21704 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
21705 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
21706 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
21707 @kindex show exec-done-display
21708 @item show exec-done-display
21709 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
21710 notification.
21711 @kindex set debug
21712 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
21713 @cindex architecture debugging info
21714 @item set debug arch
21715 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
21716 @kindex show debug
21717 @item show debug arch
21718 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
21719 @item set debug aix-thread
21720 @cindex AIX threads
21721 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
21722 module.
21723 @item show debug aix-thread
21724 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
21725 @item set debug check-physname
21726 @cindex physname
21727 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
21728 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
21729 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
21730 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
21731 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
21732 both ways and display any discrepancies.
21733 @item show debug check-physname
21734 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
21735 @item set debug dwarf2-die
21736 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
21737 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
21738 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
21739 A value of zero turns off the display.
21740 @item show debug dwarf2-die
21741 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
21742 @item set debug displaced
21743 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
21744 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
21745 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
21746 @item show debug displaced
21747 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
21748 related to displaced stepping.
21749 @item set debug event
21750 @cindex event debugging info
21751 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
21752 default is off.
21753 @item show debug event
21754 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
21755 info.
21756 @item set debug expression
21757 @cindex expression debugging info
21758 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
21759 expression parsing. The default is off.
21760 @item show debug expression
21761 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
21762 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
21763 @item set debug frame
21764 @cindex frame debugging info
21765 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
21766 default is off.
21767 @item show debug frame
21768 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
21769 info.
21770 @item set debug gnu-nat
21771 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
21772 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
21773 @item show debug gnu-nat
21774 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
21775 @item set debug infrun
21776 @cindex inferior debugging info
21777 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
21778 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
21779 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
21780 @item show debug infrun
21781 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
21782 @item set debug jit
21783 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
21784 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
21785 @item show debug jit
21786 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
21787 @item set debug lin-lwp
21788 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
21789 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
21790 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
21791 @item show debug lin-lwp
21792 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
21793 @item set debug observer
21794 @cindex observer debugging info
21795 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
21796 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
21797 @item show debug observer
21798 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
21799 @item set debug overload
21800 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
21801 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
21802 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
21803 is off.
21804 @item show debug overload
21805 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
21806 debugging info.
21807 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
21808 @cindex debug expression parser
21809 @item set debug parser
21810 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
21811 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
21812 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
21813 details. The default is off.
21814 @item show debug parser
21815 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
21816 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
21817 @cindex serial connections, debugging
21818 @cindex debug remote protocol
21819 @cindex remote protocol debugging
21820 @cindex display remote packets
21821 @item set debug remote
21822 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
21823 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
21824 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
21825 @item show debug remote
21826 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
21827 @item set debug serial
21828 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
21829 default is off.
21830 @item show debug serial
21831 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
21832 info.
21833 @item set debug solib-frv
21834 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
21835 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
21836 @item show debug solib-frv
21837 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
21838 messages.
21839 @item set debug target
21840 @cindex target debugging info
21841 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
21842 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
21843 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
21844 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
21845 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
21846 @item show debug target
21847 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
21848 info.
21849 @item set debug timestamp
21850 @cindex timestampping debugging info
21851 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
21852 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
21853 message.
21854 @item show debug timestamp
21855 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
21856 debugging info.
21857 @item set debugvarobj
21858 @cindex variable object debugging info
21859 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
21860 info. The default is off.
21861 @item show debugvarobj
21862 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
21863 debugging info.
21864 @item set debug xml
21865 @cindex XML parser debugging
21866 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
21867 @item show debug xml
21868 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
21869 @end table
21870
21871 @node Other Misc Settings
21872 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
21873 @cindex miscellaneous settings
21874
21875 @table @code
21876 @kindex set interactive-mode
21877 @item set interactive-mode
21878 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
21879 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
21880 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
21881 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
21882 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
21883 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
21884 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
21885 is, non-interactively otherwise.
21886
21887 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
21888 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
21889 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
21890 inside a cygwin window.
21891
21892 @kindex show interactive-mode
21893 @item show interactive-mode
21894 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
21895 @end table
21896
21897 @node Extending GDB
21898 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
21899 @cindex extending GDB
21900
21901 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
21902 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
21903 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
21904 existing commands.
21905
21906 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
21907 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
21908 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
21909 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
21910 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21911 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
21912
21913 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
21914 setting:
21915
21916 @table @code
21917 @kindex set script-extension
21918 @kindex show script-extension
21919 @item set script-extension off
21920 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21921
21922 @item set script-extension soft
21923 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21924 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
21925 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
21926 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
21927
21928 @item set script-extension strict
21929 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21930 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
21931 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
21932
21933 @item show script-extension
21934 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
21935
21936 @end table
21937
21938 @menu
21939 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
21940 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21941 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
21942 @end menu
21943
21944 @node Sequences
21945 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
21946
21947 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
21948 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
21949 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
21950 files.
21951
21952 @menu
21953 * Define:: How to define your own commands
21954 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
21955 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
21956 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
21957 @end menu
21958
21959 @node Define
21960 @subsection User-defined Commands
21961
21962 @cindex user-defined command
21963 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
21964 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
21965 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
21966 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
21967 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
21968 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
21969
21970 @smallexample
21971 define adder
21972 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21973 end
21974 @end smallexample
21975
21976 @noindent
21977 To execute the command use:
21978
21979 @smallexample
21980 adder 1 2 3
21981 @end smallexample
21982
21983 @noindent
21984 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
21985 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
21986 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
21987 functions calls.
21988
21989 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
21990 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
21991 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
21992 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
21993
21994 @smallexample
21995 define adder
21996 if $argc == 2
21997 print $arg0 + $arg1
21998 end
21999 if $argc == 3
22000 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22001 end
22002 end
22003 @end smallexample
22004
22005 @table @code
22006
22007 @kindex define
22008 @item define @var{commandname}
22009 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22010 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22011 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22012 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22013 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22014 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22015
22016 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22017 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22018 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22019
22020 @kindex document
22021 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22022 @item document @var{commandname}
22023 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22024 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22025 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22026 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22027 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22028 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22029
22030 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22031 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22032 does not change the documentation.
22033
22034 @kindex dont-repeat
22035 @cindex don't repeat command
22036 @item dont-repeat
22037 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22038 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22039 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22040
22041 @kindex help user-defined
22042 @item help user-defined
22043 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22044 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22045 included (if any).
22046
22047 @kindex show user
22048 @item show user
22049 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
22050 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22051 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22052 definitions for all user-defined commands.
22053 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22054
22055 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22056 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
22057 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
22058 @item show max-user-call-depth
22059 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
22060 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22061 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22062 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22063 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22064 @end table
22065
22066 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22067 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22068
22069 When user-defined commands are executed, the
22070 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22071 stops execution of the user-defined command.
22072
22073 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22074 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22075 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22076 messages when used in a user-defined command.
22077
22078 @node Hooks
22079 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22080 @cindex command hooks
22081 @cindex hooks, for commands
22082 @cindex hooks, pre-command
22083
22084 @kindex hook
22085 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22086 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22087 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22088 before that command.
22089
22090 @cindex hooks, post-command
22091 @kindex hookpost
22092 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22093 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22094 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22095 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22096 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22097
22098 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22099 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22100
22101 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22102 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22103
22104 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22105 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22106 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22107 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22108 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22109
22110 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22111 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22112 you could define:
22113
22114 @smallexample
22115 define hook-stop
22116 handle SIGALRM nopass
22117 end
22118
22119 define hook-run
22120 handle SIGALRM pass
22121 end
22122
22123 define hook-continue
22124 handle SIGALRM pass
22125 end
22126 @end smallexample
22127
22128 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
22129 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
22130 you could define:
22131
22132 @smallexample
22133 define hook-echo
22134 echo <<<---
22135 end
22136
22137 define hookpost-echo
22138 echo --->>>\n
22139 end
22140
22141 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
22142 <<<---Hello World--->>>
22143 (@value{GDBP})
22144
22145 @end smallexample
22146
22147 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
22148 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
22149 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
22150 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
22151 @c or not?
22152 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
22153 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
22154 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
22155
22156 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
22157 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
22158 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
22159
22160 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
22161 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
22162
22163 @node Command Files
22164 @subsection Command Files
22165
22166 @cindex command files
22167 @cindex scripting commands
22168 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
22169 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
22170 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
22171 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
22172 terminal.
22173
22174 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
22175 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
22176 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
22177 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
22178 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
22179
22180 @table @code
22181 @kindex source
22182 @cindex execute commands from a file
22183 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
22184 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
22185 @end table
22186
22187 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
22188 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
22189 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
22190 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
22191 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
22192
22193 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
22194 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
22195 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
22196 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
22197 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
22198 is not relevant to scripts.
22199
22200 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
22201 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
22202 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
22203 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
22204 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22205 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
22206 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
22207 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
22208 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
22209 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
22210 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
22211 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
22212 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
22213 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
22214
22215 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
22216 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
22217 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
22218
22219 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
22220 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
22221 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
22222 when called from command files.
22223
22224 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
22225 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
22226 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
22227 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
22228 the next command.
22229
22230 @smallexample
22231 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
22232 @end smallexample
22233
22234 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
22235 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
22236 would be directed to @file{log}.
22237
22238 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
22239 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
22240 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
22241 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
22242 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
22243 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
22244 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
22245 conditionally, etc.
22246
22247 @table @code
22248 @kindex if
22249 @kindex else
22250 @item if
22251 @itemx else
22252 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
22253 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
22254 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
22255 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
22256 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
22257 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
22258 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22259
22260 @kindex while
22261 @item while
22262 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
22263 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
22264 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
22265 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
22266 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
22267 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
22268
22269 @kindex loop_break
22270 @item loop_break
22271 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
22272 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
22273 line.
22274
22275 @kindex loop_continue
22276 @item loop_continue
22277 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
22278 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
22279 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
22280 the controlling expression.
22281
22282 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
22283 @item end
22284 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
22285 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
22286 @end table
22287
22288
22289 @node Output
22290 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
22291
22292 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
22293 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
22294 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
22295 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
22296 want.
22297
22298 @table @code
22299 @kindex echo
22300 @item echo @var{text}
22301 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
22302 @c because it is not in ANSI.
22303 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
22304 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
22305 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
22306 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
22307 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
22308 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
22309 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
22310 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
22311 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
22312
22313 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
22314 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
22315
22316 @smallexample
22317 echo This is some text\n\
22318 which is continued\n\
22319 onto several lines.\n
22320 @end smallexample
22321
22322 produces the same output as
22323
22324 @smallexample
22325 echo This is some text\n
22326 echo which is continued\n
22327 echo onto several lines.\n
22328 @end smallexample
22329
22330 @kindex output
22331 @item output @var{expression}
22332 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
22333 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
22334 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
22335 on expressions.
22336
22337 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
22338 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
22339 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
22340 Formats}, for more information.
22341
22342 @kindex printf
22343 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22344 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22345 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
22346 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
22347 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
22348 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
22349 executing the code below:
22350
22351 @smallexample
22352 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
22353 @end smallexample
22354
22355 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
22356 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
22357 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
22358 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
22359 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
22360 printed.
22361
22362 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
22363
22364 @smallexample
22365 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
22366 @end smallexample
22367
22368 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
22369 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
22370 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
22371
22372 @itemize @bullet
22373 @item
22374 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
22375
22376 @item
22377 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
22378 width.
22379
22380 @item
22381 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
22382 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
22383
22384 @item
22385 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
22386 supported.
22387
22388 @item
22389 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
22390
22391 @item
22392 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
22393 @end itemize
22394
22395 @noindent
22396 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
22397 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
22398 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
22399 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
22400
22401 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
22402 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
22403 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
22404 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
22405 supported.
22406
22407 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
22408 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
22409 together with a floating point specifier.
22410 letters:
22411
22412 @itemize @bullet
22413 @item
22414 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
22415
22416 @item
22417 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
22418
22419 @item
22420 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
22421 @end itemize
22422
22423 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
22424 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
22425 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
22426
22427 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
22428 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
22429
22430 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
22431 @smallexample
22432 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
22433 @end smallexample
22434
22435 @kindex eval
22436 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
22437 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
22438 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
22439
22440 @end table
22441
22442 @node Python
22443 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22444 @cindex python scripting
22445 @cindex scripting with python
22446
22447 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
22448 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
22449 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
22450
22451 @cindex python directory
22452 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
22453 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
22454 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
22455 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
22456 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
22457 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
22458
22459 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
22460 are written in Python and are located in the
22461 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
22462 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
22463 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
22464
22465 @menu
22466 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
22467 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
22468 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
22469 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
22470 @end menu
22471
22472 @node Python Commands
22473 @subsection Python Commands
22474 @cindex python commands
22475 @cindex commands to access python
22476
22477 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
22478 and one related setting:
22479
22480 @table @code
22481 @kindex python
22482 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
22483 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
22484
22485 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
22486 argument as a Python command. For example:
22487
22488 @smallexample
22489 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
22490 23
22491 @end smallexample
22492
22493 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
22494 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
22495 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
22496 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
22497 containing @code{end}. For example:
22498
22499 @smallexample
22500 (@value{GDBP}) python
22501 Type python script
22502 End with a line saying just "end".
22503 >print 23
22504 >end
22505 23
22506 @end smallexample
22507
22508 @kindex set python print-stack
22509 @item set python print-stack
22510 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
22511 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
22512 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
22513 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
22514 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
22515 the message component of the error is printed.
22516 @end table
22517
22518 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
22519 interpreter:
22520
22521 @table @code
22522 @item source @file{script-name}
22523 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
22524 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
22525 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
22526
22527 @item python execfile ("script-name")
22528 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
22529 and thus is always available.
22530 @end table
22531
22532 @node Python API
22533 @subsection Python API
22534 @cindex python api
22535 @cindex programming in python
22536
22537 @cindex python stdout
22538 @cindex python pagination
22539 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
22540 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
22541 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
22542 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
22543 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
22544
22545 @menu
22546 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
22547 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
22548 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
22549 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
22550 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
22551 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
22552 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
22553 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
22554 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
22555 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
22556 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
22557 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
22558 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
22559 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
22560 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
22561 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
22562 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
22563 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
22564 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
22565 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
22566 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
22567 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
22568 using Python.
22569 @end menu
22570
22571 @node Basic Python
22572 @subsubsection Basic Python
22573
22574 @cindex python functions
22575 @cindex python module
22576 @cindex gdb module
22577 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
22578 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
22579 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
22580 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
22581
22582 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
22583 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
22584 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
22585 @end defvar
22586
22587 @findex gdb.execute
22588 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
22589 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
22590 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
22591 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
22592
22593 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
22594 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
22595 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
22596
22597 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
22598 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
22599 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
22600 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
22601 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
22602 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
22603 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
22604 @end defun
22605
22606 @findex gdb.breakpoints
22607 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
22608 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
22609 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
22610 @end defun
22611
22612 @findex gdb.parameter
22613 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
22614 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
22615 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
22616 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
22617 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
22618
22619 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
22620 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
22621 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
22622 type, and returned.
22623 @end defun
22624
22625 @findex gdb.history
22626 @defun gdb.history (number)
22627 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
22628 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
22629 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
22630 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
22631 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
22632 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
22633 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
22634 raised.
22635
22636 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
22637 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
22638 @end defun
22639
22640 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
22641 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
22642 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
22643 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
22644 @var{expression} must be a string.
22645
22646 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
22647 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
22648 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
22649 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
22650 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
22651 @end defun
22652
22653 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
22654 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
22655 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
22656 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
22657 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
22658 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
22659 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
22660 @end defun
22661
22662 @findex gdb.post_event
22663 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
22664 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
22665 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
22666 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
22667 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
22668 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
22669 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
22670
22671 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
22672 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
22673 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
22674 this. For example:
22675
22676 @smallexample
22677 (@value{GDBP}) python
22678 >import threading
22679 >
22680 >class Writer():
22681 > def __init__(self, message):
22682 > self.message = message;
22683 > def __call__(self):
22684 > gdb.write(self.message)
22685 >
22686 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
22687 > def run (self):
22688 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
22689 >
22690 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
22691 > def run (self):
22692 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
22693 >
22694 >MyThread1().start()
22695 >MyThread2().start()
22696 >end
22697 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
22698 @end smallexample
22699 @end defun
22700
22701 @findex gdb.write
22702 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
22703 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
22704 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
22705 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
22706 values are:
22707
22708 @table @code
22709 @findex STDOUT
22710 @findex gdb.STDOUT
22711 @item gdb.STDOUT
22712 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
22713
22714 @findex STDERR
22715 @findex gdb.STDERR
22716 @item gdb.STDERR
22717 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
22718
22719 @findex STDLOG
22720 @findex gdb.STDLOG
22721 @item gdb.STDLOG
22722 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
22723 @end table
22724
22725 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
22726 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
22727 relevant stream.
22728 @end defun
22729
22730 @findex gdb.flush
22731 @defun gdb.flush ()
22732 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
22733 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
22734 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
22735 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
22736 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
22737 stream values are:
22738
22739 @table @code
22740 @findex STDOUT
22741 @findex gdb.STDOUT
22742 @item gdb.STDOUT
22743 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
22744
22745 @findex STDERR
22746 @findex gdb.STDERR
22747 @item gdb.STDERR
22748 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
22749
22750 @findex STDLOG
22751 @findex gdb.STDLOG
22752 @item gdb.STDLOG
22753 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
22754
22755 @end table
22756
22757 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
22758 call this function for the relevant stream.
22759 @end defun
22760
22761 @findex gdb.target_charset
22762 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
22763 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
22764 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
22765 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
22766 @end defun
22767
22768 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
22769 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
22770 Return the name of the current target wide character set
22771 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
22772 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
22773 never returned.
22774 @end defun
22775
22776 @findex gdb.solib_name
22777 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
22778 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
22779 as a string, or @code{None}.
22780 @end defun
22781
22782 @findex gdb.decode_line
22783 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
22784 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
22785 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
22786 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
22787 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
22788 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
22789 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
22790 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
22791 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
22792 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
22793 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
22794 @end defun
22795
22796 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
22797 @anchor{prompt_hook}
22798
22799 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
22800 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
22801 @value{GDBN}.
22802
22803 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
22804 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
22805 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
22806 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
22807 the current prompt.
22808
22809 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
22810 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
22811 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
22812 @end defun
22813
22814 @node Exception Handling
22815 @subsubsection Exception Handling
22816 @cindex python exceptions
22817 @cindex exceptions, python
22818
22819 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
22820 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
22821 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
22822 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
22823 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
22824 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
22825 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
22826
22827 @smallexample
22828 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
22829 Traceback (most recent call last):
22830 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
22831 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
22832 @end smallexample
22833
22834 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
22835 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
22836 Python exception depends on the error.
22837
22838 @ftable @code
22839 @item gdb.error
22840 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
22841 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
22842 versions of @value{GDBN}.
22843
22844 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
22845 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
22846
22847 @item gdb.MemoryError
22848 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
22849 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
22850
22851 @item KeyboardInterrupt
22852 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
22853 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
22854 @end ftable
22855
22856 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
22857 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
22858 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
22859 traceback.
22860
22861 @findex gdb.GdbError
22862 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
22863 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
22864 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
22865 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
22866 to handle this case. Example:
22867
22868 @smallexample
22869 (gdb) python
22870 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
22871 > """Greet the whole world."""
22872 > def __init__ (self):
22873 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
22874 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
22875 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
22876 > if len (argv) != 0:
22877 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
22878 > print "Hello, World!"
22879 >HelloWorld ()
22880 >end
22881 (gdb) hello-world 42
22882 hello-world takes no arguments
22883 @end smallexample
22884
22885 @node Values From Inferior
22886 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
22887 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
22888 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
22889
22890 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
22891 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
22892 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
22893 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
22894 fetching values when necessary.
22895
22896 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
22897 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
22898 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
22899
22900 @smallexample
22901 bar = some_val + 2
22902 @end smallexample
22903
22904 @noindent
22905 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
22906 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
22907
22908 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
22909 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
22910 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
22911 can access its @code{foo} element with:
22912
22913 @smallexample
22914 bar = some_val['foo']
22915 @end smallexample
22916
22917 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
22918
22919 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
22920 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
22921 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
22922 by that prototype.
22923
22924 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
22925 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
22926 execute this function, call it like so:
22927
22928 @smallexample
22929 result = some_val (10,20)
22930 @end smallexample
22931
22932 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
22933 @code{gdb.Value}.
22934
22935 The following attributes are provided:
22936
22937 @table @code
22938 @defvar Value.address
22939 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
22940 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
22941 this attribute holds @code{None}.
22942 @end defvar
22943
22944 @cindex optimized out value in Python
22945 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
22946 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
22947 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
22948 @end defvar
22949
22950 @defvar Value.type
22951 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
22952 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
22953 @end defvar
22954
22955 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
22956 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
22957 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
22958 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
22959 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
22960 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
22961 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
22962 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
22963 type.
22964
22965 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
22966 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
22967 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
22968 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
22969 @end defvar
22970
22971 @defvar Value.is_lazy
22972 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
22973 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
22974 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
22975 For example:
22976
22977 @smallexample
22978 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
22979 @end smallexample
22980
22981 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
22982 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
22983 method is invoked.
22984 @end defvar
22985 @end table
22986
22987 The following methods are provided:
22988
22989 @table @code
22990 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
22991 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
22992 this object initializer. Specifically:
22993
22994 @table @asis
22995 @item Python boolean
22996 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
22997 language.
22998
22999 @item Python integer
23000 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
23001 current architecture.
23002
23003 @item Python long
23004 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
23005 current architecture.
23006
23007 @item Python float
23008 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
23009 current architecture.
23010
23011 @item Python string
23012 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
23013 target encoding.
23014
23015 @item @code{gdb.Value}
23016 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
23017
23018 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
23019 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
23020 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
23021 its result is used.
23022 @end table
23023 @end defun
23024
23025 @defun Value.cast (type)
23026 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
23027 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
23028 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
23029 reason, this method throws an exception.
23030 @end defun
23031
23032 @defun Value.dereference ()
23033 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
23034 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
23035 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
23036
23037 @smallexample
23038 int *foo;
23039 @end smallexample
23040
23041 @noindent
23042 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23043 @code{foo} points to like this:
23044
23045 @smallexample
23046 bar = foo.dereference ()
23047 @end smallexample
23048
23049 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23050 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23051
23052 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23053 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23054 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23055 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23056 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23057 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23058 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23059 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23060 as
23061
23062 @smallexample
23063 typedef int *intptr;
23064 ...
23065 int val = 10;
23066 intptr ptr = &val;
23067 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23068 @end smallexample
23069
23070 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23071 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23072 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23073 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23074 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23075 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
23076
23077 @smallexample
23078 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
23079 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
23080 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
23081 @end smallexample
23082
23083 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23084 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
23085 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
23086 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
23087 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
23088 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
23089 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
23090 example). The results are however identical when applied on
23091 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
23092 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
23093 @end defun
23094
23095 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
23096 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
23097 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
23098 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
23099 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
23100 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
23101 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
23102 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
23103 in your C@t{++} program as
23104
23105 @smallexample
23106 int val = 10;
23107 int &ref = val;
23108 @end smallexample
23109
23110 @noindent
23111 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
23112 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
23113 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
23114 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
23115
23116 @smallexample
23117 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
23118 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
23119 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
23120 @end smallexample
23121
23122 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
23123 corresponding to @code{val}.
23124 @end defun
23125
23126 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
23127 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
23128 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23129 @end defun
23130
23131 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
23132 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
23133 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
23134 @end defun
23135
23136 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
23137 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23138 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
23139 throw an exception.
23140
23141 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
23142 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
23143 language.
23144
23145 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
23146 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
23147 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
23148 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
23149 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
23150
23151 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23152 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
23153 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
23154 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
23155 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
23156 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
23157 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
23158 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
23159 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
23160
23161 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
23162 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
23163
23164 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23165 fetched and converted to the given length.
23166 @end defun
23167
23168 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
23169 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
23170 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
23171 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
23172
23173 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
23174 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
23175 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
23176 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
23177 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
23178
23179 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
23180 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
23181 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
23182 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
23183 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
23184 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
23185
23186 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
23187 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
23188 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
23189 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
23190 @end defun
23191
23192 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
23193 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
23194 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
23195 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
23196 will produce a Python exception.
23197
23198 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
23199 has no effect.
23200
23201 This method does not return a value.
23202 @end defun
23203
23204 @end table
23205
23206 @node Types In Python
23207 @subsubsection Types In Python
23208 @cindex types in Python
23209 @cindex Python, working with types
23210
23211 @tindex gdb.Type
23212 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
23213 @code{gdb.Type}.
23214
23215 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23216 module:
23217
23218 @findex gdb.lookup_type
23219 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
23220 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
23221 type to look up. It must be a string.
23222
23223 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23224 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23225
23226 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
23227 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
23228 @end defun
23229
23230 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
23231 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
23232 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
23233 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
23234
23235 @smallexample
23236 bar = some_type['foo']
23237 @end smallexample
23238
23239 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
23240 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
23241 @code{gdb.Field} class.
23242
23243 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
23244
23245 @table @code
23246 @defvar Type.code
23247 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
23248 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
23249 @end defvar
23250
23251 @defvar Type.sizeof
23252 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
23253 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
23254 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
23255 @end defvar
23256
23257 @defvar Type.tag
23258 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
23259 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
23260 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
23261 @code{None} is returned.
23262 @end defvar
23263 @end table
23264
23265 The following methods are provided:
23266
23267 @table @code
23268 @defun Type.fields ()
23269 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
23270 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
23271 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
23272 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
23273 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
23274 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
23275
23276 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
23277 @table @code
23278 @item bitpos
23279 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
23280 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
23281 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
23282 enumeration member's integer representation.
23283
23284 @item name
23285 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
23286
23287 @item artificial
23288 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
23289 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
23290 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
23291
23292 @item is_base_class
23293 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
23294 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
23295 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
23296 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
23297
23298 @item bitsize
23299 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
23300 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
23301 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
23302
23303 @item type
23304 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
23305 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
23306 @end table
23307 @end defun
23308
23309 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
23310 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
23311 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
23312 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
23313 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
23314 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
23315 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
23316 @end defun
23317
23318 @defun Type.const ()
23319 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23320 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
23321 @end defun
23322
23323 @defun Type.volatile ()
23324 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
23325 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
23326 @end defun
23327
23328 @defun Type.unqualified ()
23329 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
23330 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
23331 @code{volatile}.
23332 @end defun
23333
23334 @defun Type.range ()
23335 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
23336 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
23337 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
23338 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23339 @end defun
23340
23341 @defun Type.reference ()
23342 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
23343 type.
23344 @end defun
23345
23346 @defun Type.pointer ()
23347 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
23348 type.
23349 @end defun
23350
23351 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
23352 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
23353 after removing all layers of typedefs.
23354 @end defun
23355
23356 @defun Type.target ()
23357 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
23358 of this type.
23359
23360 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
23361 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
23362 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
23363 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
23364 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
23365 target type is the aliased type.
23366
23367 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
23368 exception.
23369 @end defun
23370
23371 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
23372 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
23373 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
23374 @var{n}th template argument.
23375
23376 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
23377 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
23378
23379 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
23380 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
23381 @end defun
23382 @end table
23383
23384
23385 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
23386 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
23387 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23388
23389 @table @code
23390 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
23391 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23392 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
23393 The type is a pointer.
23394
23395 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23396 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23397 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
23398 The type is an array.
23399
23400 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23401 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23402 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
23403 The type is a structure.
23404
23405 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
23406 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23407 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
23408 The type is a union.
23409
23410 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23411 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23412 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
23413 The type is an enum.
23414
23415 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23416 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23417 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
23418 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
23419
23420 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23421 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23422 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
23423 The type is a function.
23424
23425 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
23426 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23427 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
23428 The type is an integer type.
23429
23430 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
23431 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23432 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
23433 A floating point type.
23434
23435 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
23436 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23437 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
23438 The special type @code{void}.
23439
23440 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
23441 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23442 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
23443 A Pascal set type.
23444
23445 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23446 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23447 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
23448 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
23449
23450 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
23451 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23452 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
23453 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
23454 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
23455
23456 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23457 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23458 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
23459 A string of bits.
23460
23461 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23462 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23463 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
23464 An unknown or erroneous type.
23465
23466 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23467 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23468 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
23469 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
23470
23471 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23472 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23473 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
23474 A pointer-to-member-function.
23475
23476 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23477 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23478 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
23479 A pointer-to-member.
23480
23481 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
23482 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23483 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
23484 A reference type.
23485
23486 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23487 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23488 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
23489 A character type.
23490
23491 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23492 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23493 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
23494 A boolean type.
23495
23496 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23497 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23498 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
23499 A complex float type.
23500
23501 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23502 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23503 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
23504 A typedef to some other type.
23505
23506 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23507 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23508 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
23509 A C@t{++} namespace.
23510
23511 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23512 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23513 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
23514 A decimal floating point type.
23515
23516 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23517 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23518 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
23519 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
23520 convenience functions.
23521 @end table
23522
23523 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
23524 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
23525
23526 @node Pretty Printing API
23527 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
23528
23529 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
23530
23531 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
23532 specific interface, defined here.
23533
23534 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
23535 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
23536 children of the pretty-printer's value.
23537
23538 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
23539 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
23540 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
23541 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
23542 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
23543
23544 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
23545 as though the value has no children.
23546 @end defun
23547
23548 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
23549 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
23550 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
23551 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
23552 printed.
23553
23554 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
23555 string.
23556
23557 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
23558
23559 @table @samp
23560 @item array
23561 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
23562 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
23563 @code{set print array}.
23564
23565 @item map
23566 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
23567 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
23568 values.
23569
23570 @item string
23571 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
23572 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
23573 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
23574 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
23575 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
23576 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
23577 @end table
23578 @end defun
23579
23580 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
23581 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
23582 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
23583
23584 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
23585 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
23586 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
23587 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
23588 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
23589 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
23590 the result of @code{children}.
23591
23592 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
23593
23594 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
23595 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
23596 another pretty-printer.
23597
23598 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
23599 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
23600 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
23601 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
23602 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
23603
23604 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
23605 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
23606
23607 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
23608 @end defun
23609
23610 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
23611 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
23612
23613 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
23614 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
23615 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
23616 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
23617 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
23618 @end defun
23619
23620 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
23621 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
23622
23623 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
23624 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
23625 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
23626 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
23627 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
23628 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
23629 attribute.
23630
23631 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
23632 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
23633 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
23634 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
23635 @code{None}.
23636
23637 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
23638 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
23639 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
23640 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
23641 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
23642 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
23643 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
23644 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
23645 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
23646 object is returned.
23647
23648 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
23649 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
23650 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
23651 object is returned.
23652
23653 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
23654 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
23655 the pretty-printer is out of date.
23656
23657 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
23658 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
23659 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
23660 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
23661 with a broken printer.
23662
23663 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
23664 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
23665 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
23666 the printer is enabled.
23667
23668 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
23669 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
23670 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
23671
23672 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
23673 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
23674
23675 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
23676 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
23677 must provide.
23678
23679 @smallexample
23680 class StdStringPrinter(object):
23681 "Print a std::string"
23682
23683 def __init__(self, val):
23684 self.val = val
23685
23686 def to_string(self):
23687 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
23688
23689 def display_hint(self):
23690 return 'string'
23691 @end smallexample
23692
23693 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
23694 example above might be written.
23695
23696 @smallexample
23697 def str_lookup_function(val):
23698 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
23699 if lookup_tag == None:
23700 return None
23701 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
23702 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
23703 return StdStringPrinter(val)
23704 return None
23705 @end smallexample
23706
23707 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
23708 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
23709 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
23710 returns @code{None}.
23711
23712 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
23713 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
23714 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
23715 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
23716 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
23717 different names.
23718
23719 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
23720 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
23721 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
23722 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
23723 the current objfile.
23724
23725 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
23726 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
23727 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
23728 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
23729 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
23730 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
23731 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
23732 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
23733 inferior.
23734
23735 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
23736 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
23737
23738 @smallexample
23739 def register_printers(objfile):
23740 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
23741 @end smallexample
23742
23743 @noindent
23744 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
23745
23746 @smallexample
23747 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
23748 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
23749 @end smallexample
23750
23751 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
23752 There are a few things that can be improved on.
23753 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
23754 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
23755 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
23756
23757 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
23758 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
23759 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
23760 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
23761 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
23762 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
23763
23764 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
23765 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
23766 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
23767
23768 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
23769
23770 @smallexample
23771 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
23772 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
23773 @end smallexample
23774
23775 Here are the printers:
23776
23777 @smallexample
23778 class fooPrinter:
23779 """Print a foo object."""
23780
23781 def __init__(self, val):
23782 self.val = val
23783
23784 def to_string(self):
23785 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
23786 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
23787
23788 class barPrinter:
23789 """Print a bar object."""
23790
23791 def __init__(self, val):
23792 self.val = val
23793
23794 def to_string(self):
23795 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
23796 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
23797 @end smallexample
23798
23799 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
23800 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
23801 the object that handles the lookup.
23802
23803 @smallexample
23804 import gdb.printing
23805
23806 def build_pretty_printer():
23807 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
23808 "my_library")
23809 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
23810 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
23811 return pp
23812 @end smallexample
23813
23814 And here is the autoload support:
23815
23816 @smallexample
23817 import gdb.printing
23818 import my_library
23819 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
23820 gdb.current_objfile(),
23821 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
23822 @end smallexample
23823
23824 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
23825 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
23826
23827 @smallexample
23828 (gdb) info pretty-printer
23829 my_library.so:
23830 my_library
23831 foo
23832 bar
23833 @end smallexample
23834
23835 @node Inferiors In Python
23836 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
23837 @cindex inferiors in Python
23838
23839 @findex gdb.Inferior
23840 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
23841 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
23842 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
23843 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
23844
23845 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23846 module:
23847
23848 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
23849 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
23850 @end defun
23851
23852 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
23853 Return an object representing the current inferior.
23854 @end defun
23855
23856 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
23857
23858 @table @code
23859 @defvar Inferior.num
23860 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
23861 @end defvar
23862
23863 @defvar Inferior.pid
23864 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
23865 system.
23866 @end defvar
23867
23868 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
23869 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
23870 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
23871 @end defvar
23872 @end table
23873
23874 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
23875
23876 @table @code
23877 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
23878 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
23879 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
23880 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
23881 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
23882 at the time the method is called.
23883 @end defun
23884
23885 @defun Inferior.threads ()
23886 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
23887 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
23888 return an empty tuple.
23889 @end defun
23890
23891 @findex gdb.read_memory
23892 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
23893 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
23894 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
23895 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
23896 function.
23897 @end defun
23898
23899 @findex gdb.write_memory
23900 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
23901 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
23902 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
23903 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
23904 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
23905 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
23906 @end defun
23907
23908 @findex gdb.search_memory
23909 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
23910 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
23911 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
23912 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
23913 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
23914 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
23915 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
23916 the pattern could not be found.
23917 @end defun
23918 @end table
23919
23920 @node Events In Python
23921 @subsubsection Events In Python
23922 @cindex inferior events in Python
23923
23924 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
23925 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
23926 the inferior.
23927
23928 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
23929 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
23930 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
23931
23932 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
23933 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
23934 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
23935 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
23936
23937 @table @code
23938 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
23939 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
23940 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
23941 @end defun
23942
23943 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
23944 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
23945 will no longer receive notifications of events.
23946 @end defun
23947 @end table
23948
23949 Here is an example:
23950
23951 @smallexample
23952 def exit_handler (event):
23953 print "event type: exit"
23954 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
23955
23956 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
23957 @end smallexample
23958
23959 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
23960 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
23961 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
23962 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
23963 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
23964 the inferior.
23965
23966 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
23967 details of the events they emit:
23968
23969 @table @code
23970
23971 @item events.cont
23972 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23973
23974 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
23975 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
23976 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
23977 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
23978 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
23979 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
23980
23981 @table @code
23982 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
23983 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
23984 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
23985 @end defvar
23986 @end table
23987
23988 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23989
23990 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
23991 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
23992
23993 @item events.exited
23994 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
23995 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
23996 @table @code
23997 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
23998 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
23999 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
24000 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
24001 the attribute does not exist.
24002 @end defvar
24003 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
24004 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
24005 @end defvar
24006 @end table
24007
24008 @item events.stop
24009 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
24010
24011 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
24012 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
24013 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
24014 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
24015
24016 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
24017
24018 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
24019 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
24020
24021 @table @code
24022 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
24023 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
24024 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
24025 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
24026 @end defvar
24027 @end table
24028
24029 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
24030
24031 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
24032 been hit, and has the following attributes:
24033
24034 @table @code
24035 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
24036 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
24037 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
24038 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
24039 @end defvar
24040 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
24041 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
24042 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
24043 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
24044 @end defvar
24045 @end table
24046
24047 @item events.new_objfile
24048 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
24049 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
24050
24051 @table @code
24052 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
24053 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
24054 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
24055 @end defvar
24056 @end table
24057
24058 @end table
24059
24060 @node Threads In Python
24061 @subsubsection Threads In Python
24062 @cindex threads in python
24063
24064 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
24065 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
24066 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
24067
24068 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24069 module:
24070
24071 @findex gdb.selected_thread
24072 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
24073 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
24074 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
24075 @end defun
24076
24077 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
24078
24079 @table @code
24080 @defvar InferiorThread.name
24081 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
24082 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
24083 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
24084 returns @code{None}.
24085
24086 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
24087 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
24088 user-specified thread name.
24089 @end defvar
24090
24091 @defvar InferiorThread.num
24092 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
24093 @end defvar
24094
24095 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
24096 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
24097 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
24098 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
24099 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
24100 does not use that identifier.
24101 @end defvar
24102 @end table
24103
24104 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
24105
24106 @table @code
24107 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
24108 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
24109 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
24110 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
24111 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
24112 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24113 @end defun
24114
24115 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
24116 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
24117 by this object.
24118 @end defun
24119
24120 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
24121 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
24122 @end defun
24123
24124 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
24125 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
24126 @end defun
24127
24128 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
24129 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
24130 @end defun
24131 @end table
24132
24133 @node Commands In Python
24134 @subsubsection Commands In Python
24135
24136 @cindex commands in python
24137 @cindex python commands
24138 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
24139 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
24140 class, most commonly using a subclass.
24141
24142 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
24143 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
24144 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
24145 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24146
24147 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
24148 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24149 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
24150 an exception is raised.
24151
24152 There is no support for multi-line commands.
24153
24154 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24155 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
24156 new command in the help system.
24157
24158 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
24159 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
24160 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
24161 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
24162 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
24163 error will occur when completion is attempted.
24164
24165 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
24166 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
24167 registered.
24168
24169 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
24170 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
24171 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
24172 not documented.'' is used.
24173 @end defun
24174
24175 @cindex don't repeat Python command
24176 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
24177 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
24178 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
24179 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
24180 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
24181 @end defun
24182
24183 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
24184 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
24185
24186 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
24187 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
24188
24189 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
24190 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
24191 that the command came from elsewhere.
24192
24193 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
24194 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
24195
24196 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
24197 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
24198 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
24199 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
24200 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
24201 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
24202 Example:
24203
24204 @smallexample
24205 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
24206 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
24207 @end smallexample
24208
24209 @end defun
24210
24211 @cindex completion of Python commands
24212 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
24213 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
24214 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
24215 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
24216 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
24217 complete}).
24218
24219 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
24220 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
24221 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
24222 using a word-breaking heuristic.
24223
24224 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
24225 @itemize @bullet
24226 @item
24227 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
24228 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
24229 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
24230 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
24231 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
24232 sequence are ignored.
24233
24234 @item
24235 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
24236 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
24237 function is invoked, and its result is used.
24238
24239 @item
24240 All other results are treated as though there were no available
24241 completions.
24242 @end itemize
24243 @end defun
24244
24245 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
24246 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
24247 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
24248 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
24249 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
24250 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24251
24252 @table @code
24253 @findex COMMAND_NONE
24254 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24255 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
24256 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
24257 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
24258
24259 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
24260 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24261 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
24262 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
24263 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
24264 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24265 commands in this category.
24266
24267 @findex COMMAND_DATA
24268 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24269 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
24270 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
24271 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
24272 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
24273 in this category.
24274
24275 @findex COMMAND_STACK
24276 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24277 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
24278 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
24279 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
24280 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
24281 list of commands in this category.
24282
24283 @findex COMMAND_FILES
24284 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24285 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
24286 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
24287 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
24288 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24289 commands in this category.
24290
24291 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
24292 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24293 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
24294 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
24295 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
24296 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
24297 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
24298 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24299 commands in this category.
24300
24301 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
24302 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24303 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
24304 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
24305 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
24306 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
24307 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
24308
24309 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24310 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24311 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
24312 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
24313 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24314 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
24315 this category.
24316
24317 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24318 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24319 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
24320 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
24321 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
24322 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24323 commands in this category.
24324
24325 @findex COMMAND_USER
24326 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
24327 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
24328 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
24329 does not fit in one of the other categories.
24330 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
24331 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
24332 (@pxref{Sequences}).
24333
24334 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
24335 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24336 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
24337 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
24338 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
24339 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
24340 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
24341 category.
24342
24343 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24344 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24345 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
24346 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
24347 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
24348 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
24349 commands in this category.
24350 @end table
24351
24352 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
24353 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
24354 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
24355 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24356
24357 @table @code
24358 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
24359 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24360 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
24361 This constant means that no completion should be done.
24362
24363 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
24364 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24365 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
24366 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
24367
24368 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
24369 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24370 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
24371 This constant means that location completion should be done.
24372 @xref{Specify Location}.
24373
24374 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
24375 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24376 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
24377 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
24378 command names.
24379
24380 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24381 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24382 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
24383 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
24384 as the source.
24385 @end table
24386
24387 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
24388 implemented in Python:
24389
24390 @smallexample
24391 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
24392 """Greet the whole world."""
24393
24394 def __init__ (self):
24395 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
24396
24397 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
24398 print "Hello, World!"
24399
24400 HelloWorld ()
24401 @end smallexample
24402
24403 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24404 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24405 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24406 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24407
24408 @node Parameters In Python
24409 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
24410
24411 @cindex parameters in python
24412 @cindex python parameters
24413 @tindex gdb.Parameter
24414 @tindex Parameter
24415 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
24416 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
24417 class.
24418
24419 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
24420 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
24421
24422 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
24423 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
24424 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
24425 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
24426 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
24427
24428 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
24429 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
24430 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
24431 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
24432
24433 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
24434 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
24435 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
24436 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
24437 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
24438 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
24439 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
24440
24441 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
24442 can be found, an exception is raised.
24443
24444 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
24445 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
24446 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
24447
24448 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
24449 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
24450 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
24451 completion.
24452
24453 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
24454 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
24455 represent the possible values for the parameter.
24456
24457 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
24458 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
24459
24460 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
24461 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
24462 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
24463 @end defun
24464
24465 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
24466 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24467 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
24468 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24469 have no effect.
24470 @end defvar
24471
24472 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
24473 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
24474 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
24475 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
24476 have no effect.
24477 @end defvar
24478
24479 @defvar Parameter.value
24480 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
24481 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
24482 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
24483 @end defvar
24484
24485 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
24486 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
24487
24488 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
24489 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
24490 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
24491 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
24492 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
24493 @end defun
24494
24495 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
24496 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
24497 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
24498 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
24499 current value. This method must return a string.
24500 @end defun
24501
24502 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
24503 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24504 module:
24505
24506 @table @code
24507 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
24508 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24509 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
24510 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
24511 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
24512
24513 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24514 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24515 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
24516 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
24517 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
24518 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
24519
24520 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
24521 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24522 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
24523 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
24524 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
24525
24526 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
24527 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24528 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
24529 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
24530 to mean ``unlimited''.
24531
24532 @findex PARAM_STRING
24533 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
24534 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
24535 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
24536 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
24537 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
24538 host charset.
24539
24540 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24541 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24542 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
24543 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
24544 passed through untranslated.
24545
24546 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24547 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24548 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
24549 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
24550
24551 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
24552 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24553 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
24554 The value is a filename. This is just like
24555 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
24556
24557 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
24558 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24559 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
24560 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
24561 is interpreted as itself.
24562
24563 @findex PARAM_ENUM
24564 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24565 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
24566 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
24567 constants provided when the parameter is created.
24568 @end table
24569
24570 @node Functions In Python
24571 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
24572
24573 @cindex writing convenience functions
24574 @cindex convenience functions in python
24575 @cindex python convenience functions
24576 @tindex gdb.Function
24577 @tindex Function
24578 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
24579 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
24580 class @code{gdb.Function}.
24581
24582 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
24583 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
24584 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
24585 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
24586 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
24587 the given @var{name}.
24588
24589 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
24590 string for the new class.
24591 @end defun
24592
24593 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
24594 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
24595 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
24596 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
24597 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
24598 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
24599 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
24600 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
24601
24602 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
24603 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
24604 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
24605 @end defun
24606
24607 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
24608 be implemented in Python:
24609
24610 @smallexample
24611 class Greet (gdb.Function):
24612 """Return string to greet someone.
24613 Takes a name as argument."""
24614
24615 def __init__ (self):
24616 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
24617
24618 def invoke (self, name):
24619 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
24620
24621 Greet ()
24622 @end smallexample
24623
24624 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
24625 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
24626 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
24627 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
24628
24629 @node Progspaces In Python
24630 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
24631
24632 @cindex progspaces in python
24633 @tindex gdb.Progspace
24634 @tindex Progspace
24635 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
24636 of an address space.
24637 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
24638 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24639 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
24640 about program spaces.
24641
24642 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
24643 @code{gdb} module:
24644
24645 @findex gdb.current_progspace
24646 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
24647 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
24648 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
24649 @end defun
24650
24651 @findex gdb.progspaces
24652 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
24653 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
24654 @end defun
24655
24656 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
24657 class.
24658
24659 @defvar Progspace.filename
24660 The file name of the progspace as a string.
24661 @end defvar
24662
24663 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
24664 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
24665 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
24666 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
24667 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
24668 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
24669 information.
24670 @end defvar
24671
24672 @node Objfiles In Python
24673 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
24674
24675 @cindex objfiles in python
24676 @tindex gdb.Objfile
24677 @tindex Objfile
24678 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
24679 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
24680 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
24681 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
24682 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
24683
24684 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
24685 @code{gdb} module:
24686
24687 @findex gdb.current_objfile
24688 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
24689 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
24690 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
24691 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
24692 this function returns @code{None}.
24693 @end defun
24694
24695 @findex gdb.objfiles
24696 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
24697 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
24698 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24699 @end defun
24700
24701 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
24702 class.
24703
24704 @defvar Objfile.filename
24705 The file name of the objfile as a string.
24706 @end defvar
24707
24708 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
24709 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
24710 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
24711 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
24712 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
24713 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
24714 information.
24715 @end defvar
24716
24717 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
24718
24719 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
24720 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
24721 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
24722 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
24723 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
24724 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24725 @end defun
24726
24727 @node Frames In Python
24728 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
24729
24730 @cindex frames in python
24731 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
24732 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
24733 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
24734 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
24735 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
24736 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24737
24738 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
24739 operator, like:
24740
24741 @smallexample
24742 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
24743 True
24744 @end smallexample
24745
24746 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
24747
24748 @findex gdb.selected_frame
24749 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
24750 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
24751 @end defun
24752
24753 @findex gdb.newest_frame
24754 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
24755 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
24756 @end defun
24757
24758 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
24759 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
24760 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
24761 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
24762 @end defun
24763
24764 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
24765
24766 @table @code
24767 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
24768 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
24769 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
24770 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
24771 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24772 @end defun
24773
24774 @defun Frame.name ()
24775 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
24776 obtained.
24777 @end defun
24778
24779 @defun Frame.type ()
24780 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
24781 @table @code
24782 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
24783 An ordinary stack frame.
24784
24785 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
24786 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
24787 inferior function call.
24788
24789 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
24790 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
24791 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
24792
24793 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
24794 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
24795
24796 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
24797 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
24798 it calls into a signal handler.
24799
24800 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
24801 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
24802
24803 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
24804 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
24805 newest frame.
24806 @end table
24807 @end defun
24808
24809 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
24810 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
24811 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
24812 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
24813 function to a string. The value can be one of:
24814
24815 @table @code
24816 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
24817 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
24818
24819 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
24820 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
24821
24822 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
24823 This frame is the outermost.
24824
24825 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
24826 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
24827 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
24828
24829 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
24830 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
24831 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
24832 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
24833
24834 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
24835 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
24836 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
24837 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
24838 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
24839 stack corruption.
24840
24841 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
24842 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
24843 one to unwind further.
24844
24845 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
24846 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
24847 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
24848 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
24849 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
24850 versions. Using it, you could write:
24851 @smallexample
24852 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
24853 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
24854 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
24855 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
24856 @end smallexample
24857 @end table
24858
24859 @end defun
24860
24861 @defun Frame.pc ()
24862 Returns the frame's resume address.
24863 @end defun
24864
24865 @defun Frame.block ()
24866 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
24867 @end defun
24868
24869 @defun Frame.function ()
24870 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
24871 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
24872 @end defun
24873
24874 @defun Frame.older ()
24875 Return the frame that called this frame.
24876 @end defun
24877
24878 @defun Frame.newer ()
24879 Return the frame called by this frame.
24880 @end defun
24881
24882 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
24883 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
24884 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
24885 @end defun
24886
24887 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
24888 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
24889 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
24890 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
24891 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
24892 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
24893 @code{gdb.Block} object.
24894 @end defun
24895
24896 @defun Frame.select ()
24897 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
24898 Stack}.
24899 @end defun
24900 @end table
24901
24902 @node Blocks In Python
24903 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
24904
24905 @cindex blocks in python
24906 @tindex gdb.Block
24907
24908 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
24909 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
24910 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
24911 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
24912 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
24913 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
24914 stack.
24915
24916 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
24917 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
24918 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
24919 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
24920 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
24921 table.
24922
24923 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24924 module:
24925
24926 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
24927 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
24928 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
24929 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
24930 will return @code{None}.
24931 @end defun
24932
24933 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
24934
24935 @table @code
24936 @defun Block.is_valid ()
24937 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
24938 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
24939 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
24940 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
24941 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
24942 during iteration over symbols of the block.
24943 @end defun
24944 @end table
24945
24946 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
24947
24948 @table @code
24949 @defvar Block.start
24950 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
24951 @end defvar
24952
24953 @defvar Block.end
24954 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
24955 @end defvar
24956
24957 @defvar Block.function
24958 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
24959 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
24960 attribute is not writable.
24961 @end defvar
24962
24963 @defvar Block.superblock
24964 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
24965 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24966 @end defvar
24967
24968 @defvar Block.global_block
24969 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
24970 writable.
24971 @end defvar
24972
24973 @defvar Block.static_block
24974 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
24975 writable.
24976 @end defvar
24977
24978 @defvar Block.is_global
24979 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
24980 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
24981 writable.
24982 @end defvar
24983
24984 @defvar Block.is_static
24985 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
24986 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
24987 @end defvar
24988 @end table
24989
24990 @node Symbols In Python
24991 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
24992
24993 @cindex symbols in python
24994 @tindex gdb.Symbol
24995
24996 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
24997 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
24998 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
24999 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
25000
25001 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25002 module:
25003
25004 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
25005 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
25006 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
25007 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
25008 arguments.
25009
25010 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
25011 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
25012 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
25013 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
25014 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
25015 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
25016 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
25017 in this chapter.
25018
25019 The result is a tuple of two elements.
25020 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
25021 is not found.
25022 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
25023 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
25024 otherwise it is @code{False}.
25025 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
25026 @end defun
25027
25028 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
25029 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
25030 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
25031 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
25032
25033 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
25034 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
25035 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
25036 module and described later in this chapter.
25037
25038 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
25039 is not found.
25040 @end defun
25041
25042 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
25043
25044 @table @code
25045 @defvar Symbol.type
25046 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
25047 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
25048 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25049 @end defvar
25050
25051 @defvar Symbol.symtab
25052 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
25053 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
25054 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
25055 @end defvar
25056
25057 @defvar Symbol.line
25058 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
25059 This is an integer.
25060 @end defvar
25061
25062 @defvar Symbol.name
25063 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
25064 @end defvar
25065
25066 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
25067 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
25068 This attribute is not writable.
25069 @end defvar
25070
25071 @defvar Symbol.print_name
25072 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
25073 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
25074 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
25075 @end defvar
25076
25077 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
25078 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
25079 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
25080 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
25081 @end defvar
25082
25083 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
25084 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
25085 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
25086 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
25087 @end defvar
25088
25089 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
25090 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
25091 @end defvar
25092
25093 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
25094 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
25095 @end defvar
25096
25097 @defvar Symbol.is_function
25098 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
25099 @end defvar
25100
25101 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
25102 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
25103 @end defvar
25104 @end table
25105
25106 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
25107
25108 @table @code
25109 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
25110 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
25111 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
25112 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
25113 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
25114 invalid at the time the method is called.
25115 @end defun
25116
25117 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
25118 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
25119 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
25120 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
25121 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
25122 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
25123 exception.
25124 @end defun
25125 @end table
25126
25127 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25128 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25129
25130 @table @code
25131 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25132 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25133 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
25134 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
25135 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
25136 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25137 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25138 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25139 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
25140 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
25141 type values.
25142 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25143 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25144 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
25145 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
25146 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25147 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25148 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
25149 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
25150 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25151 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25152 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
25153 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
25154 contains everything minus functions and types.
25155 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25156 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
25157 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
25158 This domain contains all functions.
25159 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25160 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25161 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
25162 This domain contains all types.
25163 @end table
25164
25165 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
25166 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
25167
25168 @table @code
25169 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25170 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25171 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
25172 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
25173 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
25174 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25175 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25176 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
25177 Value is constant int.
25178 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25179 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25180 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
25181 Value is at a fixed address.
25182 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25183 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25184 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
25185 Value is in a register.
25186 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25187 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25188 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
25189 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
25190 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
25191 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25192 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25193 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
25194 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
25195 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
25196 offset, not the value itself.
25197 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25198 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25199 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
25200 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
25201 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
25202 itself.
25203 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25204 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25205 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
25206 Value is a local variable.
25207 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25208 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25209 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
25210 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
25211 have this class.
25212 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25213 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25214 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
25215 Value is a block.
25216 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25217 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25218 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
25219 Value is a byte-sequence.
25220 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25221 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25222 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
25223 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
25224 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
25225 referenced.
25226 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25227 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25228 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
25229 The value does not actually exist in the program.
25230 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25231 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25232 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
25233 The value's address is a computed location.
25234 @end table
25235
25236 @node Symbol Tables In Python
25237 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
25238
25239 @cindex symbol tables in python
25240 @tindex gdb.Symtab
25241 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
25242
25243 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
25244 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
25245 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
25246 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
25247 @xref{Frames In Python}.
25248
25249 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
25250 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
25251
25252 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
25253
25254 @table @code
25255 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
25256 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
25257 This attribute is not writable.
25258 @end defvar
25259
25260 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
25261 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
25262 writable.
25263 @end defvar
25264
25265 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
25266 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
25267 attribute is not writable.
25268 @end defvar
25269 @end table
25270
25271 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
25272
25273 @table @code
25274 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
25275 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
25276 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
25277 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
25278 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
25279 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
25280 invalid at the time the method is called.
25281 @end defun
25282 @end table
25283
25284 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
25285
25286 @table @code
25287 @defvar Symtab.filename
25288 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
25289 @end defvar
25290
25291 @defvar Symtab.objfile
25292 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
25293 This attribute is not writable.
25294 @end defvar
25295 @end table
25296
25297 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
25298
25299 @table @code
25300 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
25301 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
25302 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
25303 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
25304 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
25305 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25306 @end defun
25307
25308 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
25309 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
25310 @end defun
25311
25312 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
25313 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
25314 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25315 @end defun
25316
25317 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
25318 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
25319 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
25320 @end defun
25321 @end table
25322
25323 @node Breakpoints In Python
25324 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
25325
25326 @cindex breakpoints in python
25327 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
25328
25329 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
25330 class.
25331
25332 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
25333 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
25334 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
25335 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
25336 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
25337 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
25338 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
25339 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
25340 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
25341 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
25342 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
25343 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
25344 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
25345 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
25346 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
25347 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
25348 @end defun
25349
25350 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
25351 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
25352 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
25353 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
25354 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
25355 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
25356 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
25357 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
25358
25359 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
25360 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
25361 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
25362 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
25363 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
25364 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
25365
25366 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
25367 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
25368 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
25369 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
25370 at this time.
25371
25372 Example @code{stop} implementation:
25373
25374 @smallexample
25375 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
25376 def stop (self):
25377 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
25378 if inf_val == 3:
25379 return True
25380 return False
25381 @end smallexample
25382 @end defun
25383
25384 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
25385 @code{gdb} module:
25386
25387 @table @code
25388 @findex WP_READ
25389 @findex gdb.WP_READ
25390 @item gdb.WP_READ
25391 Read only watchpoint.
25392
25393 @findex WP_WRITE
25394 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
25395 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
25396 Write only watchpoint.
25397
25398 @findex WP_ACCESS
25399 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
25400 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
25401 Read/Write watchpoint.
25402 @end table
25403
25404 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
25405 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
25406 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
25407 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
25408 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
25409 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
25410 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
25411 @end defun
25412
25413 @defun Breakpoint.delete
25414 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
25415 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
25416 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
25417 @end defun
25418
25419 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
25420 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
25421 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25422 @end defvar
25423
25424 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
25425 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
25426 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
25427
25428 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
25429 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
25430 @code{silent} attribute.
25431 @end defvar
25432
25433 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
25434 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
25435 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
25436 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25437 @end defvar
25438
25439 @defvar Breakpoint.task
25440 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
25441 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
25442 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
25443 is writable.
25444 @end defvar
25445
25446 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
25447 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25448 This attribute is writable.
25449 @end defvar
25450
25451 @defvar Breakpoint.number
25452 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
25453 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
25454 @end defvar
25455
25456 @defvar Breakpoint.type
25457 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
25458 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
25459 writable.
25460 @end defvar
25461
25462 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
25463 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
25464 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
25465 attribute is not writable.
25466 @end defvar
25467
25468 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
25469 module:
25470
25471 @table @code
25472 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
25473 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25474 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
25475 Normal code breakpoint.
25476
25477 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
25478 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25479 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
25480 Watchpoint breakpoint.
25481
25482 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25483 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25484 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
25485 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
25486
25487 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25488 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25489 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
25490 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
25491
25492 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25493 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25494 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
25495 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
25496 @end table
25497
25498 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
25499 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
25500 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
25501 @end defvar
25502
25503 @defvar Breakpoint.location
25504 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
25505 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
25506 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
25507 attribute is not writable.
25508 @end defvar
25509
25510 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
25511 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
25512 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
25513 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
25514 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25515 @end defvar
25516
25517 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
25518 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
25519 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
25520 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
25521 @end defvar
25522
25523 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
25524 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
25525 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
25526 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
25527 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
25528 @end defvar
25529
25530 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
25531 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
25532
25533 @cindex python finish breakpoints
25534 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
25535
25536 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
25537 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
25538 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
25539 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
25540 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
25541 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
25542 thread selected.
25543
25544 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
25545 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
25546 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
25547 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
25548 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
25549 details about this argument.
25550 @end defun
25551
25552 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
25553 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
25554 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
25555 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
25556 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
25557
25558 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
25559 method:
25560
25561 @smallexample
25562 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
25563 def stop (self):
25564 print "normal finish"
25565 return True
25566
25567 def out_of_scope ():
25568 print "abnormal finish"
25569 @end smallexample
25570 @end defun
25571
25572 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
25573 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
25574 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
25575 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
25576 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
25577 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
25578 is not writable.
25579 @end defvar
25580
25581 @node Lazy Strings In Python
25582 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
25583
25584 @cindex lazy strings in python
25585 @tindex gdb.LazyString
25586
25587 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
25588 encoded until it is needed.
25589
25590 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
25591 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
25592 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
25593 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
25594 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
25595 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
25596 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
25597 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
25598 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
25599
25600 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
25601
25602 @defun LazyString.value ()
25603 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
25604 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
25605 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
25606 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
25607 @end defun
25608
25609 @defvar LazyString.address
25610 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
25611 writable.
25612 @end defvar
25613
25614 @defvar LazyString.length
25615 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
25616 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
25617 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
25618 @end defvar
25619
25620 @defvar LazyString.encoding
25621 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
25622 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
25623 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
25624 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
25625 is not writable.
25626 @end defvar
25627
25628 @defvar LazyString.type
25629 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
25630 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
25631 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
25632 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
25633 writable.
25634 @end defvar
25635
25636 @node Python Auto-loading
25637 @subsection Python Auto-loading
25638 @cindex Python auto-loading
25639
25640 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
25641 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
25642 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
25643 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
25644 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25645 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
25646
25647 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
25648 debugging commands and scripts.
25649
25650 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
25651 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
25652
25653 @table @code
25654 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
25655 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
25656 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
25657 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
25658
25659 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
25660 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
25661 @item show auto-load python-scripts
25662 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
25663
25664 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
25665 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
25666 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
25667 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
25668 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
25669
25670 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
25671 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
25672 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
25673 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
25674 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
25675 an error message for each one is problematic.
25676
25677 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
25678
25679 Example:
25680
25681 @smallexample
25682 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
25683 Loaded Script
25684 Yes py-section-script.py
25685 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
25686 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
25687 @end smallexample
25688 @end table
25689
25690 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
25691 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
25692 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
25693 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
25694
25695 @menu
25696 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
25697 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25698 * Which flavor to choose?::
25699 @end menu
25700
25701 @node objfile-gdb.py file
25702 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
25703 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
25704
25705 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
25706 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
25707 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
25708 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
25709 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
25710 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
25711
25712 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
25713 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
25714
25715 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25716 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25717
25718 @table @code
25719 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
25720 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
25721 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
25722 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
25723 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
25724 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
25725
25726 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
25727 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
25728
25729 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
25730 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
25731 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
25732 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
25733
25734 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
25735 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
25736 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
25737 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
25738 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
25739 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
25740 platform.
25741
25742 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
25743 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
25744 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
25745
25746 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
25747 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
25748 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
25749 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
25750 @end table
25751
25752 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
25753 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
25754 @var{objfile} is opened.
25755 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
25756 is evaluated more than once.
25757
25758 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
25759 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25760 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
25761
25762 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
25763 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
25764 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
25765 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
25766
25767 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
25768 current directory and then along the source search path
25769 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
25770 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
25771 directory is not relevant to scripts.
25772
25773 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
25774 for example, this GCC macro:
25775
25776 @example
25777 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
25778 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
25779 asm("\
25780 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
25781 .byte 1\n\
25782 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
25783 .popsection \n\
25784 ");
25785 @end example
25786
25787 @noindent
25788 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
25789
25790 @example
25791 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
25792 @end example
25793
25794 The script name may include directories if desired.
25795
25796 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
25797 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
25798
25799 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
25800 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
25801
25802 @node Which flavor to choose?
25803 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
25804
25805 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
25806 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
25807
25808 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
25809
25810 @itemize @bullet
25811 @item
25812 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
25813
25814 @item
25815 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
25816
25817 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
25818 in the source search path.
25819 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
25820 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
25821
25822 @item
25823 Doesn't require source code additions.
25824 @end itemize
25825
25826 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
25827
25828 @itemize @bullet
25829 @item
25830 Works with static linking.
25831
25832 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
25833 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
25834 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
25835 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
25836
25837 @item
25838 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
25839
25840 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
25841 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
25842
25843 @item
25844 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
25845
25846 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
25847 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
25848 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
25849 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
25850 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
25851 top of the source tree to the source search path.
25852 @end itemize
25853
25854 @node Python modules
25855 @subsection Python modules
25856 @cindex python modules
25857
25858 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
25859
25860 @menu
25861 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
25862 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
25863 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
25864 @end menu
25865
25866 @node gdb.printing
25867 @subsubsection gdb.printing
25868 @cindex gdb.printing
25869
25870 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
25871 pretty-printers.
25872
25873 @table @code
25874 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
25875 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
25876 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
25877 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
25878
25879 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
25880 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
25881 corresponding API for the subprinters.
25882
25883 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
25884 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
25885 regular expressions.
25886 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
25887
25888 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
25889 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
25890 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
25891 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
25892 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
25893 the @code{enum} type to look up.
25894
25895 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
25896 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
25897 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
25898 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
25899 if a printer with the same name already exists.
25900 @end table
25901
25902 @node gdb.types
25903 @subsubsection gdb.types
25904 @cindex gdb.types
25905
25906 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
25907 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
25908
25909 @table @code
25910 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
25911 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
25912 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
25913
25914 C@t{++} example:
25915
25916 @smallexample
25917 typedef const int const_int;
25918 const_int foo (3);
25919 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
25920 int main () @{ return 0; @}
25921 @end smallexample
25922
25923 Then in gdb:
25924
25925 @smallexample
25926 (gdb) start
25927 (gdb) python import gdb.types
25928 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
25929 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
25930 int
25931 @end smallexample
25932
25933 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
25934 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
25935 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
25936
25937 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
25938 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
25939
25940 @item deep_items (@var{type})
25941 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
25942 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
25943 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
25944 union fields. For example:
25945
25946 @smallexample
25947 struct A
25948 @{
25949 int a;
25950 union @{
25951 int b0;
25952 int b1;
25953 @};
25954 @};
25955 @end smallexample
25956
25957 @noindent
25958 Then in @value{GDBN}:
25959 @smallexample
25960 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
25961 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
25962 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
25963 @{['a', '']@}
25964 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
25965 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
25966 @end smallexample
25967
25968 @end table
25969
25970 @node gdb.prompt
25971 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
25972 @cindex gdb.prompt
25973
25974 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
25975
25976 @table @code
25977 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
25978 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
25979 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
25980 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
25981
25982 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
25983
25984 @table @code
25985 @item \\
25986 Substitute a backslash.
25987 @item \e
25988 Substitute an ESC character.
25989 @item \f
25990 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
25991 @item \n
25992 Substitute a newline.
25993 @item \p
25994 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
25995 @item \r
25996 Substitute a carriage return.
25997 @item \t
25998 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
25999 @item \v
26000 Substitute the version of GDB.
26001 @item \w
26002 Substitute the current working directory.
26003 @item \[
26004 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
26005 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
26006 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
26007 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
26008 @item \]
26009 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
26010 @end table
26011
26012 For example:
26013
26014 @smallexample
26015 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
26016 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
26017 @end smallexample
26018
26019 @exdent will return the string:
26020
26021 @smallexample
26022 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
26023 @end smallexample
26024 @end table
26025
26026 @node Aliases
26027 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
26028 @cindex aliases for commands
26029
26030 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
26031 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
26032 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
26033 that involves less typing.
26034
26035 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
26036 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
26037 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
26038
26039 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
26040 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
26041 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
26042
26043 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
26044
26045 @table @code
26046
26047 @kindex alias
26048 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
26049
26050 @end table
26051
26052 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
26053 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
26054 underscores.
26055
26056 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
26057 that is being aliased.
26058
26059 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
26060 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
26061 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
26062
26063 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
26064 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
26065
26066 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
26067 of a command so that there is less to type.
26068 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
26069 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
26070 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
26071 The following will accomplish this.
26072
26073 @smallexample
26074 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
26075 @end smallexample
26076
26077 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
26078 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
26079 for it with the @samp{document} command.
26080 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
26081
26082 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
26083 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
26084 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
26085 of a command.
26086
26087 @smallexample
26088 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
26089 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
26090 (gdb) set p elms 20
26091 (gdb) show p elms
26092 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
26093 @end smallexample
26094
26095 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
26096 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
26097 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
26098
26099 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
26100 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
26101
26102 @smallexample
26103 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
26104 @end smallexample
26105
26106 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
26107 alias for a more complex command.
26108 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
26109
26110 @smallexample
26111 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
26112 (gdb) spe 20
26113 @end smallexample
26114
26115 @node Interpreters
26116 @chapter Command Interpreters
26117 @cindex command interpreters
26118
26119 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
26120 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
26121 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
26122
26123 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
26124 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
26125 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
26126 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
26127
26128 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
26129 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
26130 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
26131 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
26132
26133 @table @code
26134 @item console
26135 @cindex console interpreter
26136 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
26137 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
26138 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
26139
26140 @item mi
26141 @cindex mi interpreter
26142 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
26143 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
26144 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
26145 Interface}.
26146
26147 @item mi2
26148 @cindex mi2 interpreter
26149 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
26150
26151 @item mi1
26152 @cindex mi1 interpreter
26153 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
26154
26155 @end table
26156
26157 @cindex invoke another interpreter
26158 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
26159 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
26160 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
26161 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
26162 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
26163 the IDE inoperable!
26164
26165 @kindex interpreter-exec
26166 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
26167 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
26168 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
26169 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
26170
26171 @smallexample
26172 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
26173 @end smallexample
26174
26175 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
26176 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
26177
26178 @node TUI
26179 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
26180 @cindex TUI
26181 @cindex Text User Interface
26182
26183 @menu
26184 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
26185 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
26186 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
26187 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
26188 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
26189 @end menu
26190
26191 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
26192 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
26193 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
26194 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
26195 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
26196 is available.
26197
26198 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
26199 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
26200 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
26201 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
26202 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
26203
26204 @node TUI Overview
26205 @section TUI Overview
26206
26207 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
26208
26209 @table @emph
26210 @item command
26211 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
26212 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
26213 managed using readline.
26214
26215 @item source
26216 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
26217 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
26218
26219 @item assembly
26220 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
26221
26222 @item register
26223 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
26224 when their values change.
26225 @end table
26226
26227 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
26228 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
26229 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
26230 indicates the breakpoint type:
26231
26232 @table @code
26233 @item B
26234 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26235
26236 @item b
26237 Breakpoint which was never hit.
26238
26239 @item H
26240 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
26241
26242 @item h
26243 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
26244 @end table
26245
26246 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
26247
26248 @table @code
26249 @item +
26250 Breakpoint is enabled.
26251
26252 @item -
26253 Breakpoint is disabled.
26254 @end table
26255
26256 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
26257 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
26258 changes.
26259
26260 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
26261 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
26262 layouts:
26263
26264 @itemize @bullet
26265 @item
26266 source only,
26267
26268 @item
26269 assembly only,
26270
26271 @item
26272 source and assembly,
26273
26274 @item
26275 source and registers, or
26276
26277 @item
26278 assembly and registers.
26279 @end itemize
26280
26281 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
26282
26283 @table @emph
26284 @item target
26285 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
26286 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
26287
26288 @item process
26289 Gives the current process or thread number.
26290 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
26291
26292 @item function
26293 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
26294 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
26295 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
26296 the string @code{??} is displayed.
26297
26298 @item line
26299 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
26300 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
26301
26302 @item pc
26303 Indicates the current program counter address.
26304 @end table
26305
26306 @node TUI Keys
26307 @section TUI Key Bindings
26308 @cindex TUI key bindings
26309
26310 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
26311 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
26312 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
26313 @end ifset
26314 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
26315 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
26316 @end ifclear
26317 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
26318 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
26319
26320 @table @kbd
26321 @kindex C-x C-a
26322 @item C-x C-a
26323 @kindex C-x a
26324 @itemx C-x a
26325 @kindex C-x A
26326 @itemx C-x A
26327 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
26328 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
26329 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
26330 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
26331 The screen is then refreshed.
26332
26333 @kindex C-x 1
26334 @item C-x 1
26335 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
26336 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
26337 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
26338
26339 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
26340
26341 @kindex C-x 2
26342 @item C-x 2
26343 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
26344 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
26345 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
26346 previous layout and the new one.
26347
26348 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
26349
26350 @kindex C-x o
26351 @item C-x o
26352 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
26353 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
26354 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
26355
26356 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
26357
26358 @kindex C-x s
26359 @item C-x s
26360 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
26361 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
26362 @end table
26363
26364 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
26365
26366 @table @asis
26367 @kindex PgUp
26368 @item @key{PgUp}
26369 Scroll the active window one page up.
26370
26371 @kindex PgDn
26372 @item @key{PgDn}
26373 Scroll the active window one page down.
26374
26375 @kindex Up
26376 @item @key{Up}
26377 Scroll the active window one line up.
26378
26379 @kindex Down
26380 @item @key{Down}
26381 Scroll the active window one line down.
26382
26383 @kindex Left
26384 @item @key{Left}
26385 Scroll the active window one column left.
26386
26387 @kindex Right
26388 @item @key{Right}
26389 Scroll the active window one column right.
26390
26391 @kindex C-L
26392 @item @kbd{C-L}
26393 Refresh the screen.
26394 @end table
26395
26396 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
26397 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
26398 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
26399 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
26400 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
26401
26402 @node TUI Single Key Mode
26403 @section TUI Single Key Mode
26404 @cindex TUI single key mode
26405
26406 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
26407 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
26408 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
26409
26410 @table @kbd
26411 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26412 @item c
26413 continue
26414
26415 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26416 @item d
26417 down
26418
26419 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26420 @item f
26421 finish
26422
26423 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26424 @item n
26425 next
26426
26427 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26428 @item q
26429 exit the SingleKey mode.
26430
26431 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26432 @item r
26433 run
26434
26435 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26436 @item s
26437 step
26438
26439 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26440 @item u
26441 up
26442
26443 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26444 @item v
26445 info locals
26446
26447 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
26448 @item w
26449 where
26450 @end table
26451
26452 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
26453 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
26454 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
26455 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
26456 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
26457 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
26458
26459
26460 @node TUI Commands
26461 @section TUI-specific Commands
26462 @cindex TUI commands
26463
26464 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
26465 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
26466 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
26467 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
26468
26469 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
26470 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
26471 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
26472 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
26473 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
26474
26475 @table @code
26476 @item info win
26477 @kindex info win
26478 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
26479
26480 @item layout next
26481 @kindex layout
26482 Display the next layout.
26483
26484 @item layout prev
26485 Display the previous layout.
26486
26487 @item layout src
26488 Display the source window only.
26489
26490 @item layout asm
26491 Display the assembly window only.
26492
26493 @item layout split
26494 Display the source and assembly window.
26495
26496 @item layout regs
26497 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
26498
26499 @item focus next
26500 @kindex focus
26501 Make the next window active for scrolling.
26502
26503 @item focus prev
26504 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
26505
26506 @item focus src
26507 Make the source window active for scrolling.
26508
26509 @item focus asm
26510 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
26511
26512 @item focus regs
26513 Make the register window active for scrolling.
26514
26515 @item focus cmd
26516 Make the command window active for scrolling.
26517
26518 @item refresh
26519 @kindex refresh
26520 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
26521
26522 @item tui reg float
26523 @kindex tui reg
26524 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
26525
26526 @item tui reg general
26527 Show the general registers in the register window.
26528
26529 @item tui reg next
26530 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
26531 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
26532 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
26533 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
26534
26535 @item tui reg system
26536 Show the system registers in the register window.
26537
26538 @item update
26539 @kindex update
26540 Update the source window and the current execution point.
26541
26542 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
26543 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
26544 @kindex winheight
26545 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
26546 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
26547 decrease it.
26548
26549 @item tabset @var{nchars}
26550 @kindex tabset
26551 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
26552 @end table
26553
26554 @node TUI Configuration
26555 @section TUI Configuration Variables
26556 @cindex TUI configuration variables
26557
26558 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
26559
26560 @table @code
26561 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
26562 @kindex set tui border-kind
26563 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
26564 The possible values are the following:
26565 @table @code
26566 @item space
26567 Use a space character to draw the border.
26568
26569 @item ascii
26570 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
26571
26572 @item acs
26573 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
26574 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
26575 @end table
26576
26577 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
26578 @kindex set tui border-mode
26579 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
26580 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
26581 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
26582 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
26583 @table @code
26584 @item normal
26585 Use normal attributes to display the border.
26586
26587 @item standout
26588 Use standout mode.
26589
26590 @item reverse
26591 Use reverse video mode.
26592
26593 @item half
26594 Use half bright mode.
26595
26596 @item half-standout
26597 Use half bright and standout mode.
26598
26599 @item bold
26600 Use extra bright or bold mode.
26601
26602 @item bold-standout
26603 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
26604 @end table
26605 @end table
26606
26607 @node Emacs
26608 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
26609
26610 @cindex Emacs
26611 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
26612 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
26613 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
26614 @value{GDBN}.
26615
26616 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
26617 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
26618 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
26619 created Emacs buffer.
26620 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
26621
26622 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
26623 things:
26624
26625 @itemize @bullet
26626 @item
26627 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
26628 the GUD buffer.
26629
26630 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
26631 and output done by the program you are debugging.
26632
26633 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
26634 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
26635 in this way.
26636
26637 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
26638 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
26639 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
26640 stop.
26641
26642 @item
26643 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
26644
26645 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
26646 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
26647 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
26648 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
26649 and the source.
26650
26651 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
26652 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
26653 @end itemize
26654
26655 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
26656 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
26657 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
26658 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
26659
26660 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
26661 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
26662 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
26663 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
26664 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
26665 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
26666 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
26667 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
26668 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
26669
26670 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
26671 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
26672 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
26673 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
26674
26675 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
26676 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
26677 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
26678 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
26679 one you want.
26680
26681 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
26682 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
26683
26684 @table @kbd
26685 @item C-h m
26686 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
26687
26688 @item C-c C-s
26689 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
26690 update the display window to show the current file and location.
26691
26692 @item C-c C-n
26693 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
26694 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
26695 to show the current file and location.
26696
26697 @item C-c C-i
26698 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
26699 display window accordingly.
26700
26701 @item C-c C-f
26702 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
26703 @code{finish} command.
26704
26705 @item C-c C-r
26706 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
26707 command.
26708
26709 @item C-c <
26710 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
26711 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
26712 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
26713
26714 @item C-c >
26715 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
26716 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
26717 @end table
26718
26719 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
26720 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
26721
26722 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
26723 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
26724 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
26725 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
26726 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
26727 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
26728 speedbar displays watch expressions.
26729
26730 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
26731 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
26732 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
26733 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
26734 frame.
26735
26736 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
26737 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
26738 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
26739 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
26740 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
26741 to correspond properly with the code.
26742
26743 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
26744 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
26745 Emacs Manual}).
26746
26747 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
26748 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
26749 @ignore
26750 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
26751 @kindex Epoch
26752 @kindex inspect
26753
26754 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
26755 called the @code{epoch}
26756 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
26757 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
26758 each value is printed in its own window.
26759 @end ignore
26760
26761
26762 @node GDB/MI
26763 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
26764
26765 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
26766
26767 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
26768 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
26769 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
26770 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
26771 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
26772 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
26773
26774 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
26775 in the form of a reference manual.
26776
26777 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
26778 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
26779 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
26780
26781 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
26782
26783 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
26784 This chapter uses the following notation:
26785
26786 @itemize @bullet
26787 @item
26788 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
26789
26790 @item
26791 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
26792 it may or may not be given.
26793
26794 @item
26795 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26796 may repeat zero or more times.
26797
26798 @item
26799 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
26800 may repeat one or more times.
26801
26802 @item
26803 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
26804 @end itemize
26805
26806 @ignore
26807 @heading Dependencies
26808 @end ignore
26809
26810 @menu
26811 * GDB/MI General Design::
26812 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
26813 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
26814 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
26815 * GDB/MI Output Records::
26816 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
26817 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
26818 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
26819 * GDB/MI Program Context::
26820 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
26821 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
26822 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
26823 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
26824 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
26825 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
26826 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
26827 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
26828 * GDB/MI File Commands::
26829 @ignore
26830 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
26831 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
26832 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
26833 @end ignore
26834 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
26835 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
26836 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
26837 @end menu
26838
26839 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26840 @node GDB/MI General Design
26841 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
26842 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
26843
26844 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
26845 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
26846 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
26847 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
26848 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
26849 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
26850 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
26851 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
26852 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
26853 a command and reported as part of that command response.
26854
26855 The important examples of notifications are:
26856 @itemize @bullet
26857
26858 @item
26859 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
26860 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
26861 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
26862 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
26863 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
26864 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
26865 command itself was successfully executed.
26866
26867 @item
26868 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
26869 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
26870 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
26871 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
26872 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
26873 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
26874
26875 @item
26876 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
26877 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
26878 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
26879 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
26880 orthogonal frontend design.
26881
26882 @end itemize
26883
26884 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
26885 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
26886 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
26887 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
26888 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
26889 the user interface.
26890
26891
26892 @menu
26893 * Context management::
26894 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
26895 * Thread groups::
26896 @end menu
26897
26898 @node Context management
26899 @subsection Context management
26900
26901 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
26902 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
26903 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
26904 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
26905 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
26906 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
26907 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
26908 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
26909 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
26910
26911 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
26912 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
26913 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
26914 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
26915 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
26916 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
26917 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
26918 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
26919 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
26920 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
26921 for thread and frame to operate on.
26922
26923 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
26924 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
26925 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
26926 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
26927 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
26928 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
26929 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
26930 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
26931 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
26932 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
26933
26934 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
26935 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
26936 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
26937 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
26938 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
26939 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
26940 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
26941 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
26942 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
26943 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
26944 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
26945 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
26946 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
26947 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
26948 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
26949 @samp{--frame} options.
26950
26951 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
26952 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
26953
26954 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
26955 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
26956 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
26957 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
26958 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
26959 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
26960 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
26961 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
26962 @code{-list-target-features} command.
26963
26964 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
26965 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
26966 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
26967 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
26968 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
26969 are running.
26970
26971 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
26972 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
26973 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
26974 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
26975 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
26976 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
26977 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
26978 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
26979 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
26980 @samp{--thread} option).
26981
26982 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
26983 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
26984 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
26985 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
26986
26987 @node Thread groups
26988 @subsection Thread groups
26989 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
26990 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
26991 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
26992 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
26993 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
26994
26995 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
26996 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
26997 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
26998 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
26999 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
27000 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
27001 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
27002 into processes.
27003
27004 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
27005 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
27006 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
27007 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
27008 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
27009 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
27010 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
27011 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
27012 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
27013 the members of specific thread group.
27014
27015 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
27016 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
27017 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
27018 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
27019 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
27020 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
27021 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
27022 after attaching to that thread group.
27023
27024 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
27025 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
27026 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
27027 such thread groups.
27028
27029 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27030 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
27031 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
27032
27033 @menu
27034 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
27035 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
27036 @end menu
27037
27038 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
27039 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
27040
27041 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
27042 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
27043 @table @code
27044 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
27045 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
27046
27047 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
27048 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
27049 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
27050
27051 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
27052 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
27053 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
27054
27055 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27056 "any sequence of digits"
27057
27058 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
27059 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
27060
27061 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
27062 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
27063
27064 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
27065 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
27066
27067 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
27068 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
27069 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
27070
27071 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
27072 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
27073
27074 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27075 @code{CR | CR-LF}
27076 @end table
27077
27078 @noindent
27079 Notes:
27080
27081 @itemize @bullet
27082 @item
27083 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
27084 output is described below.
27085
27086 @item
27087 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
27088 finishes.
27089
27090 @item
27091 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
27092 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
27093 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
27094 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
27095 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
27096 @end itemize
27097
27098 Pragmatics:
27099
27100 @itemize @bullet
27101 @item
27102 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
27103
27104 @item
27105 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
27106 @end itemize
27107
27108 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
27109 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
27110
27111 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
27112 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
27113 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
27114 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
27115 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
27116 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
27117
27118 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
27119 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
27120 @var{token}.
27121
27122 @table @code
27123 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
27124 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
27125
27126 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
27127 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27128
27129 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
27130 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
27131
27132 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
27133 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
27134
27135 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
27136 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
27137
27138 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
27139 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
27140
27141 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
27142 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
27143
27144 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
27145 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
27146
27147 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
27148 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
27149
27150 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
27151 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
27152 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
27153
27154 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
27155 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
27156
27157 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
27158 @code{ @var{string} }
27159
27160 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
27161 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
27162
27163 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
27164 @code{@var{c-string}}
27165
27166 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
27167 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
27168
27169 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
27170 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
27171 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
27172
27173 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
27174 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
27175
27176 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
27177 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
27178
27179 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
27180 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
27181
27182 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
27183 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
27184
27185 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
27186 @code{CR | CR-LF}
27187
27188 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
27189 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
27190 @end table
27191
27192 @noindent
27193 Notes:
27194
27195 @itemize @bullet
27196 @item
27197 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
27198
27199 @item
27200 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
27201 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
27202 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
27203 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
27204 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
27205 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
27206 prior command.
27207
27208 @item
27209 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27210 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
27211 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
27212 prefixed by @samp{+}.
27213
27214 @item
27215 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27216 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
27217 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
27218 @samp{*}.
27219
27220 @item
27221 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27222 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
27223 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
27224 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
27225
27226 @item
27227 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27228 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
27229 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
27230 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
27231
27232 @item
27233 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27234 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
27235 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
27236
27237 @item
27238 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27239 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
27240 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
27241 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
27242
27243 @item
27244 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
27245 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
27246 @var{values}.
27247
27248
27249 @end itemize
27250
27251 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
27252 details about the various output records.
27253
27254 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27255 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
27256 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
27257
27258 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
27259 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
27260
27261 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
27262 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
27263 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
27264 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
27265 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
27266 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
27267
27268 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
27269 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
27270 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
27271
27272 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27273 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
27274 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
27275 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
27276
27277 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
27278 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
27279
27280 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
27281 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
27282 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
27283 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
27284 might change.
27285
27286 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
27287 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
27288 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
27289 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
27290
27291 @itemize @bullet
27292 @item
27293 New MI commands may be added.
27294
27295 @item
27296 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
27297
27298 @item
27299 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
27300 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
27301
27302 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
27303 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
27304
27305 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
27306 @c resolve inconsistencies.
27307 @end itemize
27308
27309 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
27310 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
27311 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
27312 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
27313 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
27314
27315 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
27316 @c version?
27317
27318 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
27319 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
27320 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
27321 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
27322 @cindex mailing lists
27323
27324 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27325 @node GDB/MI Output Records
27326 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
27327
27328 @menu
27329 * GDB/MI Result Records::
27330 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
27331 * GDB/MI Async Records::
27332 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
27333 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
27334 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
27335 @end menu
27336
27337 @node GDB/MI Result Records
27338 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
27339
27340 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27341 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
27342 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
27343 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
27344
27345 @table @code
27346 @findex ^done
27347 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
27348 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
27349 values.
27350
27351 @item "^running"
27352 @findex ^running
27353 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
27354 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
27355 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
27356 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
27357 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
27358 which threads are resumed.
27359
27360 @item "^connected"
27361 @findex ^connected
27362 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
27363
27364 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
27365 @findex ^error
27366 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
27367 error message.
27368
27369 @item "^exit"
27370 @findex ^exit
27371 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
27372
27373 @end table
27374
27375 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
27376 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
27377
27378 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
27379 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27380 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
27381 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
27382 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
27383
27384 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
27385 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
27386 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
27387 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
27388 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
27389
27390 @table @code
27391 @item "~" @var{string-output}
27392 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
27393 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
27394
27395 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
27396 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
27397 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
27398 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
27399
27400 @item "&" @var{string-output}
27401 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
27402 internals.
27403 @end table
27404
27405 @node GDB/MI Async Records
27406 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
27407
27408 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
27409 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
27410 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
27411 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
27412 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
27413 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
27414
27415 The following is the list of possible async records:
27416
27417 @table @code
27418
27419 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
27420 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
27421 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
27422 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
27423 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
27424 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
27425 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
27426 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
27427 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
27428 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
27429
27430 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
27431 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
27432 following values:
27433
27434 @table @code
27435 @item breakpoint-hit
27436 A breakpoint was reached.
27437 @item watchpoint-trigger
27438 A watchpoint was triggered.
27439 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
27440 A read watchpoint was triggered.
27441 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
27442 An access watchpoint was triggered.
27443 @item function-finished
27444 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27445 @item location-reached
27446 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
27447 @item watchpoint-scope
27448 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
27449 @item end-stepping-range
27450 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
27451 similar CLI command was accomplished.
27452 @item exited-signalled
27453 The inferior exited because of a signal.
27454 @item exited
27455 The inferior exited.
27456 @item exited-normally
27457 The inferior exited normally.
27458 @item signal-received
27459 A signal was received by the inferior.
27460 @item solib-event
27461 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
27462 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
27463 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
27464 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
27465 @item fork
27466 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
27467 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27468 @item vfork
27469 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
27470 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27471 @item syscall-entry
27472 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
27473 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27474 @item syscall-entry
27475 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
27476 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27477 @item exec
27478 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
27479 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
27480 @end table
27481
27482 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
27483 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
27484 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
27485 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
27486 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
27487 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
27488 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
27489 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
27490 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
27491 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
27492 if such information is not available.
27493
27494 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
27495 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
27496 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
27497 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
27498 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
27499 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
27500 cannot be used in any way.
27501
27502 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
27503 A thread group became associated with a running program,
27504 either because the program was just started or the thread group
27505 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
27506 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
27507 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
27508
27509 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
27510 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
27511 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
27512 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
27513 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
27514 only when the inferior exited with some code.
27515
27516 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27517 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
27518 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
27519 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
27520 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
27521
27522 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
27523 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
27524 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
27525 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
27526 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
27527 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
27528 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
27529
27530 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
27531 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
27532 that thread.
27533
27534 @item =library-loaded,...
27535 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
27536 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
27537 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
27538 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
27539 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
27540 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
27541 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
27542 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
27543 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
27544 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
27545 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
27546 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
27547 thread groups.
27548
27549 @item =library-unloaded,...
27550 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
27551 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
27552 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
27553 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
27554 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
27555 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
27556 thread groups.
27557
27558 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
27559 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
27560 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,bkpt=@{...@}
27561 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
27562 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
27563 user.
27564
27565 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
27566 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}.
27567
27568 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
27569 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
27570
27571 @end table
27572
27573 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
27574 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
27575
27576 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
27577 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
27578 fields:
27579
27580 @table @code
27581 @item level
27582 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
27583 zero. This field is always present.
27584
27585 @item func
27586 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
27587 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
27588
27589 @item addr
27590 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
27591
27592 @item file
27593 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
27594 address. This field may be absent.
27595
27596 @item line
27597 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
27598 may be absent.
27599
27600 @item from
27601 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
27602 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
27603
27604 @end table
27605
27606 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
27607 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
27608
27609 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
27610 uses a tuple with the following fields:
27611
27612 @table @code
27613 @item id
27614 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
27615 always present.
27616
27617 @item target-id
27618 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
27619
27620 @item details
27621 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
27622 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
27623 frontend. This field is optional.
27624
27625 @item state
27626 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
27627 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
27628
27629 @item core
27630 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
27631 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
27632 @end table
27633
27634 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
27635 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
27636
27637 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
27638 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
27639 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
27640 the @code{exception-name} field.
27641
27642 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27643 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
27644 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
27645 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
27646
27647 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
27648 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
27649 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
27650 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
27651
27652 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
27653 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
27654
27655 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
27656
27657 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
27658 information of the breakpoint.
27659
27660 @smallexample
27661 -> -break-insert main
27662 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27663 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
27664 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
27665 <- (gdb)
27666 @end smallexample
27667
27668 @subheading Program Execution
27669
27670 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
27671 reason that execution stopped.
27672
27673 @smallexample
27674 -> -exec-run
27675 <- ^running
27676 <- (gdb)
27677 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
27678 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
27679 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
27680 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
27681 <- (gdb)
27682 -> -exec-continue
27683 <- ^running
27684 <- (gdb)
27685 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
27686 <- (gdb)
27687 @end smallexample
27688
27689 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
27690
27691 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
27692
27693 @smallexample
27694 -> (gdb)
27695 <- -gdb-exit
27696 <- ^exit
27697 @end smallexample
27698
27699 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
27700 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
27701 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
27702 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
27703 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
27704 fails to exit in reasonable time.
27705
27706 @subheading A Bad Command
27707
27708 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
27709
27710 @smallexample
27711 -> -rubbish
27712 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
27713 <- (gdb)
27714 @end smallexample
27715
27716
27717 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27718 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
27719 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
27720
27721 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
27722 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
27723
27724 @subheading Motivation
27725
27726 The motivation for this collection of commands.
27727
27728 @subheading Introduction
27729
27730 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
27731
27732 @subheading Commands
27733
27734 For each command in the block, the following is described:
27735
27736 @subsubheading Synopsis
27737
27738 @smallexample
27739 -command @var{args}@dots{}
27740 @end smallexample
27741
27742 @subsubheading Result
27743
27744 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27745
27746 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
27747
27748 @subsubheading Example
27749
27750 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
27751 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
27752
27753
27754 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27755 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
27756 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
27757
27758 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
27759 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
27760 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
27761 breakpoints.
27762
27763 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
27764 @findex -break-after
27765
27766 @subsubheading Synopsis
27767
27768 @smallexample
27769 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
27770 @end smallexample
27771
27772 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
27773 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
27774 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
27775 @samp{-break-list} command below.
27776
27777 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27778
27779 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
27780
27781 @subsubheading Example
27782
27783 @smallexample
27784 (gdb)
27785 -break-insert main
27786 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27787 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27788 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
27789 (gdb)
27790 -break-after 1 3
27791 ~
27792 ^done
27793 (gdb)
27794 -break-list
27795 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27796 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27797 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27798 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27799 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27800 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27801 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27802 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27803 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27804 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27805 (gdb)
27806 @end smallexample
27807
27808 @ignore
27809 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
27810 @findex -break-catch
27811 @end ignore
27812
27813 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
27814 @findex -break-commands
27815
27816 @subsubheading Synopsis
27817
27818 @smallexample
27819 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
27820 @end smallexample
27821
27822 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
27823 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
27824 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
27825 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
27826 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
27827 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
27828
27829 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27830
27831 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
27832
27833 @subsubheading Example
27834
27835 @smallexample
27836 (gdb)
27837 -break-insert main
27838 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27839 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
27840 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
27841 (gdb)
27842 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
27843 ^done
27844 (gdb)
27845 @end smallexample
27846
27847 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
27848 @findex -break-condition
27849
27850 @subsubheading Synopsis
27851
27852 @smallexample
27853 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
27854 @end smallexample
27855
27856 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
27857 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
27858 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
27859 command below).
27860
27861 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27862
27863 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
27864
27865 @subsubheading Example
27866
27867 @smallexample
27868 (gdb)
27869 -break-condition 1 1
27870 ^done
27871 (gdb)
27872 -break-list
27873 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27874 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27875 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27876 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27877 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27878 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27879 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27880 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27881 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27882 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
27883 (gdb)
27884 @end smallexample
27885
27886 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
27887 @findex -break-delete
27888
27889 @subsubheading Synopsis
27890
27891 @smallexample
27892 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27893 @end smallexample
27894
27895 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
27896 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
27897
27898 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27899
27900 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
27901
27902 @subsubheading Example
27903
27904 @smallexample
27905 (gdb)
27906 -break-delete 1
27907 ^done
27908 (gdb)
27909 -break-list
27910 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27911 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27912 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27913 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27914 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27915 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27916 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27917 body=[]@}
27918 (gdb)
27919 @end smallexample
27920
27921 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
27922 @findex -break-disable
27923
27924 @subsubheading Synopsis
27925
27926 @smallexample
27927 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27928 @end smallexample
27929
27930 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
27931 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
27932
27933 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27934
27935 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
27936
27937 @subsubheading Example
27938
27939 @smallexample
27940 (gdb)
27941 -break-disable 2
27942 ^done
27943 (gdb)
27944 -break-list
27945 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27946 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27947 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27948 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27949 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27950 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27951 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27952 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
27953 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27954 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
27955 (gdb)
27956 @end smallexample
27957
27958 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
27959 @findex -break-enable
27960
27961 @subsubheading Synopsis
27962
27963 @smallexample
27964 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
27965 @end smallexample
27966
27967 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
27968
27969 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27970
27971 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
27972
27973 @subsubheading Example
27974
27975 @smallexample
27976 (gdb)
27977 -break-enable 2
27978 ^done
27979 (gdb)
27980 -break-list
27981 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27982 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27983 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27984 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27985 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27986 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27987 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27988 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27989 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27990 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
27991 (gdb)
27992 @end smallexample
27993
27994 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
27995 @findex -break-info
27996
27997 @subsubheading Synopsis
27998
27999 @smallexample
28000 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
28001 @end smallexample
28002
28003 @c REDUNDANT???
28004 Get information about a single breakpoint.
28005
28006 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28007
28008 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
28009
28010 @subsubheading Example
28011 N.A.
28012
28013 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
28014 @findex -break-insert
28015
28016 @subsubheading Synopsis
28017
28018 @smallexample
28019 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
28020 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
28021 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
28022 @end smallexample
28023
28024 @noindent
28025 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
28026
28027 @itemize @bullet
28028 @item function
28029 @c @item +offset
28030 @c @item -offset
28031 @c @item linenum
28032 @item filename:linenum
28033 @item filename:function
28034 @item *address
28035 @end itemize
28036
28037 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
28038
28039 @table @samp
28040 @item -t
28041 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
28042 @item -h
28043 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
28044 @item -c @var{condition}
28045 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
28046 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
28047 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
28048 @item -f
28049 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
28050 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
28051 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
28052 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
28053 cannot be parsed.
28054 @item -d
28055 Create a disabled breakpoint.
28056 @item -a
28057 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
28058 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
28059 @end table
28060
28061 @subsubheading Result
28062
28063 The result is in the form:
28064
28065 @smallexample
28066 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
28067 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
28068 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
28069 times="@var{times}"@}
28070 @end smallexample
28071
28072 @noindent
28073 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
28074 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
28075 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
28076 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
28077 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
28078 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
28079 which use the same output).
28080
28081 Note: this format is open to change.
28082 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
28083
28084 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28085
28086 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
28087 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
28088
28089 @subsubheading Example
28090
28091 @smallexample
28092 (gdb)
28093 -break-insert main
28094 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
28095 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
28096 (gdb)
28097 -break-insert -t foo
28098 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
28099 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
28100 (gdb)
28101 -break-list
28102 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28103 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28104 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28105 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28106 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28107 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28108 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28109 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28110 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
28111 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
28112 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
28113 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
28114 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
28115 (gdb)
28116 -break-insert -r foo.*
28117 ~int foo(int, int);
28118 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
28119 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
28120 (gdb)
28121 @end smallexample
28122
28123 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
28124 @findex -break-list
28125
28126 @subsubheading Synopsis
28127
28128 @smallexample
28129 -break-list
28130 @end smallexample
28131
28132 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
28133
28134 @table @samp
28135 @item Number
28136 number of the breakpoint
28137 @item Type
28138 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
28139 @item Disposition
28140 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
28141 or @samp{nokeep}
28142 @item Enabled
28143 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
28144 @item Address
28145 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
28146 @item What
28147 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
28148 name, line number
28149 @item Times
28150 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
28151 @end table
28152
28153 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
28154 @code{body} field is an empty list.
28155
28156 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28157
28158 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
28159
28160 @subsubheading Example
28161
28162 @smallexample
28163 (gdb)
28164 -break-list
28165 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28166 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28167 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28168 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28169 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28170 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28171 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28172 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28173 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
28174 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28175 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
28176 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
28177 (gdb)
28178 @end smallexample
28179
28180 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
28181
28182 @smallexample
28183 (gdb)
28184 -break-list
28185 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
28186 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28187 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28188 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28189 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28190 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28191 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28192 body=[]@}
28193 (gdb)
28194 @end smallexample
28195
28196 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
28197 @findex -break-passcount
28198
28199 @subsubheading Synopsis
28200
28201 @smallexample
28202 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
28203 @end smallexample
28204
28205 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
28206 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
28207 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
28208 command @samp{passcount}.
28209
28210 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
28211 @findex -break-watch
28212
28213 @subsubheading Synopsis
28214
28215 @smallexample
28216 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
28217 @end smallexample
28218
28219 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
28220 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
28221 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
28222 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
28223 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
28224 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
28225 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
28226 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
28227
28228 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
28229 breakpoints inserted.
28230
28231 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28232
28233 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
28234 @samp{rwatch}.
28235
28236 @subsubheading Example
28237
28238 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
28239
28240 @smallexample
28241 (gdb)
28242 -break-watch x
28243 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
28244 (gdb)
28245 -exec-continue
28246 ^running
28247 (gdb)
28248 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
28249 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
28250 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28251 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
28252 (gdb)
28253 @end smallexample
28254
28255 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
28256 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
28257 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
28258
28259 @smallexample
28260 (gdb)
28261 -break-watch C
28262 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
28263 (gdb)
28264 -exec-continue
28265 ^running
28266 (gdb)
28267 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
28268 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28269 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28270 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28271 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28272 (gdb)
28273 -exec-continue
28274 ^running
28275 (gdb)
28276 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
28277 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28278 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28279 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28280 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28281 (gdb)
28282 @end smallexample
28283
28284 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
28285 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
28286 deleted.
28287
28288 @smallexample
28289 (gdb)
28290 -break-watch C
28291 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
28292 (gdb)
28293 -break-list
28294 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28295 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28296 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28297 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28298 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28299 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28300 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28301 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28302 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28303 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28304 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
28305 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28306 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
28307 (gdb)
28308 -exec-continue
28309 ^running
28310 (gdb)
28311 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
28312 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
28313 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28314 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28315 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
28316 (gdb)
28317 -break-list
28318 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
28319 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28320 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28321 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28322 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28323 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28324 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28325 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28326 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28327 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28328 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
28329 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
28330 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
28331 (gdb)
28332 -exec-continue
28333 ^running
28334 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
28335 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
28336 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28337 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28338 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28339 (gdb)
28340 -break-list
28341 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
28342 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
28343 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
28344 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
28345 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
28346 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
28347 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
28348 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28349 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28350 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28351 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
28352 times="1"@}]@}
28353 (gdb)
28354 @end smallexample
28355
28356 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28357 @node GDB/MI Program Context
28358 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
28359
28360 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
28361 @findex -exec-arguments
28362
28363
28364 @subsubheading Synopsis
28365
28366 @smallexample
28367 -exec-arguments @var{args}
28368 @end smallexample
28369
28370 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
28371 @samp{-exec-run}.
28372
28373 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28374
28375 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
28376
28377 @subsubheading Example
28378
28379 @smallexample
28380 (gdb)
28381 -exec-arguments -v word
28382 ^done
28383 (gdb)
28384 @end smallexample
28385
28386
28387 @ignore
28388 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
28389 @findex -exec-show-arguments
28390
28391 @subsubheading Synopsis
28392
28393 @smallexample
28394 -exec-show-arguments
28395 @end smallexample
28396
28397 Print the arguments of the program.
28398
28399 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28400
28401 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
28402
28403 @subsubheading Example
28404 N.A.
28405 @end ignore
28406
28407
28408 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
28409 @findex -environment-cd
28410
28411 @subsubheading Synopsis
28412
28413 @smallexample
28414 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
28415 @end smallexample
28416
28417 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
28418
28419 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28420
28421 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
28422
28423 @subsubheading Example
28424
28425 @smallexample
28426 (gdb)
28427 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28428 ^done
28429 (gdb)
28430 @end smallexample
28431
28432
28433 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
28434 @findex -environment-directory
28435
28436 @subsubheading Synopsis
28437
28438 @smallexample
28439 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28440 @end smallexample
28441
28442 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
28443 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
28444 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
28445 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28446 occurs as normal.
28447 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28448 multiple directories in a single command
28449 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28450 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28451 If blanks are needed as
28452 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28453 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28454 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28455 character must not be used
28456 in any directory name.
28457 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
28458
28459 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28460
28461 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
28462
28463 @subsubheading Example
28464
28465 @smallexample
28466 (gdb)
28467 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
28468 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28469 (gdb)
28470 -environment-directory ""
28471 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
28472 (gdb)
28473 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
28474 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
28475 (gdb)
28476 -environment-directory -r
28477 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
28478 (gdb)
28479 @end smallexample
28480
28481
28482 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
28483 @findex -environment-path
28484
28485 @subsubheading Synopsis
28486
28487 @smallexample
28488 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
28489 @end smallexample
28490
28491 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
28492 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
28493 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
28494 supplied in addition to the
28495 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
28496 occurs as normal.
28497 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
28498 multiple directories in a single command
28499 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
28500 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
28501 If blanks are needed as
28502 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
28503 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
28504 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
28505 character must not be used
28506 in any directory name.
28507 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
28508
28509
28510 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28511
28512 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
28513
28514 @subsubheading Example
28515
28516 @smallexample
28517 (gdb)
28518 -environment-path
28519 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
28520 (gdb)
28521 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
28522 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
28523 (gdb)
28524 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
28525 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
28526 (gdb)
28527 @end smallexample
28528
28529
28530 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
28531 @findex -environment-pwd
28532
28533 @subsubheading Synopsis
28534
28535 @smallexample
28536 -environment-pwd
28537 @end smallexample
28538
28539 Show the current working directory.
28540
28541 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28542
28543 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
28544
28545 @subsubheading Example
28546
28547 @smallexample
28548 (gdb)
28549 -environment-pwd
28550 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
28551 (gdb)
28552 @end smallexample
28553
28554 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28555 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
28556 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
28557
28558
28559 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
28560 @findex -thread-info
28561
28562 @subsubheading Synopsis
28563
28564 @smallexample
28565 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
28566 @end smallexample
28567
28568 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
28569 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
28570 threads. When printing information about all threads,
28571 also reports the current thread.
28572
28573 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28574
28575 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
28576 about all threads.
28577
28578 @subsubheading Result
28579
28580 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
28581 defined for a given thread:
28582
28583 @table @samp
28584 @item current
28585 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
28586
28587 @item id
28588 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
28589
28590 @item target-id
28591 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
28592
28593 @item details
28594 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
28595 field is optional.
28596
28597 @item name
28598 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
28599 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
28600 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
28601 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
28602 field is omitted.
28603
28604 @item frame
28605 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
28606
28607 @item state
28608 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
28609 values:
28610
28611 @table @code
28612 @item stopped
28613 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
28614 threads.
28615
28616 @item running
28617 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
28618 threads.
28619
28620 @end table
28621
28622 @item core
28623 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
28624 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
28625
28626 @end table
28627
28628 @subsubheading Example
28629
28630 @smallexample
28631 -thread-info
28632 ^done,threads=[
28633 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28634 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
28635 args=[]@},state="running"@},
28636 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28637 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
28638 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28639 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
28640 state="running"@}],
28641 current-thread-id="1"
28642 (gdb)
28643 @end smallexample
28644
28645 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
28646 @findex -thread-list-ids
28647
28648 @subsubheading Synopsis
28649
28650 @smallexample
28651 -thread-list-ids
28652 @end smallexample
28653
28654 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
28655 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
28656
28657 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
28658 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
28659
28660 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28661
28662 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
28663
28664 @subsubheading Example
28665
28666 @smallexample
28667 (gdb)
28668 -thread-list-ids
28669 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28670 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
28671 (gdb)
28672 @end smallexample
28673
28674
28675 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
28676 @findex -thread-select
28677
28678 @subsubheading Synopsis
28679
28680 @smallexample
28681 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
28682 @end smallexample
28683
28684 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
28685 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
28686
28687 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
28688 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
28689
28690 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28691
28692 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
28693
28694 @subsubheading Example
28695
28696 @smallexample
28697 (gdb)
28698 -exec-next
28699 ^running
28700 (gdb)
28701 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
28702 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
28703 (gdb)
28704 -thread-list-ids
28705 ^done,
28706 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
28707 number-of-threads="3"
28708 (gdb)
28709 -thread-select 3
28710 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
28711 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
28712 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
28713 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
28714 (gdb)
28715 @end smallexample
28716
28717 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28718 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
28719 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
28720
28721 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
28722 @findex -ada-task-info
28723
28724 @subsubheading Synopsis
28725
28726 @smallexample
28727 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
28728 @end smallexample
28729
28730 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
28731 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
28732
28733 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28734
28735 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
28736 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
28737
28738 @subsubheading Result
28739
28740 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
28741 defined for each Ada task:
28742
28743 @table @samp
28744 @item current
28745 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
28746
28747 @item id
28748 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
28749
28750 @item task-id
28751 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
28752
28753 @item thread-id
28754 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
28755
28756 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
28757 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
28758 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
28759
28760 @item parent-id
28761 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
28762 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
28763
28764 @item priority
28765 The base priority of the task.
28766
28767 @item state
28768 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
28769 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
28770
28771 @item name
28772 The name of the task.
28773
28774 @end table
28775
28776 @subsubheading Example
28777
28778 @smallexample
28779 -ada-task-info
28780 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
28781 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
28782 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
28783 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
28784 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
28785 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
28786 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
28787 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
28788 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
28789 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
28790 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
28791 (gdb)
28792 @end smallexample
28793
28794 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28795 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
28796 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
28797
28798 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
28799 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
28800 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
28801 other cases.
28802
28803 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
28804 @findex -exec-continue
28805
28806 @subsubheading Synopsis
28807
28808 @smallexample
28809 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
28810 @end smallexample
28811
28812 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
28813 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
28814 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
28815 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
28816 @itemize @bullet
28817 @item
28818 breakpoints or watchpoints
28819 @item
28820 signals or exceptions
28821 @item
28822 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
28823 @item
28824 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
28825 @end itemize
28826 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
28827 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
28828 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
28829 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
28830 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
28831 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
28832
28833 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28834
28835 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
28836
28837 @subsubheading Example
28838
28839 @smallexample
28840 -exec-continue
28841 ^running
28842 (gdb)
28843 @@Hello world
28844 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
28845 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
28846 line="13"@}
28847 (gdb)
28848 @end smallexample
28849
28850
28851 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
28852 @findex -exec-finish
28853
28854 @subsubheading Synopsis
28855
28856 @smallexample
28857 -exec-finish [--reverse]
28858 @end smallexample
28859
28860 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
28861 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
28862 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
28863 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
28864 function was called.
28865
28866 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28867
28868 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
28869
28870 @subsubheading Example
28871
28872 Function returning @code{void}.
28873
28874 @smallexample
28875 -exec-finish
28876 ^running
28877 (gdb)
28878 @@hello from foo
28879 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28880 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
28881 (gdb)
28882 @end smallexample
28883
28884 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
28885 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
28886 value itself.
28887
28888 @smallexample
28889 -exec-finish
28890 ^running
28891 (gdb)
28892 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
28893 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
28894 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28895 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
28896 (gdb)
28897 @end smallexample
28898
28899
28900 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
28901 @findex -exec-interrupt
28902
28903 @subsubheading Synopsis
28904
28905 @smallexample
28906 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
28907 @end smallexample
28908
28909 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
28910 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
28911 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
28912 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
28913 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
28914
28915 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
28916 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
28917 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
28918 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
28919
28920 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
28921 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
28922 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
28923 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
28924
28925 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28926
28927 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
28928
28929 @subsubheading Example
28930
28931 @smallexample
28932 (gdb)
28933 111-exec-continue
28934 111^running
28935
28936 (gdb)
28937 222-exec-interrupt
28938 222^done
28939 (gdb)
28940 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
28941 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28942 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
28943 (gdb)
28944
28945 (gdb)
28946 -exec-interrupt
28947 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
28948 (gdb)
28949 @end smallexample
28950
28951 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
28952 @findex -exec-jump
28953
28954 @subsubheading Synopsis
28955
28956 @smallexample
28957 -exec-jump @var{location}
28958 @end smallexample
28959
28960 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
28961 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
28962 different forms of @var{location}.
28963
28964 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28965
28966 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
28967
28968 @subsubheading Example
28969
28970 @smallexample
28971 -exec-jump foo.c:10
28972 *running,thread-id="all"
28973 ^running
28974 @end smallexample
28975
28976
28977 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
28978 @findex -exec-next
28979
28980 @subsubheading Synopsis
28981
28982 @smallexample
28983 -exec-next [--reverse]
28984 @end smallexample
28985
28986 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28987 of the next source line is reached.
28988
28989 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28990 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
28991 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
28992 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
28993 source line where the function was called.
28994
28995
28996 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28997
28998 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
28999
29000 @subsubheading Example
29001
29002 @smallexample
29003 -exec-next
29004 ^running
29005 (gdb)
29006 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
29007 (gdb)
29008 @end smallexample
29009
29010
29011 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
29012 @findex -exec-next-instruction
29013
29014 @subsubheading Synopsis
29015
29016 @smallexample
29017 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
29018 @end smallexample
29019
29020 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
29021 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
29022 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
29023 printed as well.
29024
29025 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
29026 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
29027 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
29028 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
29029 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
29030
29031 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29032
29033 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
29034
29035 @subsubheading Example
29036
29037 @smallexample
29038 (gdb)
29039 -exec-next-instruction
29040 ^running
29041
29042 (gdb)
29043 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29044 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
29045 (gdb)
29046 @end smallexample
29047
29048
29049 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
29050 @findex -exec-return
29051
29052 @subsubheading Synopsis
29053
29054 @smallexample
29055 -exec-return
29056 @end smallexample
29057
29058 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
29059 Displays the new current frame.
29060
29061 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29062
29063 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
29064
29065 @subsubheading Example
29066
29067 @smallexample
29068 (gdb)
29069 200-break-insert callee4
29070 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
29071 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29072 (gdb)
29073 000-exec-run
29074 000^running
29075 (gdb)
29076 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29077 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
29078 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29079 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
29080 (gdb)
29081 205-break-delete
29082 205^done
29083 (gdb)
29084 111-exec-return
29085 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
29086 args=[@{name="strarg",
29087 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
29088 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29089 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
29090 (gdb)
29091 @end smallexample
29092
29093
29094 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
29095 @findex -exec-run
29096
29097 @subsubheading Synopsis
29098
29099 @smallexample
29100 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
29101 @end smallexample
29102
29103 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
29104 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
29105 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
29106 the program has exited exceptionally.
29107
29108 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
29109 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
29110 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
29111 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
29112
29113 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29114
29115 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
29116
29117 @subsubheading Examples
29118
29119 @smallexample
29120 (gdb)
29121 -break-insert main
29122 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29123 (gdb)
29124 -exec-run
29125 ^running
29126 (gdb)
29127 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
29128 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
29129 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
29130 (gdb)
29131 @end smallexample
29132
29133 @noindent
29134 Program exited normally:
29135
29136 @smallexample
29137 (gdb)
29138 -exec-run
29139 ^running
29140 (gdb)
29141 x = 55
29142 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29143 (gdb)
29144 @end smallexample
29145
29146 @noindent
29147 Program exited exceptionally:
29148
29149 @smallexample
29150 (gdb)
29151 -exec-run
29152 ^running
29153 (gdb)
29154 x = 55
29155 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
29156 (gdb)
29157 @end smallexample
29158
29159 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
29160 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
29161
29162 @smallexample
29163 (gdb)
29164 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
29165 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
29166 @end smallexample
29167
29168
29169 @c @subheading -exec-signal
29170
29171
29172 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
29173 @findex -exec-step
29174
29175 @subsubheading Synopsis
29176
29177 @smallexample
29178 -exec-step [--reverse]
29179 @end smallexample
29180
29181 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
29182 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
29183 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
29184 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
29185 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
29186 previously executed source line.
29187
29188 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29189
29190 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
29191
29192 @subsubheading Example
29193
29194 Stepping into a function:
29195
29196 @smallexample
29197 -exec-step
29198 ^running
29199 (gdb)
29200 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29201 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
29202 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
29203 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
29204 (gdb)
29205 @end smallexample
29206
29207 Regular stepping:
29208
29209 @smallexample
29210 -exec-step
29211 ^running
29212 (gdb)
29213 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
29214 (gdb)
29215 @end smallexample
29216
29217
29218 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
29219 @findex -exec-step-instruction
29220
29221 @subsubheading Synopsis
29222
29223 @smallexample
29224 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
29225 @end smallexample
29226
29227 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
29228 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
29229 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
29230 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
29231 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
29232 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
29233 as well.
29234
29235 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29236
29237 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
29238
29239 @subsubheading Example
29240
29241 @smallexample
29242 (gdb)
29243 -exec-step-instruction
29244 ^running
29245
29246 (gdb)
29247 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29248 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29249 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29250 (gdb)
29251 -exec-step-instruction
29252 ^running
29253
29254 (gdb)
29255 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
29256 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
29257 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
29258 (gdb)
29259 @end smallexample
29260
29261
29262 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
29263 @findex -exec-until
29264
29265 @subsubheading Synopsis
29266
29267 @smallexample
29268 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
29269 @end smallexample
29270
29271 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
29272 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
29273 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
29274 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
29275
29276 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29277
29278 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
29279
29280 @subsubheading Example
29281
29282 @smallexample
29283 (gdb)
29284 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
29285 ^running
29286 (gdb)
29287 x = 55
29288 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
29289 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
29290 (gdb)
29291 @end smallexample
29292
29293 @ignore
29294 @subheading -file-clear
29295 Is this going away????
29296 @end ignore
29297
29298 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29299 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
29300 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
29301
29302
29303 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
29304 @findex -stack-info-frame
29305
29306 @subsubheading Synopsis
29307
29308 @smallexample
29309 -stack-info-frame
29310 @end smallexample
29311
29312 Get info on the selected frame.
29313
29314 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29315
29316 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
29317 (without arguments).
29318
29319 @subsubheading Example
29320
29321 @smallexample
29322 (gdb)
29323 -stack-info-frame
29324 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29325 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29326 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
29327 (gdb)
29328 @end smallexample
29329
29330 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
29331 @findex -stack-info-depth
29332
29333 @subsubheading Synopsis
29334
29335 @smallexample
29336 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
29337 @end smallexample
29338
29339 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
29340 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
29341
29342 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29343
29344 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
29345
29346 @subsubheading Example
29347
29348 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
29349
29350 @smallexample
29351 (gdb)
29352 -stack-info-depth
29353 ^done,depth="12"
29354 (gdb)
29355 -stack-info-depth 4
29356 ^done,depth="4"
29357 (gdb)
29358 -stack-info-depth 12
29359 ^done,depth="12"
29360 (gdb)
29361 -stack-info-depth 11
29362 ^done,depth="11"
29363 (gdb)
29364 -stack-info-depth 13
29365 ^done,depth="12"
29366 (gdb)
29367 @end smallexample
29368
29369 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
29370 @findex -stack-list-arguments
29371
29372 @subsubheading Synopsis
29373
29374 @smallexample
29375 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
29376 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29377 @end smallexample
29378
29379 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
29380 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
29381 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
29382 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
29383 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
29384 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
29385 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
29386 which case only existing frames will be returned.
29387
29388 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29389 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29390 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29391 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29392 structures and unions.
29393
29394 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
29395 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29396
29397 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29398
29399 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
29400 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
29401 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
29402
29403 @subsubheading Example
29404
29405 @smallexample
29406 (gdb)
29407 -stack-list-frames
29408 ^done,
29409 stack=[
29410 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
29411 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29412 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
29413 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
29414 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29415 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
29416 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
29417 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29418 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
29419 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
29420 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29421 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
29422 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
29423 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29424 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
29425 (gdb)
29426 -stack-list-arguments 0
29427 ^done,
29428 stack-args=[
29429 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29430 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
29431 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
29432 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
29433 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29434 (gdb)
29435 -stack-list-arguments 1
29436 ^done,
29437 stack-args=[
29438 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
29439 frame=@{level="1",
29440 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29441 frame=@{level="2",args=[
29442 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29443 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
29444 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
29445 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29446 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
29447 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
29448 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
29449 (gdb)
29450 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
29451 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
29452 (gdb)
29453 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
29454 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
29455 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
29456 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
29457 (gdb)
29458 @end smallexample
29459
29460 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
29461
29462
29463 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
29464 @findex -stack-list-frames
29465
29466 @subsubheading Synopsis
29467
29468 @smallexample
29469 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
29470 @end smallexample
29471
29472 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
29473 following info:
29474
29475 @table @samp
29476 @item @var{level}
29477 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
29478 @item @var{addr}
29479 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
29480 @item @var{func}
29481 Function name.
29482 @item @var{file}
29483 File name of the source file where the function lives.
29484 @item @var{fullname}
29485 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
29486 @item @var{line}
29487 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
29488 @item @var{from}
29489 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
29490 if the frame's function is not known.
29491 @end table
29492
29493 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
29494 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
29495 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
29496 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
29497 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
29498 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
29499 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
29500
29501 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29502
29503 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
29504
29505 @subsubheading Example
29506
29507 Full stack backtrace:
29508
29509 @smallexample
29510 (gdb)
29511 -stack-list-frames
29512 ^done,stack=
29513 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
29514 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
29515 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29516 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29517 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29518 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29519 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29520 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29521 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29522 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29523 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29524 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29525 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29526 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29527 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29528 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29529 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29530 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29531 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29532 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29533 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29534 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29535 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
29536 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
29537 (gdb)
29538 @end smallexample
29539
29540 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
29541
29542 @smallexample
29543 (gdb)
29544 -stack-list-frames 3 5
29545 ^done,stack=
29546 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29547 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29548 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29549 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
29550 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29551 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29552 (gdb)
29553 @end smallexample
29554
29555 Show a single frame:
29556
29557 @smallexample
29558 (gdb)
29559 -stack-list-frames 3 3
29560 ^done,stack=
29561 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
29562 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
29563 (gdb)
29564 @end smallexample
29565
29566
29567 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
29568 @findex -stack-list-locals
29569
29570 @subsubheading Synopsis
29571
29572 @smallexample
29573 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
29574 @end smallexample
29575
29576 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
29577 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29578 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29579 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29580 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29581 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
29582 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
29583 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
29584 more detail.
29585
29586 This command is deprecated in favor of the
29587 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
29588
29589 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29590
29591 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
29592
29593 @subsubheading Example
29594
29595 @smallexample
29596 (gdb)
29597 -stack-list-locals 0
29598 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
29599 (gdb)
29600 -stack-list-locals --all-values
29601 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
29602 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
29603 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
29604 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
29605 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
29606 (gdb)
29607 @end smallexample
29608
29609 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
29610 @findex -stack-list-variables
29611
29612 @subsubheading Synopsis
29613
29614 @smallexample
29615 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
29616 @end smallexample
29617
29618 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
29619 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
29620 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
29621 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
29622 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
29623 structures and unions.
29624
29625 @subsubheading Example
29626
29627 @smallexample
29628 (gdb)
29629 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
29630 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
29631 (gdb)
29632 @end smallexample
29633
29634
29635 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
29636 @findex -stack-select-frame
29637
29638 @subsubheading Synopsis
29639
29640 @smallexample
29641 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
29642 @end smallexample
29643
29644 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
29645 the stack.
29646
29647 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
29648 option to every command.
29649
29650 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29651
29652 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
29653 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
29654
29655 @subsubheading Example
29656
29657 @smallexample
29658 (gdb)
29659 -stack-select-frame 2
29660 ^done
29661 (gdb)
29662 @end smallexample
29663
29664 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29665 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
29666 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
29667
29668 @ignore
29669
29670 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
29671
29672 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
29673 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
29674 used by @code{Insight}.
29675
29676 The two main reasons for that are:
29677
29678 @enumerate 1
29679 @item
29680 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
29681
29682 @item
29683 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
29684 now).
29685 @end enumerate
29686
29687 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
29688 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
29689 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
29690 hints about their use.
29691
29692 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
29693 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
29694 least, the following operations:
29695
29696 @itemize @bullet
29697 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
29698 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
29699 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
29700 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
29701 @end itemize
29702
29703 @end ignore
29704
29705 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
29706
29707 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
29708
29709 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
29710 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
29711 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
29712 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
29713 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
29714 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
29715 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
29716 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
29717 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
29718 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
29719 object, or to change display format.
29720
29721 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
29722 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
29723 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
29724 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
29725 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
29726 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
29727 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
29728 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
29729 child will be created.
29730
29731 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
29732 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
29733 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
29734 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
29735 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
29736
29737 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
29738 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
29739 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
29740 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
29741 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
29742 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
29743 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
29744 variables that frontend has created.
29745
29746 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
29747 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
29748 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
29749 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
29750 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
29751 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
29752 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
29753 implicitly updated.
29754
29755 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
29756 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
29757 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
29758 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
29759 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
29760 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
29761 frame. Consider this example:
29762
29763 @smallexample
29764 void do_work(...)
29765 @{
29766 struct work_state state;
29767
29768 if (...)
29769 do_work(...);
29770 @}
29771 @end smallexample
29772
29773 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
29774 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
29775 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
29776 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
29777 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
29778
29779 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
29780 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
29781 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
29782 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
29783 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
29784 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
29785
29786 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
29787 access this functionality:
29788
29789 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
29790 @item @strong{Operation}
29791 @tab @strong{Description}
29792
29793 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
29794 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
29795 @item @code{-var-create}
29796 @tab create a variable object
29797 @item @code{-var-delete}
29798 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
29799 @item @code{-var-set-format}
29800 @tab set the display format of this variable
29801 @item @code{-var-show-format}
29802 @tab show the display format of this variable
29803 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
29804 @tab tells how many children this object has
29805 @item @code{-var-list-children}
29806 @tab return a list of the object's children
29807 @item @code{-var-info-type}
29808 @tab show the type of this variable object
29809 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
29810 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
29811 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
29812 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
29813 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
29814 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
29815 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
29816 @tab get the value of this variable
29817 @item @code{-var-assign}
29818 @tab set the value of this variable
29819 @item @code{-var-update}
29820 @tab update the variable and its children
29821 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
29822 @tab set frozeness attribute
29823 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
29824 @tab set range of children to display on update
29825 @end multitable
29826
29827 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
29828 how it can be used.
29829
29830 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
29831
29832 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
29833 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
29834
29835 @smallexample
29836 -enable-pretty-printing
29837 @end smallexample
29838
29839 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
29840 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
29841 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
29842 request that this functionality be enabled.
29843
29844 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
29845
29846 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
29847 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
29848
29849 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
29850 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
29851
29852 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
29853 @findex -var-create
29854
29855 @subsubheading Synopsis
29856
29857 @smallexample
29858 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
29859 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
29860 @end smallexample
29861
29862 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
29863 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
29864 register.
29865
29866 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
29867 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
29868 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
29869 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
29870 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
29871
29872 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
29873 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
29874 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
29875 object must be created.
29876
29877 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
29878 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
29879
29880 @itemize @bullet
29881 @item
29882 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
29883
29884 @item
29885 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
29886
29887 @item
29888 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
29889 @end itemize
29890
29891 @cindex dynamic varobj
29892 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
29893 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
29894 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
29895 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
29896 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
29897 compatibility for existing clients.
29898
29899 @subsubheading Result
29900
29901 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
29902 are:
29903
29904 @table @samp
29905 @item name
29906 The name of the varobj.
29907
29908 @item numchild
29909 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
29910 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
29911 @samp{has_more} attribute.
29912
29913 @item value
29914 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
29915 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
29916 will not be interesting.
29917
29918 @item type
29919 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
29920 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
29921 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
29922 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
29923 @emph{declared} one.
29924
29925 @item thread-id
29926 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
29927 thread's identifier.
29928
29929 @item has_more
29930 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
29931 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
29932
29933 @item dynamic
29934 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29935 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29936 then this attribute will not be present.
29937
29938 @item displayhint
29939 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29940 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29941 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29942 @end table
29943
29944 Typical output will look like this:
29945
29946 @smallexample
29947 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
29948 has_more="@var{has_more}"
29949 @end smallexample
29950
29951
29952 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
29953 @findex -var-delete
29954
29955 @subsubheading Synopsis
29956
29957 @smallexample
29958 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
29959 @end smallexample
29960
29961 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
29962 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
29963
29964 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
29965
29966
29967 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
29968 @findex -var-set-format
29969
29970 @subsubheading Synopsis
29971
29972 @smallexample
29973 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
29974 @end smallexample
29975
29976 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
29977 @var{format-spec}.
29978
29979 @anchor{-var-set-format}
29980 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
29981
29982 @smallexample
29983 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
29984 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
29985 @end smallexample
29986
29987 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
29988 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
29989 for pointers, etc.).
29990
29991 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
29992 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
29993
29994 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
29995 @findex -var-show-format
29996
29997 @subsubheading Synopsis
29998
29999 @smallexample
30000 -var-show-format @var{name}
30001 @end smallexample
30002
30003 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
30004
30005 @smallexample
30006 @var{format} @expansion{}
30007 @var{format-spec}
30008 @end smallexample
30009
30010
30011 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
30012 @findex -var-info-num-children
30013
30014 @subsubheading Synopsis
30015
30016 @smallexample
30017 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
30018 @end smallexample
30019
30020 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
30021
30022 @smallexample
30023 numchild=@var{n}
30024 @end smallexample
30025
30026 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
30027 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
30028 be available.
30029
30030
30031 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
30032 @findex -var-list-children
30033
30034 @subsubheading Synopsis
30035
30036 @smallexample
30037 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
30038 @end smallexample
30039 @anchor{-var-list-children}
30040
30041 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
30042 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
30043 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
30044 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
30045 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
30046 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
30047 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
30048 and unions.
30049
30050 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
30051 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
30052 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
30053 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
30054 reported.
30055
30056 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
30057 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
30058 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
30059 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
30060 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
30061 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
30062 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
30063 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
30064 the visible items.
30065
30066 For each child the following results are returned:
30067
30068 @table @var
30069
30070 @item name
30071 Name of the variable object created for this child.
30072
30073 @item exp
30074 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
30075 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
30076
30077 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
30078 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
30079
30080 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
30081 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
30082 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
30083 type and value are not present.
30084
30085 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
30086 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
30087 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
30088
30089 @item numchild
30090 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
30091 0.
30092
30093 @item type
30094 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
30095 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
30096 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
30097 @emph{declared} one.
30098
30099 @item value
30100 If values were requested, this is the value.
30101
30102 @item thread-id
30103 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
30104 Otherwise this result is not present.
30105
30106 @item frozen
30107 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
30108 @end table
30109
30110 The result may have its own attributes:
30111
30112 @table @samp
30113 @item displayhint
30114 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
30115 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
30116 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
30117
30118 @item has_more
30119 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
30120 remaining after the end of the selected range.
30121 @end table
30122
30123 @subsubheading Example
30124
30125 @smallexample
30126 (gdb)
30127 -var-list-children n
30128 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30129 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30130 (gdb)
30131 -var-list-children --all-values n
30132 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
30133 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
30134 @end smallexample
30135
30136
30137 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
30138 @findex -var-info-type
30139
30140 @subsubheading Synopsis
30141
30142 @smallexample
30143 -var-info-type @var{name}
30144 @end smallexample
30145
30146 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
30147 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
30148 @value{GDBN} CLI:
30149
30150 @smallexample
30151 type=@var{typename}
30152 @end smallexample
30153
30154
30155 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
30156 @findex -var-info-expression
30157
30158 @subsubheading Synopsis
30159
30160 @smallexample
30161 -var-info-expression @var{name}
30162 @end smallexample
30163
30164 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
30165 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
30166 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
30167
30168 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
30169 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
30170
30171 @smallexample
30172 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
30173 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
30174 @end smallexample
30175
30176 @noindent
30177 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
30178
30179 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
30180 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
30181 is of limited use.
30182
30183 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
30184 @findex -var-info-path-expression
30185
30186 @subsubheading Synopsis
30187
30188 @smallexample
30189 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
30190 @end smallexample
30191
30192 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
30193 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
30194 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
30195 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
30196 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
30197 watchpoint from a variable object.
30198
30199 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
30200 and will give an error when invoked on one.
30201
30202 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
30203 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
30204 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
30205 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
30206 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
30207 @smallexample
30208 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
30209 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
30210 @end smallexample
30211
30212 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
30213 @findex -var-show-attributes
30214
30215 @subsubheading Synopsis
30216
30217 @smallexample
30218 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
30219 @end smallexample
30220
30221 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
30222
30223 @smallexample
30224 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
30225 @end smallexample
30226
30227 @noindent
30228 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
30229
30230 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
30231 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
30232
30233 @subsubheading Synopsis
30234
30235 @smallexample
30236 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
30237 @end smallexample
30238
30239 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
30240 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
30241 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
30242 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
30243 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
30244 the current display format will be used. The current display format
30245 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
30246
30247 @smallexample
30248 value=@var{value}
30249 @end smallexample
30250
30251 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
30252 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
30253
30254 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
30255 @findex -var-assign
30256
30257 @subsubheading Synopsis
30258
30259 @smallexample
30260 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
30261 @end smallexample
30262
30263 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
30264 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
30265 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
30266 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
30267
30268 @subsubheading Example
30269
30270 @smallexample
30271 (gdb)
30272 -var-assign var1 3
30273 ^done,value="3"
30274 (gdb)
30275 -var-update *
30276 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
30277 (gdb)
30278 @end smallexample
30279
30280 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
30281 @findex -var-update
30282
30283 @subsubheading Synopsis
30284
30285 @smallexample
30286 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
30287 @end smallexample
30288
30289 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
30290 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
30291 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
30292 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
30293 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
30294 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
30295 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
30296 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
30297 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
30298 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
30299 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
30300 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
30301 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
30302
30303 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
30304 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
30305 diagnostic.
30306
30307 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
30308 only the selected range of children will be reported.
30309
30310 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
30311 @samp{changelist}.
30312
30313 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
30314
30315 @table @samp
30316 @item name
30317 The name of the varobj.
30318
30319 @item value
30320 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
30321 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
30322
30323 @item in_scope
30324 @anchor{-var-update}
30325 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
30326
30327 @table @code
30328 @item "true"
30329 The variable object's current value is valid.
30330
30331 @item "false"
30332 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
30333 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
30334 scope.
30335
30336 @item "invalid"
30337 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
30338 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
30339 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
30340 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
30341 objects.
30342 @end table
30343
30344 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
30345 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
30346
30347 @item type_changed
30348 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
30349 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
30350 be @samp{false}.
30351
30352 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
30353 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
30354 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
30355 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
30356 unset.
30357
30358 @item new_type
30359 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
30360 hold the new type.
30361
30362 @item new_num_children
30363 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
30364 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
30365
30366 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
30367 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
30368 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
30369 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
30370 children which may be available.
30371
30372 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
30373 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
30374 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
30375 only happen at the end of the update range).
30376
30377 @item displayhint
30378 The display hint, if any.
30379
30380 @item has_more
30381 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
30382 available outside the varobj's update range.
30383
30384 @item dynamic
30385 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
30386 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
30387 then this attribute will not be present.
30388
30389 @item new_children
30390 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
30391 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
30392 be listed in this attribute.
30393 @end table
30394
30395 @subsubheading Example
30396
30397 @smallexample
30398 (gdb)
30399 -var-assign var1 3
30400 ^done,value="3"
30401 (gdb)
30402 -var-update --all-values var1
30403 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
30404 type_changed="false"@}]
30405 (gdb)
30406 @end smallexample
30407
30408 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
30409 @findex -var-set-frozen
30410 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
30411
30412 @subsubheading Synopsis
30413
30414 @smallexample
30415 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
30416 @end smallexample
30417
30418 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
30419 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
30420 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
30421 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
30422 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
30423 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
30424 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
30425 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
30426 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
30427 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
30428 @code{-var-update} does.
30429
30430 @subsubheading Example
30431
30432 @smallexample
30433 (gdb)
30434 -var-set-frozen V 1
30435 ^done
30436 (gdb)
30437 @end smallexample
30438
30439 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
30440 @findex -var-set-update-range
30441 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
30442
30443 @subsubheading Synopsis
30444
30445 @smallexample
30446 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
30447 @end smallexample
30448
30449 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
30450 @code{-var-update}.
30451
30452 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
30453 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
30454 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
30455 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
30456
30457 @subsubheading Example
30458
30459 @smallexample
30460 (gdb)
30461 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
30462 ^done
30463 @end smallexample
30464
30465 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
30466 @findex -var-set-visualizer
30467 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
30468
30469 @subsubheading Synopsis
30470
30471 @smallexample
30472 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
30473 @end smallexample
30474
30475 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
30476
30477 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
30478 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
30479
30480 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
30481 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
30482 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
30483 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
30484 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
30485 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
30486 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
30487
30488 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
30489 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
30490 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
30491 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
30492
30493 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
30494 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
30495 can be used to check this.
30496
30497 @subsubheading Example
30498
30499 Resetting the visualizer:
30500
30501 @smallexample
30502 (gdb)
30503 -var-set-visualizer V None
30504 ^done
30505 @end smallexample
30506
30507 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
30508
30509 @smallexample
30510 (gdb)
30511 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
30512 ^done
30513 @end smallexample
30514
30515 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
30516 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
30517
30518 @smallexample
30519 (gdb)
30520 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
30521 ^done
30522 @end smallexample
30523
30524 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30525 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
30526 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
30527
30528 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
30529 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
30530 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
30531 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
30532
30533 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
30534 @c @subheading -data-assign
30535 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
30536 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
30537 @c set variable
30538 @c @subsubheading Example
30539 @c N.A.
30540
30541 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
30542 @findex -data-disassemble
30543
30544 @subsubheading Synopsis
30545
30546 @smallexample
30547 -data-disassemble
30548 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
30549 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
30550 -- @var{mode}
30551 @end smallexample
30552
30553 @noindent
30554 Where:
30555
30556 @table @samp
30557 @item @var{start-addr}
30558 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
30559 @item @var{end-addr}
30560 is the end address
30561 @item @var{filename}
30562 is the name of the file to disassemble
30563 @item @var{linenum}
30564 is the line number to disassemble around
30565 @item @var{lines}
30566 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
30567 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
30568 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
30569 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
30570 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
30571 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
30572 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
30573 are displayed.
30574 @item @var{mode}
30575 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
30576 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
30577 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
30578 @end table
30579
30580 @subsubheading Result
30581
30582 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
30583
30584 @itemize @bullet
30585 @item Address
30586 @item Func-name
30587 @item Offset
30588 @item Instruction
30589 @end itemize
30590
30591 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
30592 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
30593
30594 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30595
30596 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
30597
30598 @subsubheading Example
30599
30600 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
30601
30602 @smallexample
30603 (gdb)
30604 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
30605 ^done,
30606 asm_insns=[
30607 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30608 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30609 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30610 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30611 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
30612 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
30613 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
30614 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30615 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
30616 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
30617 (gdb)
30618 @end smallexample
30619
30620 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
30621 @code{main}.
30622
30623 @smallexample
30624 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
30625 ^done,asm_insns=[
30626 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30627 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
30628 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30629 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30630 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30631 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
30632 [@dots{}]
30633 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
30634 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
30635 (gdb)
30636 @end smallexample
30637
30638 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
30639
30640 @smallexample
30641 (gdb)
30642 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
30643 ^done,asm_insns=[
30644 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30645 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
30646 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30647 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30648 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30649 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
30650 (gdb)
30651 @end smallexample
30652
30653 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
30654
30655 @smallexample
30656 (gdb)
30657 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
30658 ^done,asm_insns=[
30659 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
30660 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
30661 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
30662 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
30663 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
30664 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
30665 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
30666 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
30667 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
30668 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
30669 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
30670 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
30671 (gdb)
30672 @end smallexample
30673
30674
30675 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
30676 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
30677
30678 @subsubheading Synopsis
30679
30680 @smallexample
30681 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
30682 @end smallexample
30683
30684 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
30685 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
30686 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
30687
30688 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30689
30690 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
30691 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
30692 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
30693
30694 @subsubheading Example
30695
30696 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
30697 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
30698 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
30699 output.
30700
30701 @smallexample
30702 211-data-evaluate-expression A
30703 211^done,value="1"
30704 (gdb)
30705 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
30706 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
30707 (gdb)
30708 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
30709 411^done,value="4"
30710 (gdb)
30711 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
30712 511^done,value="4"
30713 (gdb)
30714 @end smallexample
30715
30716
30717 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
30718 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
30719
30720 @subsubheading Synopsis
30721
30722 @smallexample
30723 -data-list-changed-registers
30724 @end smallexample
30725
30726 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
30727
30728 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30729
30730 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
30731 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
30732
30733 @subsubheading Example
30734
30735 On a PPC MBX board:
30736
30737 @smallexample
30738 (gdb)
30739 -exec-continue
30740 ^running
30741
30742 (gdb)
30743 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
30744 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
30745 line="5"@}
30746 (gdb)
30747 -data-list-changed-registers
30748 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
30749 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
30750 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
30751 (gdb)
30752 @end smallexample
30753
30754
30755 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
30756 @findex -data-list-register-names
30757
30758 @subsubheading Synopsis
30759
30760 @smallexample
30761 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
30762 @end smallexample
30763
30764 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
30765 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
30766 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
30767 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
30768 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
30769 include empty register names.
30770
30771 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30772
30773 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
30774 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
30775 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
30776
30777 @subsubheading Example
30778
30779 For the PPC MBX board:
30780 @smallexample
30781 (gdb)
30782 -data-list-register-names
30783 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
30784 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
30785 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
30786 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
30787 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
30788 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
30789 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
30790 (gdb)
30791 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
30792 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
30793 (gdb)
30794 @end smallexample
30795
30796 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
30797 @findex -data-list-register-values
30798
30799 @subsubheading Synopsis
30800
30801 @smallexample
30802 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
30803 @end smallexample
30804
30805 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
30806 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
30807 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
30808 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
30809
30810 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
30811
30812 @table @code
30813 @item x
30814 Hexadecimal
30815 @item o
30816 Octal
30817 @item t
30818 Binary
30819 @item d
30820 Decimal
30821 @item r
30822 Raw
30823 @item N
30824 Natural
30825 @end table
30826
30827 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30828
30829 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
30830 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
30831
30832 @subsubheading Example
30833
30834 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
30835 don't appear in the actual output):
30836
30837 @smallexample
30838 (gdb)
30839 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
30840 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30841 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
30842 (gdb)
30843 -data-list-register-values x
30844 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
30845 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30846 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
30847 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
30848 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
30849 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
30850 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
30851 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
30852 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
30853 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30854 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
30855 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
30856 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
30857 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
30858 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
30859 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
30860 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
30861 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
30862 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
30863 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
30864 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
30865 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
30866 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
30867 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
30868 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
30869 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
30870 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
30871 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
30872 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
30873 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
30874 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
30875 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
30876 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30877 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
30878 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
30879 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
30880 (gdb)
30881 @end smallexample
30882
30883
30884 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
30885 @findex -data-read-memory
30886
30887 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
30888
30889 @subsubheading Synopsis
30890
30891 @smallexample
30892 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
30893 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
30894 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
30895 @end smallexample
30896
30897 @noindent
30898 where:
30899
30900 @table @samp
30901 @item @var{address}
30902 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30903 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30904 quoted using the C convention.
30905
30906 @item @var{word-format}
30907 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
30908 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
30909 ,Output Formats}).
30910
30911 @item @var{word-size}
30912 The size of each memory word in bytes.
30913
30914 @item @var{nr-rows}
30915 The number of rows in the output table.
30916
30917 @item @var{nr-cols}
30918 The number of columns in the output table.
30919
30920 @item @var{aschar}
30921 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
30922 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
30923 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
30924 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
30925
30926 @item @var{byte-offset}
30927 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
30928 @end table
30929
30930 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
30931 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
30932 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
30933 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
30934 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
30935 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
30936 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
30937 @samp{addr}.
30938
30939 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
30940 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
30941 @samp{prev-page}.
30942
30943 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30944
30945 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
30946 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
30947
30948 @subsubheading Example
30949
30950 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
30951 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
30952 word. Display each word in hex.
30953
30954 @smallexample
30955 (gdb)
30956 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
30957 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
30958 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
30959 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
30960 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
30961 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
30962 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
30963 (gdb)
30964 @end smallexample
30965
30966 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
30967 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
30968
30969 @smallexample
30970 (gdb)
30971 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
30972 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
30973 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
30974 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
30975 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
30976 (gdb)
30977 @end smallexample
30978
30979 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
30980 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
30981 used as the non-printable character.
30982
30983 @smallexample
30984 (gdb)
30985 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
30986 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
30987 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
30988 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
30989 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30990 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30991 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30992 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30993 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
30994 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
30995 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
30996 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
30997 (gdb)
30998 @end smallexample
30999
31000 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
31001 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
31002
31003 @subsubheading Synopsis
31004
31005 @smallexample
31006 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
31007 @var{address} @var{count}
31008 @end smallexample
31009
31010 @noindent
31011 where:
31012
31013 @table @samp
31014 @item @var{address}
31015 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31016 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31017 quoted using the C convention.
31018
31019 @item @var{count}
31020 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
31021
31022 @item @var{byte-offset}
31023 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
31024 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
31025 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
31026 perform address arithmetics itself.
31027
31028 @end table
31029
31030 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
31031 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
31032 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
31033 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
31034 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
31035 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
31036
31037 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
31038 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
31039 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
31040 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
31041 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
31042 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
31043 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
31044 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
31045
31046 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
31047 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
31048 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
31049 and has the following fields:
31050
31051 @table @code
31052 @item begin
31053 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31054
31055 @item end
31056 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
31057
31058 @item offset
31059 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
31060 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
31061
31062 @item contents
31063 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
31064
31065 @end table
31066
31067
31068
31069 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31070
31071 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
31072
31073 @subsubheading Example
31074
31075 @smallexample
31076 (gdb)
31077 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
31078 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
31079 end="0xbffff15e",
31080 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
31081 (gdb)
31082 @end smallexample
31083
31084
31085 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
31086 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
31087
31088 @subsubheading Synopsis
31089
31090 @smallexample
31091 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
31092 @end smallexample
31093
31094 @noindent
31095 where:
31096
31097 @table @samp
31098 @item @var{address}
31099 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
31100 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
31101 quoted using the C convention.
31102
31103 @item @var{contents}
31104 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
31105
31106 @end table
31107
31108 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31109
31110 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31111
31112 @subsubheading Example
31113
31114 @smallexample
31115 (gdb)
31116 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
31117 ^done
31118 (gdb)
31119 @end smallexample
31120
31121
31122 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31123 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
31124 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
31125
31126 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
31127 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
31128
31129 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
31130 @findex -trace-find
31131
31132 @subsubheading Synopsis
31133
31134 @smallexample
31135 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
31136 @end smallexample
31137
31138 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
31139 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
31140 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
31141
31142 @table @samp
31143
31144 @item none
31145 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
31146
31147 @item frame-number
31148 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
31149 that index.
31150
31151 @item tracepoint-number
31152 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
31153 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
31154
31155 @item pc
31156 An address is required as parameter. Finds
31157 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
31158 address.
31159
31160 @item pc-inside-range
31161 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
31162 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
31163 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31164
31165 @item pc-outside-range
31166 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
31167 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
31168 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
31169
31170 @item line
31171 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
31172 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
31173 the specified location.
31174
31175 @end table
31176
31177 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
31178 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
31179
31180 @table @samp
31181 @item found
31182 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
31183 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
31184
31185 @item traceframe
31186 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
31187 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31188
31189 @item tracepoint
31190 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
31191 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
31192
31193 @item frame
31194 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
31195 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
31196 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
31197
31198 @end table
31199
31200 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31201
31202 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
31203
31204 @subheading -trace-define-variable
31205 @findex -trace-define-variable
31206
31207 @subsubheading Synopsis
31208
31209 @smallexample
31210 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
31211 @end smallexample
31212
31213 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
31214 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
31215 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
31216 with the @samp{$} character.
31217
31218 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31219
31220 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
31221
31222 @subheading -trace-list-variables
31223 @findex -trace-list-variables
31224
31225 @subsubheading Synopsis
31226
31227 @smallexample
31228 -trace-list-variables
31229 @end smallexample
31230
31231 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
31232 table has the following fields:
31233
31234 @table @samp
31235 @item name
31236 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
31237
31238 @item initial
31239 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
31240 field is always present.
31241
31242 @item current
31243 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
31244 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
31245 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
31246 presently running.
31247
31248 @end table
31249
31250 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31251
31252 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
31253
31254 @subsubheading Example
31255
31256 @smallexample
31257 (gdb)
31258 -trace-list-variables
31259 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
31260 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
31261 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
31262 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
31263 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
31264 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
31265 (gdb)
31266 @end smallexample
31267
31268 @subheading -trace-save
31269 @findex -trace-save
31270
31271 @subsubheading Synopsis
31272
31273 @smallexample
31274 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
31275 @end smallexample
31276
31277 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
31278 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
31279 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
31280 to perform the save.
31281
31282 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31283
31284 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
31285
31286
31287 @subheading -trace-start
31288 @findex -trace-start
31289
31290 @subsubheading Synopsis
31291
31292 @smallexample
31293 -trace-start
31294 @end smallexample
31295
31296 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
31297 have any fields.
31298
31299 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31300
31301 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
31302
31303 @subheading -trace-status
31304 @findex -trace-status
31305
31306 @subsubheading Synopsis
31307
31308 @smallexample
31309 -trace-status
31310 @end smallexample
31311
31312 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
31313 the following fields:
31314
31315 @table @samp
31316
31317 @item supported
31318 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
31319 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
31320 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
31321 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
31322 started. This field is always present.
31323
31324 @item running
31325 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
31326 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
31327 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31328
31329 @item stop-reason
31330 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
31331 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
31332 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
31333 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
31334 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
31335 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
31336 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
31337 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
31338 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
31339
31340 @item stopping-tracepoint
31341 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
31342 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
31343 @samp{passcount}.
31344
31345 @item frames
31346 @itemx frames-created
31347 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
31348 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
31349 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
31350 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
31351
31352 @item buffer-size
31353 @itemx buffer-free
31354 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
31355 remaining space. These fields are optional.
31356
31357 @item circular
31358 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
31359 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
31360 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
31361 and may fill up.
31362
31363 @item disconnected
31364 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
31365 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
31366 that the trace run will stop.
31367
31368 @end table
31369
31370 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31371
31372 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
31373
31374 @subheading -trace-stop
31375 @findex -trace-stop
31376
31377 @subsubheading Synopsis
31378
31379 @smallexample
31380 -trace-stop
31381 @end smallexample
31382
31383 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
31384 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
31385 @samp{running} fields are not output.
31386
31387 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31388
31389 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
31390
31391
31392 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31393 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
31394 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
31395
31396
31397 @ignore
31398 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
31399 @findex -symbol-info-address
31400
31401 @subsubheading Synopsis
31402
31403 @smallexample
31404 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
31405 @end smallexample
31406
31407 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
31408
31409 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31410
31411 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
31412
31413 @subsubheading Example
31414 N.A.
31415
31416
31417 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
31418 @findex -symbol-info-file
31419
31420 @subsubheading Synopsis
31421
31422 @smallexample
31423 -symbol-info-file
31424 @end smallexample
31425
31426 Show the file for the symbol.
31427
31428 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31429
31430 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
31431 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
31432
31433 @subsubheading Example
31434 N.A.
31435
31436
31437 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
31438 @findex -symbol-info-function
31439
31440 @subsubheading Synopsis
31441
31442 @smallexample
31443 -symbol-info-function
31444 @end smallexample
31445
31446 Show which function the symbol lives in.
31447
31448 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31449
31450 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
31451
31452 @subsubheading Example
31453 N.A.
31454
31455
31456 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
31457 @findex -symbol-info-line
31458
31459 @subsubheading Synopsis
31460
31461 @smallexample
31462 -symbol-info-line
31463 @end smallexample
31464
31465 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
31466
31467 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31468
31469 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
31470 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
31471
31472 @subsubheading Example
31473 N.A.
31474
31475
31476 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
31477 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
31478
31479 @subsubheading Synopsis
31480
31481 @smallexample
31482 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
31483 @end smallexample
31484
31485 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
31486
31487 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31488
31489 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
31490
31491 @subsubheading Example
31492 N.A.
31493
31494
31495 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
31496 @findex -symbol-list-functions
31497
31498 @subsubheading Synopsis
31499
31500 @smallexample
31501 -symbol-list-functions
31502 @end smallexample
31503
31504 List the functions in the executable.
31505
31506 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31507
31508 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
31509 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31510
31511 @subsubheading Example
31512 N.A.
31513 @end ignore
31514
31515
31516 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
31517 @findex -symbol-list-lines
31518
31519 @subsubheading Synopsis
31520
31521 @smallexample
31522 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
31523 @end smallexample
31524
31525 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
31526 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
31527 ascending PC order.
31528
31529 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31530
31531 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31532
31533 @subsubheading Example
31534 @smallexample
31535 (gdb)
31536 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
31537 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
31538 (gdb)
31539 @end smallexample
31540
31541
31542 @ignore
31543 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
31544 @findex -symbol-list-types
31545
31546 @subsubheading Synopsis
31547
31548 @smallexample
31549 -symbol-list-types
31550 @end smallexample
31551
31552 List all the type names.
31553
31554 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31555
31556 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
31557 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31558
31559 @subsubheading Example
31560 N.A.
31561
31562
31563 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
31564 @findex -symbol-list-variables
31565
31566 @subsubheading Synopsis
31567
31568 @smallexample
31569 -symbol-list-variables
31570 @end smallexample
31571
31572 List all the global and static variable names.
31573
31574 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31575
31576 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31577
31578 @subsubheading Example
31579 N.A.
31580
31581
31582 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
31583 @findex -symbol-locate
31584
31585 @subsubheading Synopsis
31586
31587 @smallexample
31588 -symbol-locate
31589 @end smallexample
31590
31591 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31592
31593 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
31594
31595 @subsubheading Example
31596 N.A.
31597
31598
31599 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
31600 @findex -symbol-type
31601
31602 @subsubheading Synopsis
31603
31604 @smallexample
31605 -symbol-type @var{variable}
31606 @end smallexample
31607
31608 Show type of @var{variable}.
31609
31610 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31611
31612 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
31613 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
31614
31615 @subsubheading Example
31616 N.A.
31617 @end ignore
31618
31619
31620 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31621 @node GDB/MI File Commands
31622 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
31623
31624 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
31625 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
31626
31627 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
31628 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
31629
31630 @subsubheading Synopsis
31631
31632 @smallexample
31633 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
31634 @end smallexample
31635
31636 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
31637 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
31638 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
31639 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
31640 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
31641 notification.
31642
31643 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31644
31645 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
31646
31647 @subsubheading Example
31648
31649 @smallexample
31650 (gdb)
31651 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31652 ^done
31653 (gdb)
31654 @end smallexample
31655
31656
31657 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
31658 @findex -file-exec-file
31659
31660 @subsubheading Synopsis
31661
31662 @smallexample
31663 -file-exec-file @var{file}
31664 @end smallexample
31665
31666 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
31667 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
31668 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
31669 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
31670 notification.
31671
31672 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31673
31674 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
31675
31676 @subsubheading Example
31677
31678 @smallexample
31679 (gdb)
31680 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31681 ^done
31682 (gdb)
31683 @end smallexample
31684
31685
31686 @ignore
31687 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
31688 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
31689
31690 @subsubheading Synopsis
31691
31692 @smallexample
31693 -file-list-exec-sections
31694 @end smallexample
31695
31696 List the sections of the current executable file.
31697
31698 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31699
31700 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
31701 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
31702 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
31703
31704 @subsubheading Example
31705 N.A.
31706 @end ignore
31707
31708
31709 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
31710 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
31711
31712 @subsubheading Synopsis
31713
31714 @smallexample
31715 -file-list-exec-source-file
31716 @end smallexample
31717
31718 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
31719 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
31720 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
31721 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
31722
31723 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31724
31725 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
31726
31727 @subsubheading Example
31728
31729 @smallexample
31730 (gdb)
31731 123-file-list-exec-source-file
31732 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
31733 (gdb)
31734 @end smallexample
31735
31736
31737 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
31738 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
31739
31740 @subsubheading Synopsis
31741
31742 @smallexample
31743 -file-list-exec-source-files
31744 @end smallexample
31745
31746 List the source files for the current executable.
31747
31748 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
31749 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
31750
31751 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31752
31753 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
31754 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
31755
31756 @subsubheading Example
31757 @smallexample
31758 (gdb)
31759 -file-list-exec-source-files
31760 ^done,files=[
31761 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
31762 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
31763 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
31764 (gdb)
31765 @end smallexample
31766
31767 @ignore
31768 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
31769 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
31770
31771 @subsubheading Synopsis
31772
31773 @smallexample
31774 -file-list-shared-libraries
31775 @end smallexample
31776
31777 List the shared libraries in the program.
31778
31779 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31780
31781 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
31782
31783 @subsubheading Example
31784 N.A.
31785
31786
31787 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
31788 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
31789
31790 @subsubheading Synopsis
31791
31792 @smallexample
31793 -file-list-symbol-files
31794 @end smallexample
31795
31796 List symbol files.
31797
31798 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31799
31800 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
31801
31802 @subsubheading Example
31803 N.A.
31804 @end ignore
31805
31806
31807 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
31808 @findex -file-symbol-file
31809
31810 @subsubheading Synopsis
31811
31812 @smallexample
31813 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
31814 @end smallexample
31815
31816 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
31817 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
31818 produced, except for a completion notification.
31819
31820 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31821
31822 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
31823
31824 @subsubheading Example
31825
31826 @smallexample
31827 (gdb)
31828 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31829 ^done
31830 (gdb)
31831 @end smallexample
31832
31833 @ignore
31834 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31835 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
31836 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
31837
31838 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
31839
31840 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
31841
31842 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
31843
31844 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
31845
31846 @c @subheading -overlay-map
31847
31848 @c @subheading -overlay-off
31849
31850 @c @subheading -overlay-on
31851
31852 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
31853
31854 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31855 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
31856 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
31857
31858 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
31859
31860 @c @subheading -signal-handle
31861
31862 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
31863
31864 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
31865 @end ignore
31866
31867
31868 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31869 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
31870 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
31871
31872
31873 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
31874 @findex -target-attach
31875
31876 @subsubheading Synopsis
31877
31878 @smallexample
31879 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
31880 @end smallexample
31881
31882 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
31883 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
31884 group, the id previously returned by
31885 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
31886
31887 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31888
31889 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
31890
31891 @subsubheading Example
31892 @smallexample
31893 (gdb)
31894 -target-attach 34
31895 =thread-created,id="1"
31896 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
31897 ^done
31898 (gdb)
31899 @end smallexample
31900
31901 @ignore
31902 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
31903 @findex -target-compare-sections
31904
31905 @subsubheading Synopsis
31906
31907 @smallexample
31908 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
31909 @end smallexample
31910
31911 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
31912 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
31913
31914 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31915
31916 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
31917
31918 @subsubheading Example
31919 N.A.
31920 @end ignore
31921
31922
31923 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
31924 @findex -target-detach
31925
31926 @subsubheading Synopsis
31927
31928 @smallexample
31929 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
31930 @end smallexample
31931
31932 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
31933 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
31934 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
31935
31936 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31937
31938 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
31939
31940 @subsubheading Example
31941
31942 @smallexample
31943 (gdb)
31944 -target-detach
31945 ^done
31946 (gdb)
31947 @end smallexample
31948
31949
31950 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
31951 @findex -target-disconnect
31952
31953 @subsubheading Synopsis
31954
31955 @smallexample
31956 -target-disconnect
31957 @end smallexample
31958
31959 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
31960 generally not resumed.
31961
31962 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31963
31964 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
31965
31966 @subsubheading Example
31967
31968 @smallexample
31969 (gdb)
31970 -target-disconnect
31971 ^done
31972 (gdb)
31973 @end smallexample
31974
31975
31976 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
31977 @findex -target-download
31978
31979 @subsubheading Synopsis
31980
31981 @smallexample
31982 -target-download
31983 @end smallexample
31984
31985 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
31986 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
31987
31988 @table @samp
31989 @item section
31990 The name of the section.
31991 @item section-sent
31992 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
31993 @item section-size
31994 The size of the section.
31995 @item total-sent
31996 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
31997 @item total-size
31998 The size of the overall executable to download.
31999 @end table
32000
32001 @noindent
32002 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
32003 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
32004
32005 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
32006 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
32007
32008 @table @samp
32009 @item section
32010 The name of the section.
32011 @item section-size
32012 The size of the section.
32013 @item total-size
32014 The size of the overall executable to download.
32015 @end table
32016
32017 @noindent
32018 At the end, a summary is printed.
32019
32020 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32021
32022 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
32023
32024 @subsubheading Example
32025
32026 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
32027 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
32028
32029 @smallexample
32030 (gdb)
32031 -target-download
32032 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
32033 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
32034 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
32035 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
32036 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
32037 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
32038 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
32039 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
32040 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
32041 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
32042 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
32043 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
32044 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
32045 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
32046 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
32047 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
32048 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
32049 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
32050 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
32051 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
32052 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
32053 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
32054 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
32055 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
32056 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
32057 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
32058 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
32059 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32060 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
32061 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
32062 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
32063 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
32064 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
32065 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
32066 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
32067 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
32068 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
32069 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
32070 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
32071 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
32072 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
32073 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
32074 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
32075 write-rate="429"
32076 (gdb)
32077 @end smallexample
32078
32079
32080 @ignore
32081 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
32082 @findex -target-exec-status
32083
32084 @subsubheading Synopsis
32085
32086 @smallexample
32087 -target-exec-status
32088 @end smallexample
32089
32090 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
32091 not, for instance).
32092
32093 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32094
32095 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
32096
32097 @subsubheading Example
32098 N.A.
32099
32100
32101 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
32102 @findex -target-list-available-targets
32103
32104 @subsubheading Synopsis
32105
32106 @smallexample
32107 -target-list-available-targets
32108 @end smallexample
32109
32110 List the possible targets to connect to.
32111
32112 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32113
32114 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
32115
32116 @subsubheading Example
32117 N.A.
32118
32119
32120 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
32121 @findex -target-list-current-targets
32122
32123 @subsubheading Synopsis
32124
32125 @smallexample
32126 -target-list-current-targets
32127 @end smallexample
32128
32129 Describe the current target.
32130
32131 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32132
32133 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
32134 other things).
32135
32136 @subsubheading Example
32137 N.A.
32138
32139
32140 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
32141 @findex -target-list-parameters
32142
32143 @subsubheading Synopsis
32144
32145 @smallexample
32146 -target-list-parameters
32147 @end smallexample
32148
32149 @c ????
32150 @end ignore
32151
32152 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32153
32154 No equivalent.
32155
32156 @subsubheading Example
32157 N.A.
32158
32159
32160 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
32161 @findex -target-select
32162
32163 @subsubheading Synopsis
32164
32165 @smallexample
32166 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
32167 @end smallexample
32168
32169 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
32170
32171 @table @samp
32172 @item @var{type}
32173 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
32174 @item @var{parameters}
32175 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
32176 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
32177 @end table
32178
32179 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
32180 which the target program is, in the following form:
32181
32182 @smallexample
32183 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
32184 args=[@var{arg list}]
32185 @end smallexample
32186
32187 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32188
32189 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
32190
32191 @subsubheading Example
32192
32193 @smallexample
32194 (gdb)
32195 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
32196 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
32197 (gdb)
32198 @end smallexample
32199
32200 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32201 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
32202 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
32203
32204
32205 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
32206 @findex -target-file-put
32207
32208 @subsubheading Synopsis
32209
32210 @smallexample
32211 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
32212 @end smallexample
32213
32214 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
32215 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
32216
32217 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32218
32219 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
32220
32221 @subsubheading Example
32222
32223 @smallexample
32224 (gdb)
32225 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
32226 ^done
32227 (gdb)
32228 @end smallexample
32229
32230
32231 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
32232 @findex -target-file-get
32233
32234 @subsubheading Synopsis
32235
32236 @smallexample
32237 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
32238 @end smallexample
32239
32240 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
32241 on the host system.
32242
32243 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32244
32245 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
32246
32247 @subsubheading Example
32248
32249 @smallexample
32250 (gdb)
32251 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
32252 ^done
32253 (gdb)
32254 @end smallexample
32255
32256
32257 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
32258 @findex -target-file-delete
32259
32260 @subsubheading Synopsis
32261
32262 @smallexample
32263 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
32264 @end smallexample
32265
32266 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
32267
32268 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32269
32270 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
32271
32272 @subsubheading Example
32273
32274 @smallexample
32275 (gdb)
32276 -target-file-delete remotefile
32277 ^done
32278 (gdb)
32279 @end smallexample
32280
32281
32282 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32283 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
32284 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
32285
32286 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
32287
32288 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
32289 @findex -gdb-exit
32290
32291 @subsubheading Synopsis
32292
32293 @smallexample
32294 -gdb-exit
32295 @end smallexample
32296
32297 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
32298
32299 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32300
32301 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
32302
32303 @subsubheading Example
32304
32305 @smallexample
32306 (gdb)
32307 -gdb-exit
32308 ^exit
32309 @end smallexample
32310
32311
32312 @ignore
32313 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
32314 @findex -exec-abort
32315
32316 @subsubheading Synopsis
32317
32318 @smallexample
32319 -exec-abort
32320 @end smallexample
32321
32322 Kill the inferior running program.
32323
32324 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32325
32326 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
32327
32328 @subsubheading Example
32329 N.A.
32330 @end ignore
32331
32332
32333 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
32334 @findex -gdb-set
32335
32336 @subsubheading Synopsis
32337
32338 @smallexample
32339 -gdb-set
32340 @end smallexample
32341
32342 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
32343 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
32344
32345 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32346
32347 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
32348
32349 @subsubheading Example
32350
32351 @smallexample
32352 (gdb)
32353 -gdb-set $foo=3
32354 ^done
32355 (gdb)
32356 @end smallexample
32357
32358
32359 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
32360 @findex -gdb-show
32361
32362 @subsubheading Synopsis
32363
32364 @smallexample
32365 -gdb-show
32366 @end smallexample
32367
32368 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
32369
32370 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32371
32372 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
32373
32374 @subsubheading Example
32375
32376 @smallexample
32377 (gdb)
32378 -gdb-show annotate
32379 ^done,value="0"
32380 (gdb)
32381 @end smallexample
32382
32383 @c @subheading -gdb-source
32384
32385
32386 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
32387 @findex -gdb-version
32388
32389 @subsubheading Synopsis
32390
32391 @smallexample
32392 -gdb-version
32393 @end smallexample
32394
32395 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
32396
32397 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32398
32399 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
32400 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
32401
32402 @subsubheading Example
32403
32404 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
32405 @c box in TeX.
32406 @smallexample
32407 (gdb)
32408 -gdb-version
32409 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
32410 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32411 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
32412 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
32413 ~ certain conditions.
32414 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32415 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
32416 ~ details.
32417 ~This GDB was configured as
32418 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
32419 ^done
32420 (gdb)
32421 @end smallexample
32422
32423 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
32424 @findex -list-features
32425
32426 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
32427 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
32428 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
32429 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
32430 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
32431 startup.
32432
32433 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
32434 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
32435 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
32436 is given below.
32437
32438 Example output:
32439
32440 @smallexample
32441 (gdb) -list-features
32442 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
32443 @end smallexample
32444
32445 The current list of features is:
32446
32447 @table @samp
32448 @item frozen-varobjs
32449 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
32450 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
32451 of @code{-varobj-create}.
32452 @item pending-breakpoints
32453 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
32454 command.
32455 @item python
32456 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
32457 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
32458 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
32459 @item thread-info
32460 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
32461 @item data-read-memory-bytes
32462 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
32463 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
32464 @item breakpoint-notifications
32465 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
32466 CLI will be announced via async records.
32467 @item ada-task-info
32468 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
32469 @end table
32470
32471 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
32472 @findex -list-target-features
32473
32474 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
32475 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
32476 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
32477 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
32478 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
32479 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
32480 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
32481 Example output:
32482
32483 @smallexample
32484 (gdb) -list-features
32485 ^done,result=["async"]
32486 @end smallexample
32487
32488 The current list of features is:
32489
32490 @table @samp
32491 @item async
32492 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
32493 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
32494 while the target is running.
32495
32496 @item reverse
32497 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
32498 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
32499
32500 @end table
32501
32502 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
32503 @findex -list-thread-groups
32504
32505 @subheading Synopsis
32506
32507 @smallexample
32508 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
32509 @end smallexample
32510
32511 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
32512 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
32513 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
32514 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
32515 top-level thread groups.
32516
32517 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
32518 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
32519 available on the target.
32520
32521 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
32522 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
32523 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
32524 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
32525 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
32526 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
32527 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
32528 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
32529
32530 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
32531 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
32532 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
32533 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
32534 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
32535 @samp{threads} field.
32536
32537 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
32538 the following caveats:
32539
32540 @itemize @bullet
32541 @item
32542 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
32543 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
32544 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
32545
32546 @item
32547 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
32548 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
32549 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
32550 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
32551 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
32552 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
32553
32554 @end itemize
32555
32556 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
32557 have the following fields:
32558
32559 @table @code
32560 @item id
32561 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
32562 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
32563 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
32564
32565 @item type
32566 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
32567 valid type.
32568
32569 @item pid
32570 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
32571 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
32572
32573 @item num_children
32574 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
32575 absent for an available thread group.
32576
32577 @item threads
32578 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
32579 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
32580 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
32581
32582 @item cores
32583 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
32584 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
32585 such information is not available.
32586
32587 @item executable
32588 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
32589 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
32590 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
32591
32592 @end table
32593
32594 @subheading Example
32595
32596 @smallexample
32597 @value{GDBP}
32598 -list-thread-groups
32599 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
32600 -list-thread-groups 17
32601 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
32602 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
32603 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
32604 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
32605 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
32606 -list-thread-groups --available
32607 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
32608 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
32609 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32610 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32611 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
32612 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
32613 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32614 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32615 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
32616 @end smallexample
32617
32618 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
32619 @findex -info-os
32620
32621 @subsubheading Synopsis
32622
32623 @smallexample
32624 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
32625 @end smallexample
32626
32627 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
32628 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
32629 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
32630 of data of that type.
32631
32632 The types of information available depend on the target operating
32633 system.
32634
32635 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32636
32637 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
32638
32639 @subsubheading Example
32640
32641 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
32642 like this:
32643
32644 @smallexample
32645 @value{GDBP}
32646 -info-os
32647 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="2",
32648 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
32649 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@}],
32650 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes"@},
32651 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups"@},
32652 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads"@},
32653 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors"@},
32654 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets"@},
32655 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions"@},
32656 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores"@},
32657 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues"@},
32658 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules"@}]@}
32659 @value{GDBP}
32660 -info-os processes
32661 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
32662 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
32663 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
32664 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
32665 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
32666 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
32667 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
32668 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
32669 ...
32670 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
32671 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
32672 (gdb)
32673 @end smallexample
32674
32675 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
32676 @findex -add-inferior
32677
32678 @subheading Synopsis
32679
32680 @smallexample
32681 -add-inferior
32682 @end smallexample
32683
32684 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
32685 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
32686 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
32687 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
32688 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
32689 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
32690
32691 @subheading Example
32692
32693 @smallexample
32694 @value{GDBP}
32695 -add-inferior
32696 ^done,thread-group="i3"
32697 @end smallexample
32698
32699 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
32700 @findex -interpreter-exec
32701
32702 @subheading Synopsis
32703
32704 @smallexample
32705 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
32706 @end smallexample
32707 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
32708
32709 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
32710
32711 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32712
32713 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
32714
32715 @subheading Example
32716
32717 @smallexample
32718 (gdb)
32719 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
32720 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
32721 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
32722 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
32723 ^done
32724 (gdb)
32725 @end smallexample
32726
32727 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
32728 @findex -inferior-tty-set
32729
32730 @subheading Synopsis
32731
32732 @smallexample
32733 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32734 @end smallexample
32735
32736 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
32737
32738 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32739
32740 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
32741
32742 @subheading Example
32743
32744 @smallexample
32745 (gdb)
32746 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32747 ^done
32748 (gdb)
32749 @end smallexample
32750
32751 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
32752 @findex -inferior-tty-show
32753
32754 @subheading Synopsis
32755
32756 @smallexample
32757 -inferior-tty-show
32758 @end smallexample
32759
32760 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
32761
32762 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32763
32764 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
32765
32766 @subheading Example
32767
32768 @smallexample
32769 (gdb)
32770 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32771 ^done
32772 (gdb)
32773 -inferior-tty-show
32774 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
32775 (gdb)
32776 @end smallexample
32777
32778 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
32779 @findex -enable-timings
32780
32781 @subheading Synopsis
32782
32783 @smallexample
32784 -enable-timings [yes | no]
32785 @end smallexample
32786
32787 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
32788 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
32789 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
32790 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
32791
32792 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32793
32794 No equivalent.
32795
32796 @subheading Example
32797
32798 @smallexample
32799 (gdb)
32800 -enable-timings
32801 ^done
32802 (gdb)
32803 -break-insert main
32804 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
32805 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
32806 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
32807 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
32808 (gdb)
32809 -enable-timings no
32810 ^done
32811 (gdb)
32812 -exec-run
32813 ^running
32814 (gdb)
32815 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
32816 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
32817 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
32818 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
32819 (gdb)
32820 @end smallexample
32821
32822 @node Annotations
32823 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
32824
32825 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
32826 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
32827 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
32828 relatively high level.
32829
32830 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
32831 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
32832
32833 @ignore
32834 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
32835 @end ignore
32836
32837 @menu
32838 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
32839 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
32840 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
32841 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
32842 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
32843 * Annotations for Running::
32844 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
32845 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
32846 @end menu
32847
32848 @node Annotations Overview
32849 @section What is an Annotation?
32850 @cindex annotations
32851
32852 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
32853 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
32854 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
32855 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
32856 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
32857 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
32858 cannot contain newline characters.
32859
32860 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
32861 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
32862 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
32863 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
32864 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
32865 means those three characters as output.
32866
32867 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
32868 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
32869 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
32870 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
32871 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
32872 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
32873 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
32874 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
32875 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
32876
32877 @table @code
32878 @kindex set annotate
32879 @item set annotate @var{level}
32880 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
32881 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
32882
32883 @item show annotate
32884 @kindex show annotate
32885 Show the current annotation level.
32886 @end table
32887
32888 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
32889
32890 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
32891
32892 @smallexample
32893 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
32894 GNU gdb 6.0
32895 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32896 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
32897 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
32898 under certain conditions.
32899 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32900 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
32901 for details.
32902 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
32903
32904 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
32905 (@value{GDBP})
32906 ^Z^Zprompt
32907 @kbd{quit}
32908
32909 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
32910 $
32911 @end smallexample
32912
32913 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
32914 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
32915 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
32916 output from @value{GDBN}.
32917
32918 @node Server Prefix
32919 @section The Server Prefix
32920 @cindex server prefix
32921
32922 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
32923 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
32924 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
32925 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
32926 a transparent manner.
32927
32928 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
32929 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
32930 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
32931 @code{print} command.
32932
32933 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
32934 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
32935
32936 @node Prompting
32937 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
32938
32939 @cindex annotations for prompts
32940 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
32941 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
32942 over, etc.
32943
32944 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
32945 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
32946 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
32947 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
32948 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
32949 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
32950 features the following annotations:
32951
32952 @smallexample
32953 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
32954 ^Z^Zprompt
32955 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
32956 @end smallexample
32957
32958 The input types are
32959
32960 @table @code
32961 @findex pre-prompt annotation
32962 @findex prompt annotation
32963 @findex post-prompt annotation
32964 @item prompt
32965 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
32966
32967 @findex pre-commands annotation
32968 @findex commands annotation
32969 @findex post-commands annotation
32970 @item commands
32971 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
32972 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
32973
32974 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
32975 @findex overload-choice annotation
32976 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
32977 @item overload-choice
32978 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
32979
32980 @findex pre-query annotation
32981 @findex query annotation
32982 @findex post-query annotation
32983 @item query
32984 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
32985
32986 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
32987 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
32988 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
32989 @item prompt-for-continue
32990 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
32991 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
32992 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
32993 presence of annotations.
32994 @end table
32995
32996 @node Errors
32997 @section Errors
32998 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
32999
33000 @findex quit annotation
33001 @smallexample
33002 ^Z^Zquit
33003 @end smallexample
33004
33005 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
33006
33007 @findex error annotation
33008 @smallexample
33009 ^Z^Zerror
33010 @end smallexample
33011
33012 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
33013
33014 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
33015 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
33016 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
33017 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
33018 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
33019 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
33020 to the top level.
33021
33022 @findex error-begin annotation
33023 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
33024
33025 @smallexample
33026 ^Z^Zerror-begin
33027 @end smallexample
33028
33029 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
33030 message.
33031
33032 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
33033 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
33034 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
33035
33036 @node Invalidation
33037 @section Invalidation Notices
33038
33039 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
33040 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
33041 changed.
33042
33043 @table @code
33044 @findex frames-invalid annotation
33045 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
33046
33047 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
33048 have changed.
33049
33050 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
33051 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
33052
33053 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
33054 deleted a breakpoint.
33055 @end table
33056
33057 @node Annotations for Running
33058 @section Running the Program
33059 @cindex annotations for running programs
33060
33061 @findex starting annotation
33062 @findex stopping annotation
33063 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
33064 @code{step} or @code{continue},
33065
33066 @smallexample
33067 ^Z^Zstarting
33068 @end smallexample
33069
33070 is output. When the program stops,
33071
33072 @smallexample
33073 ^Z^Zstopped
33074 @end smallexample
33075
33076 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
33077 annotations describe how the program stopped.
33078
33079 @table @code
33080 @findex exited annotation
33081 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
33082 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
33083 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
33084
33085 @findex signalled annotation
33086 @findex signal-name annotation
33087 @findex signal-name-end annotation
33088 @findex signal-string annotation
33089 @findex signal-string-end annotation
33090 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
33091 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
33092 annotation continues:
33093
33094 @smallexample
33095 @var{intro-text}
33096 ^Z^Zsignal-name
33097 @var{name}
33098 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
33099 @var{middle-text}
33100 ^Z^Zsignal-string
33101 @var{string}
33102 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
33103 @var{end-text}
33104 @end smallexample
33105
33106 @noindent
33107 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
33108 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
33109 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
33110 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
33111 user's benefit and have no particular format.
33112
33113 @findex signal annotation
33114 @item ^Z^Zsignal
33115 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
33116 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
33117 terminated with it.
33118
33119 @findex breakpoint annotation
33120 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
33121 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
33122
33123 @findex watchpoint annotation
33124 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
33125 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
33126 @end table
33127
33128 @node Source Annotations
33129 @section Displaying Source
33130 @cindex annotations for source display
33131
33132 @findex source annotation
33133 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
33134
33135 @smallexample
33136 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
33137 @end smallexample
33138
33139 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
33140 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
33141 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
33142 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
33143 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
33144 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
33145 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
33146 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
33147 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
33148 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
33149 depend on the language).
33150
33151 @node JIT Interface
33152 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
33153 @cindex just-in-time compilation
33154 @cindex JIT compilation interface
33155
33156 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
33157 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
33158 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
33159 performance while maintaining platform independence.
33160
33161 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
33162 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
33163 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
33164 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
33165 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
33166 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
33167
33168 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
33169 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
33170 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
33171 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
33172 LLVM JIT.
33173
33174 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
33175 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
33176 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
33177 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
33178 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
33179 out about additional code.
33180
33181 @menu
33182 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
33183 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
33184 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
33185 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
33186 @end menu
33187
33188 @node Declarations
33189 @section JIT Declarations
33190
33191 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
33192 implement the interface:
33193
33194 @smallexample
33195 typedef enum
33196 @{
33197 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
33198 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
33199 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
33200 @} jit_actions_t;
33201
33202 struct jit_code_entry
33203 @{
33204 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
33205 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
33206 const char *symfile_addr;
33207 uint64_t symfile_size;
33208 @};
33209
33210 struct jit_descriptor
33211 @{
33212 uint32_t version;
33213 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
33214 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
33215 uint32_t action_flag;
33216 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
33217 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
33218 @};
33219
33220 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
33221 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
33222
33223 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
33224 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
33225 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
33226 @end smallexample
33227
33228 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
33229 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
33230 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
33231
33232 @node Registering Code
33233 @section Registering Code
33234
33235 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
33236
33237 @itemize @bullet
33238 @item
33239 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
33240 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
33241
33242 @item
33243 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
33244 file.
33245
33246 @item
33247 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
33248
33249 @item
33250 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
33251
33252 @item
33253 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
33254 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
33255 @end itemize
33256
33257 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
33258 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
33259 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
33260 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
33261
33262 @node Unregistering Code
33263 @section Unregistering Code
33264
33265 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
33266
33267 @itemize @bullet
33268 @item
33269 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
33270
33271 @item
33272 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
33273
33274 @item
33275 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
33276 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
33277 @end itemize
33278
33279 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
33280 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
33281
33282 @node Custom Debug Info
33283 @section Custom Debug Info
33284 @cindex custom JIT debug info
33285 @cindex JIT debug info reader
33286
33287 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
33288 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
33289 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
33290 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
33291 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
33292 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
33293 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
33294 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
33295 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
33296
33297 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
33298 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
33299 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
33300 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
33301 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
33302 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
33303 compiler.
33304
33305 @menu
33306 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
33307 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
33308 @end menu
33309
33310 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
33311 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
33312 @kindex jit-reader-load
33313 @kindex jit-reader-unload
33314
33315 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
33316 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
33317
33318 @table @code
33319 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader-name}
33320 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader-name}. On a UNIX system, this
33321 will usually load @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/@var{reader-name}}, where
33322 @var{libdir} is the system library directory, usually
33323 @file{/usr/local/lib}. Only one reader can be active at a time;
33324 trying to load a second reader when one is already loaded will result
33325 in @value{GDBN} reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by
33326 first unloading the current one using @code{jit-reader-load} and then
33327 invoking @code{jit-reader-load}.
33328
33329 @item jit-reader-unload
33330 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
33331
33332 @end table
33333
33334 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
33335 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
33336 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
33337
33338 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
33339 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
33340
33341 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
33342 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
33343 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
33344 the system include directory.
33345
33346 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
33347 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
33348 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
33349
33350 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
33351 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
33352
33353 @findex gdb_init_reader
33354 @smallexample
33355 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
33356 @end smallexample
33357
33358 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
33359
33360 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
33361 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
33362 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
33363 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
33364 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
33365 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
33366
33367 @smallexample
33368 struct gdb_reader_funcs
33369 @{
33370 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
33371 int reader_version;
33372
33373 /* For use by the reader. */
33374 void *priv_data;
33375
33376 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
33377 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
33378 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
33379 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
33380 @};
33381 @end smallexample
33382
33383 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
33384 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
33385
33386 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
33387 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
33388 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
33389 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
33390 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
33391 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
33392 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
33393 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
33394 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
33395 target's address space.
33396
33397 @node In-Process Agent
33398 @chapter In-Process Agent
33399 @cindex debugging agent
33400 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
33401 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
33402 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
33403 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
33404 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
33405 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
33406 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
33407 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
33408 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
33409 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
33410 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
33411 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
33412 behavior without interrupting it.
33413
33414 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
33415 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
33416 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
33417 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
33418 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
33419 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
33420 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
33421 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
33422 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
33423
33424 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
33425 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
33426 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
33427 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
33428
33429 @anchor{Control Agent}
33430 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
33431 debugging with the following commands:
33432
33433 @table @code
33434 @kindex set agent on
33435 @item set agent on
33436 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
33437 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
33438 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
33439 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
33440 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
33441 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
33442
33443 @kindex set agent off
33444 @item set agent off
33445 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
33446 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
33447
33448 @kindex show agent
33449 @item show agent
33450 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
33451 the in-process agent.
33452 @end table
33453
33454 @menu
33455 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
33456 @end menu
33457
33458 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
33459 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
33460 @cindex in-process agent protocol
33461
33462 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
33463 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
33464 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
33465 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
33466 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
33467 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
33468 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
33469 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
33470 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
33471
33472 @menu
33473 * IPA Protocol Objects::
33474 * IPA Protocol Commands::
33475 @end menu
33476
33477 @node IPA Protocol Objects
33478 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
33479 @cindex ipa protocol objects
33480
33481 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
33482 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
33483
33484 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
33485 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
33486 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
33487 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
33488
33489 @enumerate
33490 @item
33491 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
33492 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
33493 @item
33494 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
33495 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
33496 the other one.
33497 @end enumerate
33498
33499 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
33500
33501 @enumerate
33502 @item
33503 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
33504 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
33505 @anchor{agent expression object}
33506 @item
33507 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
33508 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
33509 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
33510 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
33511 @item
33512 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
33513 @anchor{tracepoint object}
33514
33515 @end enumerate
33516
33517 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
33518 object:
33519
33520 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
33521 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
33522 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
33523 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
33524 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
33525 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
33526 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33527 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
33528 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
33529 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
33530 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
33531 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
33532 memory address for collecting.
33533 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
33534 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33535 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
33536 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33537 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
33538 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33539 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
33540 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
33541 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
33542 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
33543 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
33544 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
33545 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
33546 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
33547 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
33548 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
33549 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
33550 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
33551 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
33552 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
33553 @ref{agent expression object}
33554 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
33555 @ref{agent expression object}
33556 @item actions @tab variable
33557 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
33558 @end multitable
33559
33560 @node IPA Protocol Commands
33561 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
33562 @cindex ipa protocol commands
33563
33564 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
33565 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
33566
33567 @table @samp
33568
33569 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
33570 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
33571 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
33572 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
33573 in IPA finally.
33574
33575 Replies:
33576 @table @samp
33577 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
33578 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
33579 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
33580 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
33581 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
33582 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
33583 @item E @var{NN}
33584 for an error
33585
33586 @end table
33587
33588 @item qTfSTM
33589 @xref{qTfSTM}.
33590 @item qTsSTM
33591 @xref{qTsSTM}.
33592 @item qTSTMat
33593 @xref{qTSTMat}.
33594 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
33595 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
33596
33597 Replies:
33598 @table @samp
33599 @item E @var{NN}
33600 for an error
33601 @end table
33602 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
33603 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
33604 @end table
33605
33606 @node GDB Bugs
33607 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
33608 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
33609 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
33610
33611 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
33612
33613 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
33614 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
33615 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
33616 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
33617
33618 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
33619 information that enables us to fix the bug.
33620
33621 @menu
33622 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
33623 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
33624 @end menu
33625
33626 @node Bug Criteria
33627 @section Have You Found a Bug?
33628 @cindex bug criteria
33629
33630 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
33631
33632 @itemize @bullet
33633 @cindex fatal signal
33634 @cindex debugger crash
33635 @cindex crash of debugger
33636 @item
33637 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
33638 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
33639
33640 @cindex error on valid input
33641 @item
33642 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
33643 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
33644 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
33645
33646 @cindex invalid input
33647 @item
33648 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
33649 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
33650 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
33651 for traditional practice''.
33652
33653 @item
33654 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
33655 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
33656 @end itemize
33657
33658 @node Bug Reporting
33659 @section How to Report Bugs
33660 @cindex bug reports
33661 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
33662
33663 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
33664 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
33665 contact that organization first.
33666
33667 You can find contact information for many support companies and
33668 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
33669 distribution.
33670 @c should add a web page ref...
33671
33672 @ifset BUGURL
33673 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
33674 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33675 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
33676 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
33677 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
33678 be used.
33679
33680 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
33681 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
33682 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
33683 @samp{bug-gdb}.
33684
33685 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
33686 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
33687 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
33688 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
33689 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
33690 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
33691 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
33692 bug reports to the mailing list.
33693 @end ifset
33694 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
33695 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33696 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
33697 @end ifclear
33698 @end ifset
33699
33700 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
33701 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
33702 fact or leave it out, state it!
33703
33704 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
33705 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
33706 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
33707 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
33708 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
33709 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
33710 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
33711 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
33712 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
33713
33714 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
33715 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
33716 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
33717 self-contained.
33718
33719 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
33720 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
33721 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
33722 bugs properly.
33723
33724 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
33725
33726 @itemize @bullet
33727 @item
33728 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
33729 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
33730 version}.
33731
33732 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
33733 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
33734
33735 @item
33736 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
33737 version number.
33738
33739 @item
33740 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
33741 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
33742
33743 @item
33744 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
33745 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
33746 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
33747 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
33748 those compilers.
33749
33750 @item
33751 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
33752 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
33753 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
33754 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
33755
33756 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
33757 and then we might not encounter the bug.
33758
33759 @item
33760 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
33761 reproduce the bug.
33762
33763 @item
33764 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
33765 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
33766
33767 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
33768 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
33769 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
33770 a chance to make a mistake.
33771
33772 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
33773 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
33774 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
33775 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
33776 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
33777 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
33778 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
33779 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
33780
33781 @pindex script
33782 @cindex recording a session script
33783 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
33784 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
33785 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
33786 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
33787
33788 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
33789 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
33790
33791 @item
33792 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
33793 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
33794 it by context, not by line number.
33795
33796 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
33797 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
33798
33799 @end itemize
33800
33801 Here are some things that are not necessary:
33802
33803 @itemize @bullet
33804 @item
33805 A description of the envelope of the bug.
33806
33807 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
33808 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
33809 changes will not affect it.
33810
33811 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
33812 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
33813 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
33814 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
33815
33816 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
33817 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
33818 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
33819 less time, and so on.
33820
33821 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
33822 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
33823
33824 @item
33825 A patch for the bug.
33826
33827 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
33828 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
33829 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
33830 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
33831
33832 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
33833 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
33834 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
33835 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
33836
33837 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
33838 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
33839 help us to understand.
33840
33841 @item
33842 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
33843
33844 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
33845 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
33846 @end itemize
33847
33848 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
33849 @c and consists of the two following files:
33850 @c rluser.texi
33851 @c hsuser.texi
33852 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
33853 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
33854 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
33855 @include rluser.texi
33856 @include hsuser.texi
33857 @end ifclear
33858
33859 @node In Memoriam
33860 @appendix In Memoriam
33861
33862 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
33863 contributors:
33864
33865 @table @code
33866 @item Fred Fish
33867 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
33868 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
33869 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
33870
33871 @item Michael Snyder
33872 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
33873 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
33874 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
33875 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
33876 @end table
33877
33878 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
33879 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
33880
33881 @node Formatting Documentation
33882 @appendix Formatting Documentation
33883
33884 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
33885 @cindex reference card
33886 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
33887 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
33888 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
33889 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
33890 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
33891 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
33892
33893 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
33894 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
33895
33896 @smallexample
33897 make refcard.dvi
33898 @end smallexample
33899
33900 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
33901 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
33902 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
33903 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
33904 your @sc{dvi} output program.
33905
33906 @cindex documentation
33907
33908 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
33909 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
33910 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
33911 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
33912 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
33913 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
33914
33915 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
33916 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
33917 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
33918 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
33919 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
33920 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
33921 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
33922 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
33923
33924 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
33925 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
33926 @code{makeinfo}.
33927
33928 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
33929 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
33930 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
33931
33932 @smallexample
33933 cd gdb
33934 make gdb.info
33935 @end smallexample
33936
33937 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
33938 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
33939 Texinfo definitions file.
33940
33941 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
33942 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
33943 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
33944 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
33945 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
33946 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
33947 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
33948
33949 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
33950 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
33951 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
33952 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
33953 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
33954 directory.
33955
33956 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
33957 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
33958 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
33959 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
33960
33961 @smallexample
33962 make gdb.dvi
33963 @end smallexample
33964
33965 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
33966
33967 @node Installing GDB
33968 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
33969 @cindex installation
33970
33971 @menu
33972 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
33973 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
33974 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
33975 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
33976 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
33977 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
33978 @end menu
33979
33980 @node Requirements
33981 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
33982 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
33983
33984 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
33985 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
33986
33987 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
33988 @table @asis
33989 @item ISO C90 compiler
33990 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
33991 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
33992
33993 @end table
33994
33995 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
33996 @table @asis
33997 @item Expat
33998 @anchor{Expat}
33999 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
34000 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
34001 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
34002 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
34003 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
34004 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
34005
34006 Expat is used for:
34007
34008 @itemize @bullet
34009 @item
34010 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
34011 @item
34012 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
34013 @item
34014 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
34015 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
34016 @item
34017 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
34018 @item
34019 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
34020 @end itemize
34021
34022 @item zlib
34023 @cindex compressed debug sections
34024 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
34025 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
34026 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
34027 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
34028 information in such binaries.
34029
34030 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
34031 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
34032 @url{http://zlib.net}.
34033
34034 @item iconv
34035 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
34036 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
34037 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
34038 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
34039
34040 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
34041 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
34042 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
34043 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
34044
34045 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
34046 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
34047 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
34048
34049 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
34050 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
34051 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
34052 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
34053 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
34054 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
34055 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
34056 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
34057 @end table
34058
34059 @node Running Configure
34060 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
34061 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
34062 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
34063 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
34064 build the @code{gdb} program.
34065 @iftex
34066 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
34067 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
34068 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
34069 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
34070 @end iftex
34071
34072 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
34073 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
34074 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
34075
34076 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
34077 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
34078
34079 @table @code
34080 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
34081 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
34082
34083 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
34084 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
34085
34086 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
34087 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
34088
34089 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
34090 @sc{gnu} include files
34091
34092 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
34093 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
34094
34095 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
34096 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
34097
34098 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
34099 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
34100
34101 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
34102 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
34103
34104 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
34105 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
34106 @end table
34107
34108 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
34109 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
34110 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
34111
34112 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
34113 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
34114 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
34115 argument.
34116
34117 For example:
34118
34119 @smallexample
34120 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
34121 ./configure @var{host}
34122 make
34123 @end smallexample
34124
34125 @noindent
34126 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
34127 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
34128 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
34129 correct value by examining your system.)
34130
34131 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
34132 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
34133 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
34134 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
34135
34136 @need 750
34137 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
34138 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
34139 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
34140
34141 @smallexample
34142 sh configure @var{host}
34143 @end smallexample
34144
34145 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
34146 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
34147 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
34148 @file{configure}
34149 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
34150 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
34151
34152 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
34153 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
34154 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
34155 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
34156 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
34157 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
34158 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
34159 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
34160 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
34161
34162 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
34163 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
34164 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
34165 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
34166 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
34167
34168 @node Separate Objdir
34169 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
34170
34171 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
34172 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
34173 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
34174 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
34175 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
34176 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
34177 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
34178 program specified there.
34179
34180 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
34181 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
34182 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
34183 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
34184 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
34185 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
34186
34187 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
34188 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
34189
34190 @smallexample
34191 @group
34192 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
34193 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
34194 cd ../gdb-sun4
34195 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
34196 make
34197 @end group
34198 @end smallexample
34199
34200 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
34201 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
34202 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
34203 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
34204 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
34205 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
34206
34207 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
34208 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
34209 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
34210 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
34211 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
34212
34213 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
34214 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
34215 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
34216 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
34217 You specify a cross-debugging target by
34218 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
34219
34220 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
34221 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
34222 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
34223
34224 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
34225 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
34226 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
34227 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
34228 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
34229
34230 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
34231 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
34232 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
34233 with each other.
34234
34235 @node Config Names
34236 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
34237
34238 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
34239 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
34240 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
34241 of information in the following pattern:
34242
34243 @smallexample
34244 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
34245 @end smallexample
34246
34247 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
34248 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
34249 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
34250
34251 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
34252 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
34253 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
34254 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
34255 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
34256 abbreviations---for example:
34257
34258 @smallexample
34259 % sh config.sub i386-linux
34260 i386-pc-linux-gnu
34261 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
34262 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
34263 % sh config.sub hp9k700
34264 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
34265 % sh config.sub sun4
34266 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
34267 % sh config.sub sun3
34268 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
34269 % sh config.sub i986v
34270 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
34271 @end smallexample
34272
34273 @noindent
34274 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
34275 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
34276
34277 @node Configure Options
34278 @section @file{configure} Options
34279
34280 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
34281 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
34282 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
34283 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
34284
34285 @smallexample
34286 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
34287 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
34288 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
34289 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
34290 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
34291 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
34292 @var{host}
34293 @end smallexample
34294
34295 @noindent
34296 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
34297 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
34298 @samp{--}.
34299
34300 @table @code
34301 @item --help
34302 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
34303
34304 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
34305 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
34306 @file{@var{dir}}.
34307
34308 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
34309 Configure the source to install programs under directory
34310 @file{@var{dir}}.
34311
34312 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
34313 @need 2000
34314 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
34315 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
34316 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
34317 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
34318 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
34319 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
34320 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
34321 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
34322 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
34323 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
34324 @var{dirname}.
34325
34326 @item --norecursion
34327 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
34328 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
34329
34330 @item --target=@var{target}
34331 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
34332 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
34333 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
34334
34335 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
34336
34337 @item @var{host} @dots{}
34338 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
34339
34340 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
34341 @end table
34342
34343 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
34344 needed for special purposes only.
34345
34346 @node System-wide configuration
34347 @section System-wide configuration and settings
34348 @cindex system-wide init file
34349
34350 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
34351 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
34352 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
34353
34354 Here is the corresponding configure option:
34355
34356 @table @code
34357 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
34358 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
34359 @var{file}.
34360 @end table
34361
34362 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
34363 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
34364
34365 @itemize @bullet
34366 @item
34367 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
34368 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
34369 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
34370 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
34371 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
34372 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
34373
34374 @item
34375 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
34376 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
34377 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34378 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34379 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
34380 @end itemize
34381
34382 @node Maintenance Commands
34383 @appendix Maintenance Commands
34384 @cindex maintenance commands
34385 @cindex internal commands
34386
34387 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
34388 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
34389 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
34390 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
34391 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
34392
34393 @table @code
34394 @kindex maint agent
34395 @kindex maint agent-eval
34396 @item maint agent @var{expression}
34397 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
34398 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
34399 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
34400 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
34401 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
34402 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
34403 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
34404 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
34405 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
34406 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
34407 addition and return the sum.
34408
34409 @kindex maint info breakpoints
34410 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
34411 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
34412 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
34413 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
34414 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
34415 is shown:
34416
34417 @table @code
34418 @item breakpoint
34419 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
34420
34421 @item watchpoint
34422 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
34423
34424 @item longjmp
34425 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
34426 @code{longjmp} calls.
34427
34428 @item longjmp resume
34429 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
34430
34431 @item until
34432 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
34433
34434 @item finish
34435 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
34436
34437 @item shlib events
34438 Shared library events.
34439
34440 @end table
34441
34442 @kindex set displaced-stepping
34443 @kindex show displaced-stepping
34444 @cindex displaced stepping support
34445 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
34446 @item set displaced-stepping
34447 @itemx show displaced-stepping
34448 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
34449 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
34450 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
34451 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
34452 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
34453
34454 @table @code
34455 @item set displaced-stepping on
34456 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
34457 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
34458
34459 @item set displaced-stepping off
34460 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
34461 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
34462
34463 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
34464 @item set displaced-stepping auto
34465 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
34466 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
34467 architecture supports displaced stepping.
34468 @end table
34469
34470 @kindex maint check-symtabs
34471 @item maint check-symtabs
34472 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
34473
34474 @kindex maint cplus first_component
34475 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
34476 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
34477
34478 @kindex maint cplus namespace
34479 @item maint cplus namespace
34480 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
34481
34482 @kindex maint demangle
34483 @item maint demangle @var{name}
34484 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
34485
34486 @kindex maint deprecate
34487 @kindex maint undeprecate
34488 @cindex deprecated commands
34489 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
34490 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
34491 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
34492 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
34493 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
34494 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
34495 the replacement as part of the warning.
34496
34497 @kindex maint dump-me
34498 @item maint dump-me
34499 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
34500 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
34501 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
34502 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
34503
34504 @kindex maint internal-error
34505 @kindex maint internal-warning
34506 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34507 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34508 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
34509 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
34510 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
34511 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
34512 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
34513 @value{GDBN} session.
34514
34515 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
34516 used as the text of the error or warning message.
34517
34518 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
34519
34520 @smallexample
34521 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
34522 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
34523 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
34524 debugging may prove unreliable.
34525 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34526 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34527 (@value{GDBP})
34528 @end smallexample
34529
34530 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
34531 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
34532
34533 @kindex maint set internal-error
34534 @kindex maint show internal-error
34535 @kindex maint set internal-warning
34536 @kindex maint show internal-warning
34537 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34538 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
34539 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34540 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
34541 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
34542 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
34543 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
34544 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
34545 described in the table below.
34546
34547 @table @samp
34548 @item quit
34549 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34550 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34551
34552 @item corefile
34553 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34554 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34555 @end table
34556
34557 @kindex maint packet
34558 @item maint packet @var{text}
34559 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
34560 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
34561 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
34562 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
34563 checksum.
34564
34565 @kindex maint print architecture
34566 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34567 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
34568 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
34569
34570 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
34571 @item maint print c-tdesc
34572 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
34573 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
34574 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
34575
34576 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
34577 @item maint print dummy-frames
34578 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
34579
34580 @smallexample
34581 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
34582 @dots{}
34583 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
34584 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
34585 58 return (a + b);
34586 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
34587 @dots{}
34588 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
34589 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
34590 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
34591 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
34592 (@value{GDBP})
34593 @end smallexample
34594
34595 Takes an optional file parameter.
34596
34597 @kindex maint print registers
34598 @kindex maint print raw-registers
34599 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
34600 @kindex maint print register-groups
34601 @kindex maint print remote-registers
34602 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34603 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34604 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34605 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34606 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34607 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
34608
34609 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
34610 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
34611 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
34612 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
34613 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
34614 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
34615 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
34616 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
34617 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
34618
34619 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
34620 write the information.
34621
34622 @kindex maint print reggroups
34623 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34624 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
34625 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
34626 information.
34627
34628 The register groups info looks like this:
34629
34630 @smallexample
34631 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
34632 Group Type
34633 general user
34634 float user
34635 all user
34636 vector user
34637 system user
34638 save internal
34639 restore internal
34640 @end smallexample
34641
34642 @kindex flushregs
34643 @item flushregs
34644 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
34645
34646 @kindex maint print objfiles
34647 @cindex info for known object files
34648 @item maint print objfiles
34649 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
34650 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
34651 and symtabs.
34652
34653 @kindex maint print section-scripts
34654 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
34655 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
34656 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
34657 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
34658 matching @var{regexp}.
34659 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
34660 and the full path if known.
34661 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
34662
34663 @kindex maint print statistics
34664 @cindex bcache statistics
34665 @item maint print statistics
34666 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
34667 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
34668 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
34669 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
34670 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
34671 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
34672 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
34673 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
34674 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
34675 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
34676 lengths.
34677
34678 @kindex maint print target-stack
34679 @cindex target stack description
34680 @item maint print target-stack
34681 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
34682 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
34683 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
34684 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
34685 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
34686 address.
34687
34688 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
34689 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
34690
34691 @kindex maint print type
34692 @cindex type chain of a data type
34693 @item maint print type @var{expr}
34694 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
34695 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
34696 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
34697 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
34698 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
34699
34700 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
34701 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
34702 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
34703 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
34704 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
34705 information.
34706
34707 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
34708 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
34709 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
34710 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
34711 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
34712 always see the disassembly form.
34713
34714 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
34715
34716 @smallexample
34717 (gdb) info addr argc
34718 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
34719 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
34720 @end smallexample
34721
34722 For more information on these expressions, see
34723 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
34724
34725 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
34726 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
34727 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
34728 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
34729 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
34730
34731 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
34732 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
34733 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
34734 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
34735 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
34736 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
34737 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
34738 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
34739 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
34740
34741 @kindex maint set profile
34742 @kindex maint show profile
34743 @cindex profiling GDB
34744 @item maint set profile
34745 @itemx maint show profile
34746 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
34747
34748 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
34749 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
34750 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
34751 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
34752 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
34753 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
34754 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
34755
34756 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
34757 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
34758
34759 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
34760 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
34761 @cindex hardware debug registers
34762 @item maint set show-debug-regs
34763 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
34764 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
34765 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
34766 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
34767 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
34768 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
34769
34770 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
34771 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
34772 @item maint set show-all-tib
34773 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
34774 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
34775 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
34776 command.
34777
34778 @kindex maint space
34779 @cindex memory used by commands
34780 @item maint space
34781 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
34782 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
34783 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
34784 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
34785 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34786
34787 @kindex maint time
34788 @cindex time of command execution
34789 @item maint time
34790 Control whether to display the execution time of @value{GDBN} for each command.
34791 If set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
34792 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
34793 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
34794 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
34795 CPU or, e.g., disk/network, latency.
34796 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
34797 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
34798 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
34799 spent by the program been debugged.
34800 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
34801 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34802
34803 @kindex maint translate-address
34804 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
34805 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
34806 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
34807 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
34808 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
34809 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
34810 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
34811
34812 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
34813 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
34814 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
34815
34816 @end table
34817
34818 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
34819 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
34820
34821 @table @code
34822 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
34823 @kindex set watchdog
34824 @cindex watchdog timer
34825 @cindex timeout for commands
34826 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
34827 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
34828 reports and error and the command is aborted.
34829
34830 @item show watchdog
34831 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
34832 @end table
34833
34834 @node Remote Protocol
34835 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
34836
34837 @menu
34838 * Overview::
34839 * Packets::
34840 * Stop Reply Packets::
34841 * General Query Packets::
34842 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
34843 * Tracepoint Packets::
34844 * Host I/O Packets::
34845 * Interrupts::
34846 * Notification Packets::
34847 * Remote Non-Stop::
34848 * Packet Acknowledgment::
34849 * Examples::
34850 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
34851 * Library List Format::
34852 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
34853 * Memory Map Format::
34854 * Thread List Format::
34855 * Traceframe Info Format::
34856 @end menu
34857
34858 @node Overview
34859 @section Overview
34860
34861 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
34862 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
34863 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
34864 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
34865
34866 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
34867 transmitted and received data, respectively.
34868
34869 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
34870 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
34871 @cindex remote serial protocol
34872 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
34873 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
34874 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
34875 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
34876 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
34877
34878 @smallexample
34879 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34880 @end smallexample
34881 @noindent
34882
34883 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
34884 @noindent
34885 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
34886 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
34887 eight bit unsigned checksum).
34888
34889 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
34890 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
34891
34892 @smallexample
34893 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34894 @end smallexample
34895
34896 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
34897 @noindent
34898 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
34899 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
34900 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
34901
34902 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
34903 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34904 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
34905 retransmission):
34906
34907 @smallexample
34908 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34909 <- @code{+}
34910 @end smallexample
34911 @noindent
34912
34913 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
34914 once a connection is established.
34915 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
34916
34917 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
34918 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
34919 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
34920 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
34921 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
34922 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
34923 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
34924
34925 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
34926 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
34927 exceptions).
34928
34929 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
34930 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
34931 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
34932 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
34933
34934 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
34935 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
34936 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
34937
34938 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
34939 @anchor{Binary Data}
34940 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
34941 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
34942 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
34943 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
34944 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
34945 binary data.
34946
34947 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
34948 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
34949 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
34950 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
34951 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
34952 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
34953 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
34954 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
34955 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
34956 (described next).
34957
34958 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
34959 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
34960 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
34961 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
34962 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
34963 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
34964 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
34965 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
34966 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
34967 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
34968 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
34969 3}} more times.
34970
34971 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
34972 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
34973 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
34974 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
34975 @samp{0*"00}.
34976
34977 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
34978 error number. That number is not well defined.
34979
34980 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
34981 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
34982 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
34983 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
34984 on that response.
34985
34986 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
34987 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
34988 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
34989 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
34990 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
34991 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
34992
34993 @node Packets
34994 @section Packets
34995
34996 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
34997 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
34998 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
34999 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
35000
35001 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
35002 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
35003 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
35004 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
35005 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
35006 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
35007 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
35008 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
35009 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
35010 @var{baz}.
35011
35012 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
35013 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
35014 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
35015 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
35016 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
35017 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
35018 pick any thread.
35019
35020 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
35021 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
35022 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
35023 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
35024 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
35025 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
35026 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
35027 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
35028 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
35029 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
35030 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
35031 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
35032 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
35033
35034 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
35035 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
35036 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
35037 more information.
35038
35039 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
35040 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
35041
35042 Here are the packet descriptions.
35043
35044 @table @samp
35045
35046 @item !
35047 @cindex @samp{!} packet
35048 @anchor{extended mode}
35049 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
35050 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
35051 debugged.
35052
35053 Reply:
35054 @table @samp
35055 @item OK
35056 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
35057 @end table
35058
35059 @item ?
35060 @cindex @samp{?} packet
35061 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
35062 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
35063 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
35064
35065 Reply:
35066 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35067
35068 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
35069 @cindex @samp{A} packet
35070 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
35071 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
35072 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
35073
35074 Reply:
35075 @table @samp
35076 @item OK
35077 The arguments were set.
35078 @item E @var{NN}
35079 An error occurred.
35080 @end table
35081
35082 @item b @var{baud}
35083 @cindex @samp{b} packet
35084 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
35085 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
35086
35087 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
35088 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
35089 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
35090
35091 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
35092 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
35093 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
35094 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
35095 of view, nothing actually happened.}
35096
35097 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
35098 @cindex @samp{B} packet
35099 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
35100 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
35101
35102 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
35103 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
35104
35105 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
35106 @anchor{bc}
35107 @item bc
35108 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
35109 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
35110
35111 Reply:
35112 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35113
35114 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
35115 @anchor{bs}
35116 @item bs
35117 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
35118 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
35119
35120 Reply:
35121 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35122
35123 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
35124 @cindex @samp{c} packet
35125 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
35126 resume at current address.
35127
35128 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35129 packet}.
35130
35131 Reply:
35132 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35133
35134 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
35135 @cindex @samp{C} packet
35136 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
35137 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
35138
35139 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35140 packet}.
35141
35142 Reply:
35143 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35144
35145 @item d
35146 @cindex @samp{d} packet
35147 Toggle debug flag.
35148
35149 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
35150 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
35151
35152 @item D
35153 @itemx D;@var{pid}
35154 @cindex @samp{D} packet
35155 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
35156 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
35157 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
35158
35159 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
35160 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
35161 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
35162 big-endian hex string.
35163
35164 Reply:
35165 @table @samp
35166 @item OK
35167 for success
35168 @item E @var{NN}
35169 for an error
35170 @end table
35171
35172 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
35173 @cindex @samp{F} packet
35174 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
35175 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
35176 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
35177
35178 @item g
35179 @anchor{read registers packet}
35180 @cindex @samp{g} packet
35181 Read general registers.
35182
35183 Reply:
35184 @table @samp
35185 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35186 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
35187 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
35188 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
35189 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
35190 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
35191 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
35192
35193 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
35194 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
35195 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
35196 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
35197 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
35198 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
35199 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
35200 have been collected, and both have zero value:
35201
35202 @smallexample
35203 -> @code{g}
35204 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
35205 @end smallexample
35206
35207 @item E @var{NN}
35208 for an error.
35209 @end table
35210
35211 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
35212 @cindex @samp{G} packet
35213 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
35214 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
35215
35216 Reply:
35217 @table @samp
35218 @item OK
35219 for success
35220 @item E @var{NN}
35221 for an error
35222 @end table
35223
35224 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
35225 @cindex @samp{H} packet
35226 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
35227 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
35228 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
35229 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
35230 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
35231 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
35232 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35233
35234 Reply:
35235 @table @samp
35236 @item OK
35237 for success
35238 @item E @var{NN}
35239 for an error
35240 @end table
35241
35242 @c FIXME: JTC:
35243 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
35244 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
35245 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
35246 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
35247 @c described. For example:
35248 @c
35249 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35250 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
35251 @c otherwise returns current registers.
35252 @c
35253 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35254 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
35255 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
35256
35257 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
35258 @anchor{cycle step packet}
35259 @cindex @samp{i} packet
35260 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
35261 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
35262 step starting at that address.
35263
35264 @item I
35265 @cindex @samp{I} packet
35266 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
35267 step packet}.
35268
35269 @item k
35270 @cindex @samp{k} packet
35271 Kill request.
35272
35273 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
35274 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
35275 thread?)}.
35276
35277 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
35278 @cindex @samp{m} packet
35279 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
35280 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
35281
35282 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
35283 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
35284 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
35285 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
35286 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
35287 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
35288 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
35289 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
35290
35291 Reply:
35292 @table @samp
35293 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35294 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
35295 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
35296 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
35297 @item E @var{NN}
35298 @var{NN} is errno
35299 @end table
35300
35301 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35302 @cindex @samp{M} packet
35303 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
35304 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
35305 hexadecimal number.
35306
35307 Reply:
35308 @table @samp
35309 @item OK
35310 for success
35311 @item E @var{NN}
35312 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
35313 written).
35314 @end table
35315
35316 @item p @var{n}
35317 @cindex @samp{p} packet
35318 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
35319 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
35320 register value is encoded.
35321
35322 Reply:
35323 @table @samp
35324 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35325 the register's value
35326 @item E @var{NN}
35327 for an error
35328 @item
35329 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
35330 @end table
35331
35332 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
35333 @anchor{write register packet}
35334 @cindex @samp{P} packet
35335 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
35336 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
35337 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
35338
35339 Reply:
35340 @table @samp
35341 @item OK
35342 for success
35343 @item E @var{NN}
35344 for an error
35345 @end table
35346
35347 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35348 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35349 @cindex @samp{q} packet
35350 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
35351 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
35352 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
35353
35354 @item r
35355 @cindex @samp{r} packet
35356 Reset the entire system.
35357
35358 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
35359
35360 @item R @var{XX}
35361 @cindex @samp{R} packet
35362 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
35363 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35364
35365 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
35366
35367 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
35368 @cindex @samp{s} packet
35369 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
35370 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
35371
35372 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35373 packet}.
35374
35375 Reply:
35376 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35377
35378 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
35379 @anchor{step with signal packet}
35380 @cindex @samp{S} packet
35381 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
35382 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
35383
35384 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35385 packet}.
35386
35387 Reply:
35388 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35389
35390 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
35391 @cindex @samp{t} packet
35392 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
35393 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
35394 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
35395
35396 @item T @var{thread-id}
35397 @cindex @samp{T} packet
35398 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35399
35400 Reply:
35401 @table @samp
35402 @item OK
35403 thread is still alive
35404 @item E @var{NN}
35405 thread is dead
35406 @end table
35407
35408 @item v
35409 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
35410 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
35411
35412 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
35413 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
35414 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
35415 The process ID is a
35416 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
35417 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
35418 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
35419
35420 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
35421 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
35422 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
35423 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
35424 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
35425 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
35426 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
35427 @c stopping or restarting threads.
35428
35429 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35430
35431 Reply:
35432 @table @samp
35433 @item E @var{nn}
35434 for an error
35435 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35436 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35437 @item OK
35438 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
35439 @end table
35440
35441 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
35442 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
35443 @anchor{vCont packet}
35444 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
35445 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
35446 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
35447 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
35448 in their current state in non-stop mode.
35449 Specifying multiple
35450 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
35451 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35452
35453 Currently supported actions are:
35454
35455 @table @samp
35456 @item c
35457 Continue.
35458 @item C @var{sig}
35459 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35460 @item s
35461 Step.
35462 @item S @var{sig}
35463 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35464 @item t
35465 Stop.
35466 @end table
35467
35468 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
35469 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
35470 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
35471
35472 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
35473 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
35474 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
35475 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
35476 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
35477 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
35478 as an implementation detail.
35479
35480 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
35481 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
35482 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
35483 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
35484 @var{thread-id}.
35485
35486 Reply:
35487 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35488
35489 @item vCont?
35490 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
35491 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
35492
35493 Reply:
35494 @table @samp
35495 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
35496 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
35497 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
35498 @item
35499 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
35500 @end table
35501
35502 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
35503 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
35504 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
35505 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
35506
35507 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
35508 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
35509 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
35510 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
35511 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
35512 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
35513 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
35514 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
35515 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35516 packet is received.
35517
35518 Reply:
35519 @table @samp
35520 @item OK
35521 for success
35522 @item E @var{NN}
35523 for an error
35524 @end table
35525
35526 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35527 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
35528 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
35529 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
35530 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
35531 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
35532 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
35533 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
35534 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
35535 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
35536 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
35537 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
35538
35539
35540 Reply:
35541 @table @samp
35542 @item OK
35543 for success
35544 @item E.memtype
35545 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
35546 @item E @var{NN}
35547 for an error
35548 @end table
35549
35550 @item vFlashDone
35551 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
35552 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
35553 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
35554 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
35555 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
35556 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35557 request is completed.
35558
35559 @item vKill;@var{pid}
35560 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
35561 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
35562 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
35563 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
35564 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35565
35566 Reply:
35567 @table @samp
35568 @item E @var{nn}
35569 for an error
35570 @item OK
35571 for success
35572 @end table
35573
35574 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
35575 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
35576 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
35577 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
35578 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
35579 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
35580 state.
35581
35582 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
35583
35584 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35585
35586 Reply:
35587 @table @samp
35588 @item E @var{nn}
35589 for an error
35590 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35591 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35592 @end table
35593
35594 @item vStopped
35595 @anchor{vStopped packet}
35596 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
35597
35598 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
35599 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
35600
35601 Reply:
35602 @table @samp
35603 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35604 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35605 @item OK
35606 if there are no unreported stop events
35607 @end table
35608
35609 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35610 @anchor{X packet}
35611 @cindex @samp{X} packet
35612 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
35613 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
35614 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
35615
35616 Reply:
35617 @table @samp
35618 @item OK
35619 for success
35620 @item E @var{NN}
35621 for an error
35622 @end table
35623
35624 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35625 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35626 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
35627 @cindex @samp{z} packet
35628 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
35629 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
35630 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
35631
35632 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
35633 separately.
35634
35635 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
35636 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
35637 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
35638 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
35639 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
35640 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
35641
35642 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35643 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35644 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
35645 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
35646 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
35647 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
35648
35649 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
35650 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
35651 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
35652 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
35653 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
35654 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
35655 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
35656 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
35657 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
35658 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
35659
35660 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
35661 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
35662
35663 @table @samp
35664
35665 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35666 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35667 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35668
35669 @end table
35670
35671 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
35672
35673 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
35674 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
35675 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
35676 target, is not defined.}
35677
35678 Reply:
35679 @table @samp
35680 @item OK
35681 success
35682 @item
35683 not supported
35684 @item E @var{NN}
35685 for an error
35686 @end table
35687
35688 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35689 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35690 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
35691 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
35692 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
35693 address @var{addr}.
35694
35695 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
35696 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
35697 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
35698
35699 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
35700 movement.}
35701
35702 Reply:
35703 @table @samp
35704 @item OK
35705 success
35706 @item
35707 not supported
35708 @item E @var{NN}
35709 for an error
35710 @end table
35711
35712 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35713 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35714 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
35715 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
35716 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35717 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35718
35719 Reply:
35720 @table @samp
35721 @item OK
35722 success
35723 @item
35724 not supported
35725 @item E @var{NN}
35726 for an error
35727 @end table
35728
35729 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35730 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35731 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
35732 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
35733 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35734 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35735
35736 Reply:
35737 @table @samp
35738 @item OK
35739 success
35740 @item
35741 not supported
35742 @item E @var{NN}
35743 for an error
35744 @end table
35745
35746 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35747 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35748 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
35749 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
35750 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35751 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
35752
35753 Reply:
35754 @table @samp
35755 @item OK
35756 success
35757 @item
35758 not supported
35759 @item E @var{NN}
35760 for an error
35761 @end table
35762
35763 @end table
35764
35765 @node Stop Reply Packets
35766 @section Stop Reply Packets
35767 @cindex stop reply packets
35768
35769 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
35770 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
35771 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
35772 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
35773 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
35774 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
35775 @value{GDBN} source code.
35776
35777 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
35778 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
35779 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
35780 components.
35781
35782 @table @samp
35783
35784 @item S @var{AA}
35785 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35786 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
35787 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
35788
35789 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
35790 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
35791 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35792 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
35793 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
35794 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
35795 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
35796 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
35797
35798 @itemize @bullet
35799 @item
35800 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
35801 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
35802 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
35803 two-digit hex number.
35804
35805 @item
35806 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
35807 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35808
35809 @item
35810 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
35811 the core on which the stop event was detected.
35812
35813 @item
35814 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
35815 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
35816 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
35817 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
35818
35819 @item
35820 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
35821 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
35822 future.
35823 @end itemize
35824
35825 The currently defined stop reasons are:
35826
35827 @table @samp
35828 @item watch
35829 @itemx rwatch
35830 @itemx awatch
35831 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
35832 hex.
35833
35834 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
35835 @item library
35836 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
35837 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
35838 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
35839
35840 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
35841 @item replaylog
35842 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
35843 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
35844 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
35845 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
35846 for more information.
35847 @end table
35848
35849 @item W @var{AA}
35850 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35851 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
35852 applicable to certain targets.
35853
35854 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
35855 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
35856 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35857 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35858
35859 @item X @var{AA}
35860 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35861 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
35862
35863 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
35864 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
35865 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
35866 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35867
35868 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
35869 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
35870 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
35871 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
35872 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
35873
35874 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
35875 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
35876 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
35877 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
35878 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
35879 system calls.
35880
35881 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
35882 this very system call.
35883
35884 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
35885 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
35886 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
35887 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
35888 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
35889 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
35890
35891 @end table
35892
35893 @node General Query Packets
35894 @section General Query Packets
35895 @cindex remote query requests
35896
35897 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
35898 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
35899 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
35900 sending information to and from the stub.
35901
35902 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
35903 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
35904 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
35905 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
35906 conventions:
35907
35908 @itemize @bullet
35909 @item
35910 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
35911 @item
35912 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
35913 letter.
35914 @item
35915 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
35916 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
35917 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
35918 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
35919 @end itemize
35920
35921 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
35922 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
35923 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
35924 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
35925 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
35926 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
35927 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
35928 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
35929 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
35930 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
35931 packet.}.
35932
35933 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
35934 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
35935 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
35936 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
35937 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
35938
35939 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
35940
35941 @table @samp
35942
35943 @item QAgent:1
35944 @item QAgent:0
35945 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
35946 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
35947
35948 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
35949 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
35950 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
35951 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
35952 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
35953 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
35954 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
35955 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
35956 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
35957 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
35958 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
35959
35960 @item qC
35961 @cindex current thread, remote request
35962 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
35963 Return the current thread ID.
35964
35965 Reply:
35966 @table @samp
35967 @item QC @var{thread-id}
35968 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
35969 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35970 @item @r{(anything else)}
35971 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
35972 @end table
35973
35974 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
35975 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
35976 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
35977 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
35978 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
35979 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
35980 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
35981
35982 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
35983 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
35984 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
35985 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
35986 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
35987 detect trailing zeros.
35988
35989 Reply:
35990 @table @samp
35991 @item E @var{NN}
35992 An error (such as memory fault)
35993 @item C @var{crc32}
35994 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
35995 @end table
35996
35997 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
35998 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
35999 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
36000 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
36001 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
36002 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
36003 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
36004 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
36005 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
36006 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
36007 randomization.
36008
36009 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36010
36011 Reply:
36012 @table @samp
36013 @item OK
36014 The request succeeded.
36015
36016 @item E @var{nn}
36017 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36018
36019 @item
36020 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
36021 by the stub.
36022 @end table
36023
36024 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36025 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36026 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
36027 address space randomization.
36028
36029 @item qfThreadInfo
36030 @itemx qsThreadInfo
36031 @cindex list active threads, remote request
36032 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
36033 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
36034 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
36035 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
36036 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
36037 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
36038 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
36039 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
36040
36041 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
36042
36043 Reply:
36044 @table @samp
36045 @item m @var{thread-id}
36046 A single thread ID
36047 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
36048 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
36049 @item l
36050 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
36051 @end table
36052
36053 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
36054 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
36055 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
36056 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
36057 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
36058 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
36059 fields.
36060
36061 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
36062 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
36063 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
36064 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
36065 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
36066
36067 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
36068 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
36069
36070 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
36071 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
36072 information associated with the variable.)
36073
36074 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
36075 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
36076 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
36077 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
36078 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
36079 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
36080
36081 Reply:
36082 @table @samp
36083 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36084 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
36085 local storage requested.
36086
36087 @item E @var{nn}
36088 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36089
36090 @item
36091 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
36092 @end table
36093
36094 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
36095 @cindex get thread information block address
36096 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
36097 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
36098
36099 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
36100
36101 Reply:
36102 @table @samp
36103 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36104 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
36105 thread information block.
36106
36107 @item E @var{nn}
36108 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
36109 address could not be retrieved.
36110
36111 @item
36112 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
36113 @end table
36114
36115 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
36116 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
36117 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
36118 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
36119 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
36120 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
36121 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
36122
36123 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
36124
36125 Reply:
36126 @table @samp
36127 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
36128 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
36129 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
36130 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
36131 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
36132 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
36133 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
36134 @end table
36135
36136 @item qOffsets
36137 @cindex section offsets, remote request
36138 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
36139 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
36140 image.
36141
36142 Reply:
36143 @table @samp
36144 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
36145 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
36146 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
36147 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
36148 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
36149 segments by the supplied offsets.
36150
36151 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
36152 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
36153 to the @code{Bss} section.}
36154
36155 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
36156 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
36157 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
36158 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
36159 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
36160 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
36161 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
36162 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
36163 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
36164 @end table
36165
36166 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
36167 @cindex thread information, remote request
36168 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
36169 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
36170 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
36171 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
36172
36173 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
36174 (see below).
36175
36176 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
36177
36178 @item QNonStop:1
36179 @item QNonStop:0
36180 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
36181 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
36182 @anchor{QNonStop}
36183 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
36184 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
36185
36186 Reply:
36187 @table @samp
36188 @item OK
36189 The request succeeded.
36190
36191 @item E @var{nn}
36192 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36193
36194 @item
36195 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
36196 the stub.
36197 @end table
36198
36199 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36200 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36201 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
36202 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
36203
36204 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
36205 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
36206 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36207 @anchor{QPassSignals}
36208 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
36209 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36210 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36211 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
36212 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
36213 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
36214 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
36215 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
36216 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
36217
36218 Reply:
36219 @table @samp
36220 @item OK
36221 The request succeeded.
36222
36223 @item E @var{nn}
36224 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36225
36226 @item
36227 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
36228 the stub.
36229 @end table
36230
36231 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
36232 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
36233 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36234 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36235
36236 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
36237 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
36238 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
36239 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
36240 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
36241 Others should be silently discarded.
36242
36243 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
36244 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
36245 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
36246 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
36247 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
36248 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
36249 signals.
36250
36251 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
36252 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
36253
36254 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36255 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36256 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
36257 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
36258 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
36259
36260 Reply:
36261 @table @samp
36262 @item OK
36263 The request succeeded.
36264
36265 @item E @var{nn}
36266 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36267
36268 @item
36269 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
36270 by the stub.
36271 @end table
36272
36273 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
36274 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
36275 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36276 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36277
36278 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
36279 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
36280 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
36281 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
36282 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
36283 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
36284 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
36285 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
36286 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
36287
36288 Reply:
36289 @table @samp
36290 @item OK
36291 A command response with no output.
36292 @item @var{OUTPUT}
36293 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
36294 @item E @var{NN}
36295 Indicate a badly formed request.
36296 @item
36297 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
36298 @end table
36299
36300 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
36301 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36302 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36303 packets.)
36304
36305 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
36306 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
36307 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
36308 @anchor{qSearch memory}
36309 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
36310 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
36311 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
36312
36313 Reply:
36314 @table @samp
36315 @item 0
36316 The pattern was not found.
36317 @item 1,address
36318 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
36319 @item E @var{NN}
36320 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
36321 @item
36322 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
36323 @end table
36324
36325 @item QStartNoAckMode
36326 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
36327 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
36328 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
36329 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
36330
36331 Reply:
36332 @table @samp
36333 @item OK
36334 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
36335 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
36336 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
36337 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
36338 @item
36339 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
36340 @end table
36341
36342 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
36343 @cindex supported packets, remote query
36344 @cindex features of the remote protocol
36345 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
36346 @anchor{qSupported}
36347 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
36348 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
36349 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
36350 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
36351 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
36352 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
36353 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
36354 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
36355 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
36356 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
36357 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
36358 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
36359 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
36360 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
36361
36362 Reply:
36363 @table @samp
36364 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
36365 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
36366 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
36367 possible forms).
36368 @item
36369 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
36370 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
36371 @end table
36372
36373 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
36374 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
36375 are:
36376
36377 @table @samp
36378 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
36379 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
36380 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
36381 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
36382 @item @var{name}+
36383 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
36384 need an associated value.
36385 @item @var{name}-
36386 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
36387 @item @var{name}?
36388 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
36389 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
36390 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
36391 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
36392 @end table
36393
36394 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
36395 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
36396 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
36397 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
36398 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
36399
36400 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
36401 are defined:
36402
36403 @table @samp
36404 @item multiprocess
36405 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
36406 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36407 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36408 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36409 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
36410
36411 @item xmlRegisters
36412 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
36413 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
36414 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
36415 description.
36416
36417 @item qRelocInsn
36418 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
36419 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
36420 instruction reply packet}).
36421 @end table
36422
36423 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
36424 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
36425 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
36426 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
36427 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
36428 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
36429 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
36430 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
36431 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
36432 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
36433 all the features it supports.
36434
36435 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
36436 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
36437
36438 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
36439 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
36440 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
36441 form response.
36442
36443 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
36444 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
36445 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
36446 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
36447
36448 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
36449 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
36450 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
36451 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
36452 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
36453
36454 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
36455
36456 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
36457 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
36458 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
36459 @item Feature Name
36460 @tab Value Required
36461 @tab Default
36462 @tab Probe Allowed
36463
36464 @item @samp{PacketSize}
36465 @tab Yes
36466 @tab @samp{-}
36467 @tab No
36468
36469 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
36470 @tab No
36471 @tab @samp{-}
36472 @tab Yes
36473
36474 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
36475 @tab No
36476 @tab @samp{-}
36477 @tab Yes
36478
36479 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
36480 @tab No
36481 @tab @samp{-}
36482 @tab Yes
36483
36484 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
36485 @tab No
36486 @tab @samp{-}
36487 @tab Yes
36488
36489 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
36490 @tab No
36491 @tab @samp{-}
36492 @tab Yes
36493
36494 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
36495 @tab No
36496 @tab @samp{-}
36497 @tab Yes
36498
36499 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
36500 @tab No
36501 @tab @samp{-}
36502 @tab Yes
36503
36504 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
36505 @tab No
36506 @tab @samp{-}
36507 @tab Yes
36508
36509 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
36510 @tab No
36511 @tab @samp{-}
36512 @tab Yes
36513
36514 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
36515 @tab No
36516 @tab @samp{-}
36517 @tab Yes
36518
36519 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36520 @tab No
36521 @tab @samp{-}
36522 @tab Yes
36523
36524 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36525 @tab No
36526 @tab @samp{-}
36527 @tab Yes
36528
36529 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36530 @tab No
36531 @tab @samp{-}
36532 @tab Yes
36533
36534 @item @samp{QNonStop}
36535 @tab No
36536 @tab @samp{-}
36537 @tab Yes
36538
36539 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
36540 @tab No
36541 @tab @samp{-}
36542 @tab Yes
36543
36544 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
36545 @tab No
36546 @tab @samp{-}
36547 @tab Yes
36548
36549 @item @samp{multiprocess}
36550 @tab No
36551 @tab @samp{-}
36552 @tab No
36553
36554 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
36555 @tab No
36556 @tab @samp{-}
36557 @tab No
36558
36559 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
36560 @tab No
36561 @tab @samp{-}
36562 @tab No
36563
36564 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
36565 @tab No
36566 @tab @samp{-}
36567 @tab No
36568
36569 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
36570 @tab No
36571 @tab @samp{-}
36572 @tab No
36573
36574 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
36575 @tab No
36576 @tab @samp{-}
36577 @tab No
36578
36579 @item @samp{QAgent}
36580 @tab No
36581 @tab @samp{-}
36582 @tab No
36583
36584 @item @samp{QAllow}
36585 @tab No
36586 @tab @samp{-}
36587 @tab No
36588
36589 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
36590 @tab No
36591 @tab @samp{-}
36592 @tab No
36593
36594 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
36595 @tab No
36596 @tab @samp{-}
36597 @tab No
36598
36599 @item @samp{tracenz}
36600 @tab No
36601 @tab @samp{-}
36602 @tab No
36603
36604 @end multitable
36605
36606 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
36607
36608 @table @samp
36609 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
36610 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
36611 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
36612 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
36613 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
36614 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
36615 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
36616 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
36617 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
36618 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
36619
36620 @item qXfer:auxv:read
36621 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
36622 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
36623
36624 @item qXfer:features:read
36625 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
36626 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
36627
36628 @item qXfer:libraries:read
36629 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
36630 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
36631
36632 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
36633 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
36634 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
36635
36636 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
36637 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
36638 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
36639
36640 @item qXfer:sdata:read
36641 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
36642 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
36643
36644 @item qXfer:spu:read
36645 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
36646 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
36647
36648 @item qXfer:spu:write
36649 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
36650 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
36651
36652 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
36653 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
36654 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
36655
36656 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
36657 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
36658 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
36659
36660 @item qXfer:threads:read
36661 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
36662 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
36663
36664 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
36665 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36666 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
36667
36668 @item qXfer:uib:read
36669 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36670 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
36671
36672 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
36673 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36674 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
36675
36676 @item QNonStop
36677 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
36678 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
36679
36680 @item QPassSignals
36681 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36682 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
36683
36684 @item QStartNoAckMode
36685 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
36686 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
36687
36688 @item multiprocess
36689 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
36690 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
36691 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
36692 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
36693 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
36694 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
36695 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
36696 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
36697 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
36698 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
36699 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
36700
36701 @item qXfer:osdata:read
36702 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
36703 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
36704
36705 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
36706 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
36707 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
36708 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
36709
36710 @item ConditionalTracepoints
36711 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
36712 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
36713
36714 @item ReverseContinue
36715 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
36716 (@pxref{bc}).
36717
36718 @item ReverseStep
36719 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
36720 (@pxref{bs}).
36721
36722 @item TracepointSource
36723 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
36724 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
36725
36726 @item QAgent
36727 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
36728
36729 @item QAllow
36730 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
36731
36732 @item QDisableRandomization
36733 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
36734
36735 @item StaticTracepoint
36736 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
36737 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
36738
36739 @item InstallInTrace
36740 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
36741 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
36742
36743 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
36744 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
36745 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
36746 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
36747
36748 @item tracenz
36749 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
36750 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
36751 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
36752
36753 @end table
36754
36755 @item qSymbol::
36756 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
36757 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
36758 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
36759 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
36760
36761 Reply:
36762 @table @samp
36763 @item OK
36764 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36765 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36766 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
36767 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
36768 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
36769 below.
36770 @end table
36771
36772 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
36773 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
36774
36775 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
36776 target has previously requested.
36777
36778 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
36779 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
36780 will be empty.
36781
36782 Reply:
36783 @table @samp
36784 @item OK
36785 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
36786 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
36787 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
36788 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
36789 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
36790 @end table
36791
36792 @item qTBuffer
36793 @item QTBuffer
36794 @item QTDisconnected
36795 @itemx QTDP
36796 @itemx QTDPsrc
36797 @itemx QTDV
36798 @itemx qTfP
36799 @itemx qTfV
36800 @itemx QTFrame
36801 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
36802
36803 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
36804
36805 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
36806 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
36807 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
36808 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
36809 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
36810 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
36811 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
36812 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
36813 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
36814 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
36815 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
36816
36817 Reply:
36818 @table @samp
36819 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36820 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
36821 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
36822 the thread's attributes.
36823 @end table
36824
36825 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
36826 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36827 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36828 packets.)
36829
36830 @item QTNotes
36831 @item qTP
36832 @item QTSave
36833 @item qTsP
36834 @item qTsV
36835 @itemx QTStart
36836 @itemx QTStop
36837 @itemx QTEnable
36838 @itemx QTDisable
36839 @itemx QTinit
36840 @itemx QTro
36841 @itemx qTStatus
36842 @itemx qTV
36843 @itemx qTfSTM
36844 @itemx qTsSTM
36845 @itemx qTSTMat
36846 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
36847
36848 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36849 @cindex read special object, remote request
36850 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
36851 @anchor{qXfer read}
36852 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
36853 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
36854 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
36855 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
36856 additional details about what data to access.
36857
36858 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
36859 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
36860 formats, listed below.
36861
36862 @table @samp
36863 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36864 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
36865 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
36866 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
36867
36868 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36869 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36870
36871 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36872 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
36873 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
36874 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
36875 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
36876
36877 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36878 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36879
36880 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36881 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
36882 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
36883 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36884 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36885
36886 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
36887 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
36888 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
36889
36890 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36891 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36892
36893 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36894 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
36895 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
36896 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
36897 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36898
36899 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
36900 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
36901
36902 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36903 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36904
36905 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36906 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
36907 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
36908 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36909 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36910
36911 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36912 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36913
36914 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36915 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
36916
36917 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
36918 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
36919 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
36920 Action Lists}.
36921
36922 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36923 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36924 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36925
36926 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36927 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
36928 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
36929 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
36930 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36931
36932 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36933 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36934 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36935
36936 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36937 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
36938 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
36939 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
36940 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
36941 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
36942 in that context to be accessed.
36943
36944 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36945 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
36946 (@pxref{qSupported}).
36947
36948 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36949 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
36950 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
36951 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
36952 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36953
36954 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36955 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36956
36957 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36958 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
36959
36960 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
36961 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
36962 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
36963
36964 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36965 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36966
36967 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36968 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
36969
36970 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
36971 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
36972
36973 This packet is not probed by default.
36974
36975 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
36976 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
36977 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
36978 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
36979 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
36980
36981 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36982 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36983
36984 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
36985 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
36986 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
36987 @xref{Operating System Information}.
36988
36989 @end table
36990
36991 Reply:
36992 @table @samp
36993 @item m @var{data}
36994 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
36995 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
36996 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
36997 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
36998 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
36999 request.
37000
37001 @item l @var{data}
37002 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
37003 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
37004 than the @var{length} in the request.
37005
37006 @item l
37007 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
37008 There is no more data to be read.
37009
37010 @item E00
37011 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37012
37013 @item E @var{nn}
37014 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
37015 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37016
37017 @item
37018 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
37019 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
37020 @end table
37021
37022 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37023 @cindex write data into object, remote request
37024 @anchor{qXfer write}
37025 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
37026 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
37027 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
37028 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
37029 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
37030 to access.
37031
37032 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37033 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37034 formats, listed below.
37035
37036 @table @samp
37037 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37038 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
37039 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
37040 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
37041 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
37042
37043 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37044 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37045 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37046
37047 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37048 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
37049 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
37050 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
37051 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
37052 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
37053 in that context to be accessed.
37054
37055 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37056 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37057 @end table
37058
37059 Reply:
37060 @table @samp
37061 @item @var{nn}
37062 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
37063 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
37064
37065 @item E00
37066 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37067
37068 @item E @var{nn}
37069 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
37070 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37071
37072 @item
37073 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
37074 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
37075 @end table
37076
37077 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
37078 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
37079 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
37080 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
37081 must respond with an empty packet.
37082
37083 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
37084 @cindex query attached, remote request
37085 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
37086 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
37087 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
37088 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
37089 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
37090 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
37091 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
37092
37093 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
37094 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
37095 the @code{quit} command.
37096
37097 Reply:
37098 @table @samp
37099 @item 1
37100 The remote server attached to an existing process.
37101 @item 0
37102 The remote server created a new process.
37103 @item E @var{NN}
37104 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37105 @end table
37106
37107 @end table
37108
37109 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
37110 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
37111
37112 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
37113 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
37114 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
37115
37116 @menu
37117 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
37118 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
37119 @end menu
37120
37121 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
37122 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
37123
37124 @menu
37125 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
37126 @end menu
37127
37128 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
37129 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
37130 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
37131
37132 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
37133
37134 @table @r
37135
37136 @item 2
37137 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
37138
37139 @item 3
37140 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
37141
37142 @item 4
37143 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
37144
37145 @end table
37146
37147 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
37148 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
37149
37150 @menu
37151 * MIPS Register packet Format::
37152 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
37153 @end menu
37154
37155 @node MIPS Register packet Format
37156 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
37157 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
37158
37159 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
37160 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
37161 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
37162 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
37163 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
37164 most-significant -- least-significant.
37165
37166 @table @r
37167
37168 @item MIPS32
37169 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
37170 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
37171 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
37172
37173 @item MIPS64
37174 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
37175 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
37176 as @code{MIPS32}.
37177
37178 @end table
37179
37180 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
37181 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
37182 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
37183
37184 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
37185
37186 @table @r
37187
37188 @item 2
37189 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
37190
37191 @item 3
37192 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
37193
37194 @item 4
37195 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
37196
37197 @item 5
37198 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
37199
37200 @end table
37201
37202 @node Tracepoint Packets
37203 @section Tracepoint Packets
37204 @cindex tracepoint packets
37205 @cindex packets, tracepoint
37206
37207 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
37208 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
37209
37210 @table @samp
37211
37212 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
37213 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
37214 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
37215 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
37216 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
37217 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
37218 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
37219 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
37220 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
37221 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
37222 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
37223 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
37224 actions.
37225
37226 Replies:
37227 @table @samp
37228 @item OK
37229 The packet was understood and carried out.
37230 @item qRelocInsn
37231 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37232 @item
37233 The packet was not recognized.
37234 @end table
37235
37236 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
37237 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
37238 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
37239 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
37240 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
37241 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
37242 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
37243
37244 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
37245 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
37246 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
37247 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
37248 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
37249 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
37250 tracepoint actions.
37251
37252 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
37253 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
37254 following forms:
37255
37256 @table @samp
37257
37258 @item R @var{mask}
37259 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
37260 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
37261 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
37262 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
37263 not fit in a 32-bit word.
37264
37265 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
37266 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
37267 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
37268 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
37269 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
37270 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
37271 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
37272
37273 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
37274 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
37275 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
37276 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
37277 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
37278 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
37279 packet).
37280
37281 @end table
37282
37283 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
37284 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
37285 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
37286 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
37287 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
37288 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
37289 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
37290 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
37291
37292 Replies:
37293 @table @samp
37294 @item OK
37295 The packet was understood and carried out.
37296 @item qRelocInsn
37297 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37298 @item
37299 The packet was not recognized.
37300 @end table
37301
37302 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
37303 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
37304 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
37305 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
37306 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
37307 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
37308 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
37309 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
37310
37311 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
37312 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
37313 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
37314 fit in a single packet.
37315 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
37316 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
37317
37318 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
37319 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
37320 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
37321 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
37322
37323 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
37324 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
37325 query packets.
37326
37327 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
37328 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
37329 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
37330 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
37331 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
37332 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
37333 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
37334 be found.
37335
37336 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
37337 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
37338 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
37339 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
37340 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
37341 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
37342 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
37343 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
37344 mentioned in expressions.
37345
37346 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
37347 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
37348 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
37349 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
37350
37351 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
37352 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
37353 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
37354 one of the following forms:
37355
37356 @table @samp
37357 @item F @var{f}
37358 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
37359 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
37360 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
37361
37362 @item T @var{t}
37363 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
37364 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
37365
37366 @end table
37367
37368 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
37369 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37370 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
37371 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
37372
37373 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
37374 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37375 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
37376 is a hexadecimal number.
37377
37378 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
37379 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37380 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
37381 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
37382 numbers.
37383
37384 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
37385 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
37386 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
37387
37388 @item qTMinFTPILen
37389 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
37390 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
37391 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
37392 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
37393 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
37394 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
37395 arrange for that.
37396
37397 Replies:
37398
37399 @table @samp
37400 @item 0
37401 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
37402 @item @var{length}
37403 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
37404 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
37405 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
37406 @item E
37407 An error has occurred.
37408 @item
37409 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
37410 @end table
37411
37412 @item QTStart
37413 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
37414 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
37415 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37416 instruction reply packet}).
37417
37418 @item QTStop
37419 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
37420
37421 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37422 @anchor{QTEnable}
37423 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37424 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
37425 of data from it will resume.
37426
37427 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37428 @anchor{QTDisable}
37429 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37430 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
37431 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
37432
37433 @item QTinit
37434 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
37435
37436 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
37437 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
37438 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
37439 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
37440
37441 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
37442 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
37443 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
37444 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
37445
37446 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
37447 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
37448 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
37449 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
37450 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
37451
37452 @item qTStatus
37453 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
37454
37455 The reply has the form:
37456
37457 @table @samp
37458
37459 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
37460 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
37461 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
37462 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
37463
37464 @end table
37465
37466 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
37467 explanations as one of the optional fields:
37468
37469 @table @samp
37470
37471 @item tnotrun:0
37472 No trace has been run yet.
37473
37474 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
37475 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
37476 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
37477 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
37478 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
37479
37480 @item tfull:0
37481 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
37482
37483 @item tdisconnected:0
37484 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
37485
37486 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
37487 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
37488
37489 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
37490 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
37491 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
37492 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
37493 @var{text} is hex encoded.
37494
37495 @item tunknown:0
37496 The trace stopped for some other reason.
37497
37498 @end table
37499
37500 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
37501 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
37502 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
37503 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
37504 trace.
37505
37506 @table @samp
37507
37508 @item tframes:@var{n}
37509 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
37510
37511 @item tcreated:@var{n}
37512 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
37513 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
37514
37515 @item tsize:@var{n}
37516 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
37517
37518 @item tfree:@var{n}
37519 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
37520
37521 @item circular:@var{n}
37522 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
37523 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
37524 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
37525 and may fill up.
37526
37527 @item disconn:@var{n}
37528 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
37529 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
37530 that the trace run will stop.
37531
37532 @end table
37533
37534 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
37535 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
37536 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
37537 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
37538 address @var{addr}.
37539
37540 Replies:
37541 @table @samp
37542 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
37543 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
37544 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
37545 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
37546 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
37547
37548 @end table
37549
37550 @item qTV:@var{var}
37551 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
37552 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
37553 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
37554
37555 Replies:
37556 @table @samp
37557 @item V@var{value}
37558 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
37559 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
37560 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
37561 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
37562 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
37563 program is running.
37564
37565 @item U
37566 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
37567 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
37568 was not collected.
37569 @end table
37570
37571 @item qTfP
37572 @itemx qTsP
37573 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
37574 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
37575 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
37576 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
37577 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
37578
37579 @item qTfV
37580 @itemx qTsV
37581 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
37582 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
37583 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
37584 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
37585 trace state variables.
37586
37587 @item qTfSTM
37588 @itemx qTsSTM
37589 @anchor{qTfSTM}
37590 @anchor{qTsSTM}
37591 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
37592 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
37593 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
37594 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
37595
37596 Reply:
37597 @table @samp
37598 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
37599 A single marker
37600 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
37601 a comma-separated list of markers
37602 @item l
37603 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
37604 @item E @var{nn}
37605 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
37606 @item
37607 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
37608 stub.
37609 @end table
37610
37611 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
37612 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
37613
37614 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
37615 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
37616 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
37617 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
37618 @dfn{last}).
37619
37620 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
37621 @anchor{qTSTMat}
37622 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
37623 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
37624 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
37625 tracepoint markers.
37626
37627 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
37628 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
37629 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
37630 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
37631 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
37632
37633 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
37634 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
37635 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
37636 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
37637 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
37638 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
37639 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
37640 available.
37641
37642 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
37643 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
37644 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
37645
37646 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
37647 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
37648 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
37649 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
37650
37651 @end table
37652
37653 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
37654 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
37655 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
37656 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
37657 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
37658 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
37659 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
37660 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
37661 it had executed in the original location.
37662
37663 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
37664 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
37665 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
37666 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
37667 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
37668 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
37669 format of the request is:
37670
37671 @table @samp
37672 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
37673
37674 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
37675 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
37676 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
37677 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
37678 memory starting at @var{to}.
37679 @end table
37680
37681 Replies:
37682 @table @samp
37683 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
37684 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
37685 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
37686 @item E @var{NN}
37687 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
37688 relocating the instruction.
37689 @end table
37690
37691 @node Host I/O Packets
37692 @section Host I/O Packets
37693 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
37694 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
37695
37696 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
37697 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
37698 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
37699 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
37700 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
37701 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
37702 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
37703 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
37704 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
37705 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
37706
37707 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
37708 its arguments. They have this format:
37709
37710 @table @samp
37711
37712 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
37713 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
37714 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
37715 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
37716 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
37717 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
37718 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
37719 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
37720 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
37721
37722 @end table
37723
37724 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
37725
37726 @table @samp
37727
37728 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
37729 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
37730 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
37731 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
37732 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
37733 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
37734 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
37735 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
37736 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
37737 @var{attachment}.
37738
37739 @item
37740 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
37741
37742 @end table
37743
37744 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
37745
37746 @table @samp
37747 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
37748 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
37749 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
37750 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
37751 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
37752 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
37753 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
37754
37755 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
37756 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
37757 -1 if an error occurs.
37758
37759 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
37760 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
37761 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
37762 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
37763 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
37764 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
37765 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
37766 @var{count} was zero.
37767
37768 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37769 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37770 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37771 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37772 some characters were escaped.
37773
37774 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
37775 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
37776 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
37777 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
37778 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
37779 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
37780 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
37781 error occurred.
37782
37783 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
37784 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
37785 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
37786
37787 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
37788 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
37789 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
37790
37791 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
37792 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
37793 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
37794 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
37795 some characters were escaped.
37796
37797 @end table
37798
37799 @node Interrupts
37800 @section Interrupts
37801 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
37802
37803 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
37804 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
37805 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
37806 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
37807
37808 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
37809 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
37810 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
37811 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
37812 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
37813
37814 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
37815 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
37816 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
37817 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
37818 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
37819 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
37820 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
37821 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
37822
37823 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
37824 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
37825 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
37826
37827 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
37828 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
37829 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
37830 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
37831 currently-executing threads and processes.
37832 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
37833 running program, it should send one of the stop
37834 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
37835 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
37836 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
37837 Interrupts received while the
37838 program is stopped are discarded.
37839
37840 @node Notification Packets
37841 @section Notification Packets
37842 @cindex notification packets
37843 @cindex packets, notification
37844
37845 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
37846 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
37847 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
37848 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
37849 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
37850 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
37851 is not a problem.
37852
37853 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
37854 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
37855 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
37856 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
37857 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
37858 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
37859 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
37860
37861 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
37862 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
37863
37864 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
37865 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
37866 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
37867 not they understand it.
37868
37869 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
37870 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
37871 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
37872 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
37873 recipients.
37874
37875 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
37876 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
37877 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
37878 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
37879 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
37880
37881 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
37882 defined:
37883
37884 @table @samp
37885 @item Stop: @var{reply}
37886 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
37887 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
37888 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
37889 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
37890 @value{GDBN}.
37891 @end table
37892
37893 @node Remote Non-Stop
37894 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
37895
37896 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
37897 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
37898 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
37899 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37900
37901 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
37902 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
37903 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
37904 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
37905 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
37906 probe the target state after a mode change.
37907
37908 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
37909 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
37910 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
37911 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
37912 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
37913 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
37914 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
37915 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
37916 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
37917 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
37918 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
37919
37920 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
37921 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
37922 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
37923 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
37924 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
37925 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
37926 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
37927 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
37928 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
37929 sending any queued stop events.
37930
37931 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
37932 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
37933 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
37934 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
37935 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
37936 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
37937 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
37938
37939 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
37940 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
37941 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
37942 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
37943 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
37944 process normally.
37945
37946 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
37947 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
37948 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
37949 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
37950 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
37951 should process normally.
37952
37953 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
37954 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
37955 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
37956 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
37957 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
37958
37959 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
37960 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
37961 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
37962 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
37963 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
37964 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
37965 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
37966 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
37967 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
37968 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
37969 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
37970 @samp{OK}.
37971
37972 @node Packet Acknowledgment
37973 @section Packet Acknowledgment
37974
37975 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
37976 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
37977 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
37978 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37979 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
37980 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
37981 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
37982
37983 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
37984 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
37985 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
37986 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
37987 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
37988
37989 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
37990 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
37991 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
37992 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
37993
37994 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
37995 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
37996 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
37997 @pxref{qSupported}.
37998 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
37999 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
38000 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
38001 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
38002 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
38003 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
38004 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
38005
38006 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
38007 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
38008 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
38009 connection.
38010 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
38011 new connection is established,
38012 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
38013 for the current connection, once disabled.
38014
38015 @node Examples
38016 @section Examples
38017
38018 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
38019 does not get any direct output:
38020
38021 @smallexample
38022 -> @code{R00}
38023 <- @code{+}
38024 @emph{target restarts}
38025 -> @code{?}
38026 <- @code{+}
38027 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
38028 -> @code{+}
38029 @end smallexample
38030
38031 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
38032
38033 @smallexample
38034 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
38035 <- @code{+}
38036 -> @code{s}
38037 <- @code{+}
38038 @emph{time passes}
38039 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
38040 -> @code{+}
38041 -> @code{g}
38042 <- @code{+}
38043 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
38044 -> @code{+}
38045 @end smallexample
38046
38047 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
38048 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
38049 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
38050
38051 @menu
38052 * File-I/O Overview::
38053 * Protocol Basics::
38054 * The F Request Packet::
38055 * The F Reply Packet::
38056 * The Ctrl-C Message::
38057 * Console I/O::
38058 * List of Supported Calls::
38059 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
38060 * Constants::
38061 * File-I/O Examples::
38062 @end menu
38063
38064 @node File-I/O Overview
38065 @subsection File-I/O Overview
38066 @cindex file-i/o overview
38067
38068 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
38069 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
38070 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
38071 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
38072 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
38073 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
38074
38075 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
38076 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
38077 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
38078 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
38079 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
38080
38081 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
38082 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38083 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
38084 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
38085 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
38086 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
38087 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
38088
38089 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
38090 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
38091 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
38092 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
38093 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
38094
38095 @smallexample
38096 (@value{GDBP}) continue
38097 <- target requests 'system call X'
38098 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
38099 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
38100 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
38101 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
38102 @end smallexample
38103
38104 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
38105 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
38106 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
38107 system are not supported by this protocol.
38108
38109 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
38110
38111 @node Protocol Basics
38112 @subsection Protocol Basics
38113 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
38114
38115 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
38116 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
38117 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
38118 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
38119 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
38120 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
38121 to call the appropriate host system call:
38122
38123 @itemize @bullet
38124 @item
38125 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
38126
38127 @item
38128 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
38129 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
38130 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
38131 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
38132
38133 @end itemize
38134
38135 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
38136
38137 @itemize @bullet
38138 @item
38139 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
38140 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
38141 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
38142 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
38143 packet.
38144
38145 @item
38146 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
38147 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
38148
38149 @item
38150 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
38151
38152 @item
38153 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
38154
38155 @item
38156 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
38157 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
38158 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
38159 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
38160 packet.
38161
38162 @end itemize
38163
38164 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
38165 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
38166
38167 @itemize @bullet
38168 @item
38169 Return value.
38170
38171 @item
38172 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
38173
38174 @item
38175 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
38176
38177 @end itemize
38178
38179 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
38180 the latest continue or step action.
38181
38182 @node The F Request Packet
38183 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
38184 @cindex file-i/o request packet
38185 @cindex @code{F} request packet
38186
38187 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
38188
38189 @table @samp
38190 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
38191
38192 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
38193 This is just the name of the function.
38194
38195 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
38196 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
38197 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
38198 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
38199 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
38200 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
38201 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
38202
38203 @end table
38204
38205
38206
38207 @node The F Reply Packet
38208 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
38209 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
38210 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
38211
38212 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
38213
38214 @table @samp
38215
38216 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
38217
38218 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
38219
38220 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
38221 representation.
38222 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
38223
38224 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
38225 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
38226 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
38227
38228 @smallexample
38229 F0,0,C
38230 @end smallexample
38231
38232 @noindent
38233 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
38234
38235 @smallexample
38236 F-1,4,C
38237 @end smallexample
38238
38239 @noindent
38240 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
38241
38242 @end table
38243
38244
38245 @node The Ctrl-C Message
38246 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
38247 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
38248
38249 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
38250 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
38251 the target should behave as if it had
38252 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
38253 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
38254 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
38255 packet.
38256
38257 It's important for the target to know in which
38258 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
38259
38260 @itemize @bullet
38261 @item
38262 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
38263
38264 @item
38265 The system call on the host has been finished.
38266
38267 @end itemize
38268
38269 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
38270 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
38271 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
38272 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
38273 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
38274 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
38275
38276 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
38277 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
38278 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
38279 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
38280 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
38281 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
38282 or the full action has been completed.
38283
38284 @node Console I/O
38285 @subsection Console I/O
38286 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
38287
38288 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
38289 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
38290 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
38291 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
38292 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
38293 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
38294 conditions is met:
38295
38296 @itemize @bullet
38297 @item
38298 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
38299 @code{read}
38300 system call is treated as finished.
38301
38302 @item
38303 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
38304 newline.
38305
38306 @item
38307 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
38308 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
38309
38310 @end itemize
38311
38312 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
38313 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
38314 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
38315 is stopped at the user's request.
38316
38317
38318 @node List of Supported Calls
38319 @subsection List of Supported Calls
38320 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
38321
38322 @menu
38323 * open::
38324 * close::
38325 * read::
38326 * write::
38327 * lseek::
38328 * rename::
38329 * unlink::
38330 * stat/fstat::
38331 * gettimeofday::
38332 * isatty::
38333 * system::
38334 @end menu
38335
38336 @node open
38337 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
38338 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
38339
38340 @table @asis
38341 @item Synopsis:
38342 @smallexample
38343 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
38344 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
38345 @end smallexample
38346
38347 @item Request:
38348 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
38349
38350 @noindent
38351 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38352
38353 @table @code
38354 @item O_CREAT
38355 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
38356 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
38357 are concerned.
38358
38359 @item O_EXCL
38360 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
38361 an error and open() fails.
38362
38363 @item O_TRUNC
38364 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
38365 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
38366 truncated to zero length.
38367
38368 @item O_APPEND
38369 The file is opened in append mode.
38370
38371 @item O_RDONLY
38372 The file is opened for reading only.
38373
38374 @item O_WRONLY
38375 The file is opened for writing only.
38376
38377 @item O_RDWR
38378 The file is opened for reading and writing.
38379 @end table
38380
38381 @noindent
38382 Other bits are silently ignored.
38383
38384
38385 @noindent
38386 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38387
38388 @table @code
38389 @item S_IRUSR
38390 User has read permission.
38391
38392 @item S_IWUSR
38393 User has write permission.
38394
38395 @item S_IRGRP
38396 Group has read permission.
38397
38398 @item S_IWGRP
38399 Group has write permission.
38400
38401 @item S_IROTH
38402 Others have read permission.
38403
38404 @item S_IWOTH
38405 Others have write permission.
38406 @end table
38407
38408 @noindent
38409 Other bits are silently ignored.
38410
38411
38412 @item Return value:
38413 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
38414 occurred.
38415
38416 @item Errors:
38417
38418 @table @code
38419 @item EEXIST
38420 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
38421
38422 @item EISDIR
38423 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
38424
38425 @item EACCES
38426 The requested access is not allowed.
38427
38428 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38429 @var{pathname} was too long.
38430
38431 @item ENOENT
38432 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38433
38434 @item ENODEV
38435 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
38436
38437 @item EROFS
38438 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
38439 write access was requested.
38440
38441 @item EFAULT
38442 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
38443
38444 @item ENOSPC
38445 No space on device to create the file.
38446
38447 @item EMFILE
38448 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
38449
38450 @item ENFILE
38451 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
38452 has been reached.
38453
38454 @item EINTR
38455 The call was interrupted by the user.
38456 @end table
38457
38458 @end table
38459
38460 @node close
38461 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
38462 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
38463
38464 @table @asis
38465 @item Synopsis:
38466 @smallexample
38467 int close(int fd);
38468 @end smallexample
38469
38470 @item Request:
38471 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
38472
38473 @item Return value:
38474 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
38475
38476 @item Errors:
38477
38478 @table @code
38479 @item EBADF
38480 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
38481
38482 @item EINTR
38483 The call was interrupted by the user.
38484 @end table
38485
38486 @end table
38487
38488 @node read
38489 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
38490 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
38491
38492 @table @asis
38493 @item Synopsis:
38494 @smallexample
38495 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
38496 @end smallexample
38497
38498 @item Request:
38499 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
38500
38501 @item Return value:
38502 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
38503 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
38504 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
38505
38506 @item Errors:
38507
38508 @table @code
38509 @item EBADF
38510 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
38511 reading.
38512
38513 @item EFAULT
38514 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38515
38516 @item EINTR
38517 The call was interrupted by the user.
38518 @end table
38519
38520 @end table
38521
38522 @node write
38523 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
38524 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
38525
38526 @table @asis
38527 @item Synopsis:
38528 @smallexample
38529 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
38530 @end smallexample
38531
38532 @item Request:
38533 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
38534
38535 @item Return value:
38536 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
38537 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
38538 is returned.
38539
38540 @item Errors:
38541
38542 @table @code
38543 @item EBADF
38544 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
38545 writing.
38546
38547 @item EFAULT
38548 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38549
38550 @item EFBIG
38551 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
38552 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
38553
38554 @item ENOSPC
38555 No space on device to write the data.
38556
38557 @item EINTR
38558 The call was interrupted by the user.
38559 @end table
38560
38561 @end table
38562
38563 @node lseek
38564 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
38565 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
38566
38567 @table @asis
38568 @item Synopsis:
38569 @smallexample
38570 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
38571 @end smallexample
38572
38573 @item Request:
38574 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
38575
38576 @var{flag} is one of:
38577
38578 @table @code
38579 @item SEEK_SET
38580 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
38581
38582 @item SEEK_CUR
38583 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
38584 bytes.
38585
38586 @item SEEK_END
38587 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
38588 bytes.
38589 @end table
38590
38591 @item Return value:
38592 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
38593 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
38594 value of -1 is returned.
38595
38596 @item Errors:
38597
38598 @table @code
38599 @item EBADF
38600 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
38601
38602 @item ESPIPE
38603 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
38604
38605 @item EINVAL
38606 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
38607
38608 @item EINTR
38609 The call was interrupted by the user.
38610 @end table
38611
38612 @end table
38613
38614 @node rename
38615 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
38616 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
38617
38618 @table @asis
38619 @item Synopsis:
38620 @smallexample
38621 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
38622 @end smallexample
38623
38624 @item Request:
38625 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
38626
38627 @item Return value:
38628 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38629
38630 @item Errors:
38631
38632 @table @code
38633 @item EISDIR
38634 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
38635 directory.
38636
38637 @item EEXIST
38638 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
38639
38640 @item EBUSY
38641 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
38642 process.
38643
38644 @item EINVAL
38645 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
38646 of itself.
38647
38648 @item ENOTDIR
38649 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
38650 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
38651 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
38652
38653 @item EFAULT
38654 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
38655
38656 @item EACCES
38657 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38658
38659 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38660
38661 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
38662
38663 @item ENOENT
38664 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
38665
38666 @item EROFS
38667 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38668
38669 @item ENOSPC
38670 The device containing the file has no room for the new
38671 directory entry.
38672
38673 @item EINTR
38674 The call was interrupted by the user.
38675 @end table
38676
38677 @end table
38678
38679 @node unlink
38680 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
38681 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
38682
38683 @table @asis
38684 @item Synopsis:
38685 @smallexample
38686 int unlink(const char *pathname);
38687 @end smallexample
38688
38689 @item Request:
38690 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
38691
38692 @item Return value:
38693 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38694
38695 @item Errors:
38696
38697 @table @code
38698 @item EACCES
38699 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38700
38701 @item EPERM
38702 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
38703
38704 @item EBUSY
38705 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
38706 being used by another process.
38707
38708 @item EFAULT
38709 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38710
38711 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38712 @var{pathname} was too long.
38713
38714 @item ENOENT
38715 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
38716
38717 @item ENOTDIR
38718 A component of the path is not a directory.
38719
38720 @item EROFS
38721 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
38722
38723 @item EINTR
38724 The call was interrupted by the user.
38725 @end table
38726
38727 @end table
38728
38729 @node stat/fstat
38730 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
38731 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
38732 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
38733
38734 @table @asis
38735 @item Synopsis:
38736 @smallexample
38737 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
38738 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
38739 @end smallexample
38740
38741 @item Request:
38742 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
38743 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
38744
38745 @item Return value:
38746 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
38747
38748 @item Errors:
38749
38750 @table @code
38751 @item EBADF
38752 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
38753
38754 @item ENOENT
38755 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
38756 path is an empty string.
38757
38758 @item ENOTDIR
38759 A component of the path is not a directory.
38760
38761 @item EFAULT
38762 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38763
38764 @item EACCES
38765 No access to the file or the path of the file.
38766
38767 @item ENAMETOOLONG
38768 @var{pathname} was too long.
38769
38770 @item EINTR
38771 The call was interrupted by the user.
38772 @end table
38773
38774 @end table
38775
38776 @node gettimeofday
38777 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
38778 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
38779
38780 @table @asis
38781 @item Synopsis:
38782 @smallexample
38783 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
38784 @end smallexample
38785
38786 @item Request:
38787 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
38788
38789 @item Return value:
38790 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
38791
38792 @item Errors:
38793
38794 @table @code
38795 @item EINVAL
38796 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
38797
38798 @item EFAULT
38799 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
38800 @end table
38801
38802 @end table
38803
38804 @node isatty
38805 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
38806 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
38807
38808 @table @asis
38809 @item Synopsis:
38810 @smallexample
38811 int isatty(int fd);
38812 @end smallexample
38813
38814 @item Request:
38815 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
38816
38817 @item Return value:
38818 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
38819
38820 @item Errors:
38821
38822 @table @code
38823 @item EINTR
38824 The call was interrupted by the user.
38825 @end table
38826
38827 @end table
38828
38829 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
38830 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
38831 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
38832 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
38833 needed.
38834
38835
38836 @node system
38837 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
38838 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
38839
38840 @table @asis
38841 @item Synopsis:
38842 @smallexample
38843 int system(const char *command);
38844 @end smallexample
38845
38846 @item Request:
38847 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
38848
38849 @item Return value:
38850 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
38851 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
38852 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
38853 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
38854 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
38855 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
38856 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
38857
38858 @item Errors:
38859
38860 @table @code
38861 @item EINTR
38862 The call was interrupted by the user.
38863 @end table
38864
38865 @end table
38866
38867 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
38868 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
38869 the host is simplified before it's returned
38870 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
38871 is discarded, and the return value consists
38872 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
38873
38874 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
38875 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
38876 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
38877
38878 @table @code
38879 @item set remote system-call-allowed
38880 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
38881 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
38882 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
38883
38884 @item show remote system-call-allowed
38885 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
38886 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
38887 protocol.
38888 @end table
38889
38890 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
38891 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
38892 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
38893
38894 @menu
38895 * Integral Datatypes::
38896 * Pointer Values::
38897 * Memory Transfer::
38898 * struct stat::
38899 * struct timeval::
38900 @end menu
38901
38902 @node Integral Datatypes
38903 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
38904 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
38905
38906 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
38907 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
38908 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
38909
38910 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
38911 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
38912
38913 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
38914
38915 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
38916 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
38917
38918 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
38919
38920 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
38921 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
38922 byte order.
38923
38924 @node Pointer Values
38925 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
38926 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
38927
38928 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
38929 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
38930 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
38931 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
38932
38933 @smallexample
38934 @code{1aaf/12}
38935 @end smallexample
38936
38937 @noindent
38938 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
38939 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
38940 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
38941 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
38942
38943 @smallexample
38944 @code{123456/d}
38945 @end smallexample
38946
38947 @node Memory Transfer
38948 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
38949 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
38950
38951 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
38952 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
38953 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
38954 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
38955 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
38956 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
38957 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
38958
38959
38960 @node struct stat
38961 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
38962 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
38963
38964 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
38965 is defined as follows:
38966
38967 @smallexample
38968 struct stat @{
38969 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
38970 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
38971 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
38972 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
38973 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
38974 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
38975 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
38976 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
38977 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
38978 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
38979 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
38980 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
38981 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
38982 @};
38983 @end smallexample
38984
38985 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
38986 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
38987 structure is of size 64 bytes.
38988
38989 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
38990 range of values.
38991
38992 @table @code
38993
38994 @item st_dev
38995 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
38996
38997 @item st_ino
38998 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
38999
39000 @item st_mode
39001 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
39002 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
39003
39004 @item st_uid
39005 @itemx st_gid
39006 @itemx st_rdev
39007 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
39008
39009 @item st_atime
39010 @itemx st_mtime
39011 @itemx st_ctime
39012 These values have a host and file system dependent
39013 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
39014 support exact timing values.
39015 @end table
39016
39017 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
39018 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
39019 continuing.
39020
39021 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
39022 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
39023 get truncated on the target.
39024
39025 @node struct timeval
39026 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
39027 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
39028
39029 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
39030 is defined as follows:
39031
39032 @smallexample
39033 struct timeval @{
39034 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
39035 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
39036 @};
39037 @end smallexample
39038
39039 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
39040 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
39041 structure is of size 8 bytes.
39042
39043 @node Constants
39044 @subsection Constants
39045 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
39046
39047 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
39048 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
39049 values before and after the call as needed.
39050
39051 @menu
39052 * Open Flags::
39053 * mode_t Values::
39054 * Errno Values::
39055 * Lseek Flags::
39056 * Limits::
39057 @end menu
39058
39059 @node Open Flags
39060 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
39061 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
39062
39063 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
39064
39065 @smallexample
39066 O_RDONLY 0x0
39067 O_WRONLY 0x1
39068 O_RDWR 0x2
39069 O_APPEND 0x8
39070 O_CREAT 0x200
39071 O_TRUNC 0x400
39072 O_EXCL 0x800
39073 @end smallexample
39074
39075 @node mode_t Values
39076 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
39077 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
39078
39079 All values are given in octal representation.
39080
39081 @smallexample
39082 S_IFREG 0100000
39083 S_IFDIR 040000
39084 S_IRUSR 0400
39085 S_IWUSR 0200
39086 S_IXUSR 0100
39087 S_IRGRP 040
39088 S_IWGRP 020
39089 S_IXGRP 010
39090 S_IROTH 04
39091 S_IWOTH 02
39092 S_IXOTH 01
39093 @end smallexample
39094
39095 @node Errno Values
39096 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
39097 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
39098
39099 All values are given in decimal representation.
39100
39101 @smallexample
39102 EPERM 1
39103 ENOENT 2
39104 EINTR 4
39105 EBADF 9
39106 EACCES 13
39107 EFAULT 14
39108 EBUSY 16
39109 EEXIST 17
39110 ENODEV 19
39111 ENOTDIR 20
39112 EISDIR 21
39113 EINVAL 22
39114 ENFILE 23
39115 EMFILE 24
39116 EFBIG 27
39117 ENOSPC 28
39118 ESPIPE 29
39119 EROFS 30
39120 ENAMETOOLONG 91
39121 EUNKNOWN 9999
39122 @end smallexample
39123
39124 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
39125 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
39126
39127 @node Lseek Flags
39128 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
39129 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
39130
39131 @smallexample
39132 SEEK_SET 0
39133 SEEK_CUR 1
39134 SEEK_END 2
39135 @end smallexample
39136
39137 @node Limits
39138 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
39139 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
39140
39141 All values are given in decimal representation.
39142
39143 @smallexample
39144 INT_MIN -2147483648
39145 INT_MAX 2147483647
39146 UINT_MAX 4294967295
39147 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
39148 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
39149 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
39150 @end smallexample
39151
39152 @node File-I/O Examples
39153 @subsection File-I/O Examples
39154 @cindex file-i/o examples
39155
39156 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
39157 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
39158
39159 @smallexample
39160 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
39161 @emph{request memory read from target}
39162 -> @code{m1234,6}
39163 <- XXXXXX
39164 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
39165 -> @code{F6}
39166 @end smallexample
39167
39168 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
39169 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
39170
39171 @smallexample
39172 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39173 @emph{request memory write to target}
39174 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
39175 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
39176 -> @code{F6}
39177 @end smallexample
39178
39179 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
39180 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
39181
39182 @smallexample
39183 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39184 -> @code{F-1,9}
39185 @end smallexample
39186
39187 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
39188 host is called:
39189
39190 @smallexample
39191 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39192 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
39193 <- @code{T02}
39194 @end smallexample
39195
39196 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
39197 host is called:
39198
39199 @smallexample
39200 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39201 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
39202 <- @code{T02}
39203 @end smallexample
39204
39205 @node Library List Format
39206 @section Library List Format
39207 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
39208
39209 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
39210 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
39211 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
39212 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
39213 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
39214 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
39215 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
39216 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
39217 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
39218 are loaded.
39219
39220 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
39221 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
39222 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
39223 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
39224
39225 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
39226 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
39227 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
39228 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
39229 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
39230 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
39231
39232 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39233 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39234
39235 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
39236 offset, looks like this:
39237
39238 @smallexample
39239 <library-list>
39240 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
39241 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
39242 </library>
39243 </library-list>
39244 @end smallexample
39245
39246 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
39247 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
39248
39249 @smallexample
39250 <library-list>
39251 <library name="sharedlib.o">
39252 <section address="0x10000000"/>
39253 <section address="0x20000000"/>
39254 <section address="0x30000000"/>
39255 </library>
39256 </library-list>
39257 @end smallexample
39258
39259 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
39260
39261 @smallexample
39262 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
39263 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
39264 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39265 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
39266 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39267 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
39268 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
39269 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
39270 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
39271 @end smallexample
39272
39273 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
39274 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
39275 section for each library.
39276
39277 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
39278 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
39279 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
39280
39281 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
39282 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
39283 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
39284 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
39285
39286 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
39287 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
39288 target, the following parameters are reported:
39289
39290 @itemize @minus
39291 @item
39292 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
39293 @code{struct link_map}.
39294 @item
39295 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
39296 (Thread Local Storage) access.
39297 @item
39298 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
39299 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
39300 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
39301 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
39302 @item
39303 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
39304 @end itemize
39305
39306 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
39307 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
39308 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
39309
39310 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39311 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39312
39313 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
39314 looks like this:
39315
39316 @smallexample
39317 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
39318 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
39319 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
39320 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
39321 l_ld="0x152350"/>
39322 </library-list-svr>
39323 @end smallexample
39324
39325 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
39326
39327 @smallexample
39328 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
39329 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
39330 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39331 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
39332 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
39333 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39334 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
39335 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
39336 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
39337 @end smallexample
39338
39339 @node Memory Map Format
39340 @section Memory Map Format
39341 @cindex memory map format
39342
39343 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
39344 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
39345 memory map.
39346
39347 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39348 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
39349 lists memory regions.
39350
39351 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39352 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
39353
39354 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39355
39356 @smallexample
39357 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39358 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
39359 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39360 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
39361 <memory-map>
39362 region...
39363 </memory-map>
39364 @end smallexample
39365
39366 Each region can be either:
39367
39368 @itemize
39369
39370 @item
39371 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
39372 bytes from there:
39373
39374 @smallexample
39375 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39376 @end smallexample
39377
39378
39379 @item
39380 A region of read-only memory:
39381
39382 @smallexample
39383 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39384 @end smallexample
39385
39386
39387 @item
39388 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
39389 bytes in length:
39390
39391 @smallexample
39392 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
39393 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
39394 </memory>
39395 @end smallexample
39396
39397 @end itemize
39398
39399 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
39400 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
39401 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
39402
39403 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
39404
39405 @smallexample
39406 <!-- ................................................... -->
39407 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
39408 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
39409 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
39410 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
39411 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
39412 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
39413 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
39414 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
39415 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
39416 and its type, or device. -->
39417 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
39418 start CDATA #REQUIRED
39419 length CDATA #REQUIRED
39420 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
39421 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
39422 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
39423 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39424 @end smallexample
39425
39426 @node Thread List Format
39427 @section Thread List Format
39428 @cindex thread list format
39429
39430 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
39431 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39432 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
39433 the following structure:
39434
39435 @smallexample
39436 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39437 <threads>
39438 <thread id="id" core="0">
39439 ... description ...
39440 </thread>
39441 </threads>
39442 @end smallexample
39443
39444 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
39445 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
39446 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
39447 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
39448 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
39449
39450 @node Traceframe Info Format
39451 @section Traceframe Info Format
39452 @cindex traceframe info format
39453
39454 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
39455 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
39456 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
39457 collected in a traceframe.
39458
39459 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39460 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
39461
39462 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39463 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
39464
39465 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39466
39467 @smallexample
39468 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39469 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
39470 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39471 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
39472 <traceframe-info>
39473 block...
39474 </traceframe-info>
39475 @end smallexample
39476
39477 Each traceframe block can be either:
39478
39479 @itemize
39480
39481 @item
39482 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
39483 @var{length} bytes from there:
39484
39485 @smallexample
39486 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39487 @end smallexample
39488
39489 @end itemize
39490
39491 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
39492
39493 @smallexample
39494 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
39495 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39496
39497 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
39498 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
39499 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
39500 @end smallexample
39501
39502 @include agentexpr.texi
39503
39504 @node Target Descriptions
39505 @appendix Target Descriptions
39506 @cindex target descriptions
39507
39508 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
39509 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
39510 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
39511 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
39512 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
39513 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
39514 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
39515
39516 @itemize @bullet
39517 @item
39518 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
39519 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
39520 @item
39521 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
39522 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
39523 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
39524 @item
39525 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
39526 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
39527 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
39528 @end itemize
39529
39530 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
39531 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
39532 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
39533 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
39534 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
39535
39536 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39537 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
39538
39539 @menu
39540 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
39541 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
39542 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
39543 descriptions.
39544 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
39545 @end menu
39546
39547 @node Retrieving Descriptions
39548 @section Retrieving Descriptions
39549
39550 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
39551 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
39552 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
39553 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
39554 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
39555 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
39556 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
39557 Format}.
39558
39559 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
39560 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
39561 specify a file are:
39562
39563 @table @code
39564 @cindex set tdesc filename
39565 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
39566 Read the target description from @var{path}.
39567
39568 @cindex unset tdesc filename
39569 @item unset tdesc filename
39570 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
39571 will use the description supplied by the current target.
39572
39573 @cindex show tdesc filename
39574 @item show tdesc filename
39575 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
39576 @end table
39577
39578
39579 @node Target Description Format
39580 @section Target Description Format
39581 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
39582
39583 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
39584 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
39585 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
39586 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
39587 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
39588 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
39589 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
39590
39591 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
39592 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
39593 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
39594 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
39595 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
39596
39597 Here is a simple target description:
39598
39599 @smallexample
39600 <target version="1.0">
39601 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
39602 </target>
39603 @end smallexample
39604
39605 @noindent
39606 This minimal description only says that the target uses
39607 the x86-64 architecture.
39608
39609 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
39610 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
39611 are explained further below.
39612
39613 @smallexample
39614 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39615 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
39616 <target version="1.0">
39617 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
39618 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
39619 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
39620 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
39621 </target>
39622 @end smallexample
39623
39624 @noindent
39625 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
39626 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
39627 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
39628 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
39629 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
39630 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
39631 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
39632 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
39633 the version mismatch.
39634
39635 @subsection Inclusion
39636 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
39637 @cindex XInclude
39638 @ifnotinfo
39639 @cindex <xi:include>
39640 @end ifnotinfo
39641
39642 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
39643 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
39644 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
39645 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
39646 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
39647
39648 @smallexample
39649 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
39650 @end smallexample
39651
39652 @noindent
39653 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
39654 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
39655 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
39656 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
39657 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
39658 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
39659 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
39660 original description.
39661
39662 @subsection Architecture
39663 @cindex <architecture>
39664
39665 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
39666
39667 @smallexample
39668 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
39669 @end smallexample
39670
39671 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39672 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39673
39674 @subsection OS ABI
39675 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
39676
39677 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39678 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39679
39680 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
39681
39682 @smallexample
39683 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
39684 @end smallexample
39685
39686 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
39687 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
39688
39689 @subsection Compatible Architecture
39690 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
39691
39692 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
39693 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
39694
39695 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
39696
39697 @smallexample
39698 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
39699 @end smallexample
39700
39701 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
39702 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
39703
39704 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
39705 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
39706 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
39707 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
39708 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
39709 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
39710 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
39711
39712 @smallexample
39713 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
39714 <compatible>spu</compatible>
39715 @end smallexample
39716
39717 @subsection Features
39718 @cindex <feature>
39719
39720 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
39721 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
39722 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
39723 has this form:
39724
39725 @smallexample
39726 <feature name="@var{name}">
39727 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
39728 @var{reg}@dots{}
39729 </feature>
39730 @end smallexample
39731
39732 @noindent
39733 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
39734 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
39735 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
39736 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
39737
39738 @subsection Types
39739
39740 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
39741 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
39742 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
39743 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
39744 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
39745
39746 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
39747 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
39748 Types must be defined before they are used.
39749
39750 @cindex <vector>
39751 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
39752 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
39753 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
39754 @var{count}:
39755
39756 @smallexample
39757 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
39758 @end smallexample
39759
39760 @cindex <union>
39761 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
39762 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
39763 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
39764 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
39765
39766 @smallexample
39767 <union id="@var{id}">
39768 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39769 @dots{}
39770 </union>
39771 @end smallexample
39772
39773 @cindex <struct>
39774 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
39775 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
39776 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
39777 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
39778 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
39779 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
39780 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
39781 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
39782
39783 @smallexample
39784 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
39785 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
39786 @dots{}
39787 </struct>
39788 @end smallexample
39789
39790 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
39791 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
39792
39793 @smallexample
39794 <struct id="@var{id}">
39795 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
39796 @dots{}
39797 </struct>
39798 @end smallexample
39799
39800 @cindex <flags>
39801 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
39802 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
39803 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
39804 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
39805 are supported.
39806
39807 @smallexample
39808 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
39809 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
39810 @dots{}
39811 </flags>
39812 @end smallexample
39813
39814 @subsection Registers
39815 @cindex <reg>
39816
39817 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
39818
39819 @smallexample
39820 <reg name="@var{name}"
39821 bitsize="@var{size}"
39822 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
39823 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
39824 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
39825 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
39826 @end smallexample
39827
39828 @noindent
39829 The components are as follows:
39830
39831 @table @var
39832
39833 @item name
39834 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
39835
39836 @item bitsize
39837 The register's size, in bits.
39838
39839 @item regnum
39840 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
39841 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
39842 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
39843 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
39844 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
39845 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
39846 in order of increasing register number.
39847
39848 @item save-restore
39849 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
39850 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
39851 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
39852 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
39853 ABI.
39854
39855 @item type
39856 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
39857 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
39858 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
39859 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
39860 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
39861 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
39862
39863 @item group
39864 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
39865 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
39866 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
39867 in @code{info registers}.
39868
39869 @end table
39870
39871 @node Predefined Target Types
39872 @section Predefined Target Types
39873 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
39874
39875 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
39876 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
39877 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
39878 types. The currently supported types are:
39879
39880 @table @code
39881
39882 @item int8
39883 @itemx int16
39884 @itemx int32
39885 @itemx int64
39886 @itemx int128
39887 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
39888
39889 @item uint8
39890 @itemx uint16
39891 @itemx uint32
39892 @itemx uint64
39893 @itemx uint128
39894 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
39895
39896 @item code_ptr
39897 @itemx data_ptr
39898 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
39899 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
39900 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
39901 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
39902 may be marked as data pointers.
39903
39904 @item ieee_single
39905 Single precision IEEE floating point.
39906
39907 @item ieee_double
39908 Double precision IEEE floating point.
39909
39910 @item arm_fpa_ext
39911 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
39912
39913 @item i387_ext
39914 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
39915
39916 @item i386_eflags
39917 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
39918
39919 @item i386_mxcsr
39920 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
39921
39922 @end table
39923
39924 @node Standard Target Features
39925 @section Standard Target Features
39926 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
39927
39928 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
39929 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
39930 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
39931 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
39932 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
39933 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
39934 can recognize them.
39935
39936 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
39937 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
39938 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
39939 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
39940 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
39941 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
39942 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
39943 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
39944
39945 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
39946 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
39947 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
39948
39949 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
39950 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
39951 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
39952 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
39953
39954 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
39955 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
39956 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
39957
39958 @menu
39959 * ARM Features::
39960 * i386 Features::
39961 * MIPS Features::
39962 * M68K Features::
39963 * PowerPC Features::
39964 * TIC6x Features::
39965 @end menu
39966
39967
39968 @node ARM Features
39969 @subsection ARM Features
39970 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
39971
39972 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
39973 ARM targets.
39974 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
39975 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
39976
39977 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
39978 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
39979 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
39980 and @samp{xpsr}.
39981
39982 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
39983 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
39984
39985 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
39986 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
39987 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
39988 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
39989
39990 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
39991 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
39992 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
39993 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
39994 halves of the double-precision registers.
39995
39996 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
39997 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
39998 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
39999 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
40000 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
40001 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
40002
40003 @node i386 Features
40004 @subsection i386 Features
40005 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
40006
40007 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
40008 targets. It should describe the following registers:
40009
40010 @itemize @minus
40011 @item
40012 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
40013 @item
40014 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
40015 @item
40016 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
40017 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
40018 @item
40019 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
40020 @item
40021 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
40022 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
40023 @end itemize
40024
40025 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
40026
40027 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
40028 describe registers:
40029
40030 @itemize @minus
40031 @item
40032 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
40033 @item
40034 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
40035 @item
40036 @samp{mxcsr}
40037 @end itemize
40038
40039 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
40040 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
40041 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
40042
40043 @itemize @minus
40044 @item
40045 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
40046 @item
40047 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
40048 @end itemize
40049
40050 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
40051 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
40052
40053 @node MIPS Features
40054 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
40055 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
40056
40057 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
40058 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
40059 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
40060 on the target.
40061
40062 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
40063 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
40064 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40065
40066 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
40067 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
40068 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
40069 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40070
40071 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
40072 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
40073 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
40074 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40075
40076 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
40077 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
40078 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
40079
40080 @node M68K Features
40081 @subsection M68K Features
40082 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
40083
40084 @table @code
40085 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
40086 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
40087 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
40088 One of those features must be always present.
40089 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
40090 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
40091 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
40092 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
40093
40094 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
40095 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
40096 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
40097 @samp{fpiaddr}.
40098 @end table
40099
40100 @node PowerPC Features
40101 @subsection PowerPC Features
40102 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
40103
40104 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
40105 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
40106 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
40107 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40108
40109 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
40110 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
40111
40112 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
40113 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
40114 and @samp{vrsave}.
40115
40116 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
40117 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
40118 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
40119 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
40120 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
40121 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
40122
40123 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
40124 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
40125 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
40126 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
40127 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
40128 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
40129 user.
40130
40131 @node TIC6x Features
40132 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
40133 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
40134 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
40135 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
40136 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
40137 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
40138
40139 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
40140 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
40141 through @samp{B31}.
40142
40143 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
40144 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
40145
40146 @node Operating System Information
40147 @appendix Operating System Information
40148 @cindex operating system information
40149
40150 @menu
40151 * Process list::
40152 @end menu
40153
40154 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
40155 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
40156 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
40157 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
40158 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
40159 on a different aspect of target.
40160
40161 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
40162 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
40163 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
40164 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
40165
40166 @node Process list
40167 @appendixsection Process list
40168 @cindex operating system information, process list
40169
40170 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
40171 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
40172 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
40173 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
40174
40175 An example document is:
40176
40177 @smallexample
40178 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40179 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
40180 <osdata type="processes">
40181 <item>
40182 <column name="pid">1</column>
40183 <column name="user">root</column>
40184 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
40185 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
40186 </item>
40187 </osdata>
40188 @end smallexample
40189
40190 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
40191 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
40192 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
40193 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
40194 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
40195 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
40196 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
40197
40198 @node Trace File Format
40199 @appendix Trace File Format
40200 @cindex trace file format
40201
40202 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
40203 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
40204
40205 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
40206 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
40207 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
40208 in the future.
40209
40210 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
40211 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
40212 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
40213 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
40214 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
40215 of this section.
40216
40217 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
40218
40219 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
40220 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
40221 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
40222 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
40223 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
40224 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
40225 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
40226 endianness.
40227
40228 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
40229
40230 @table @code
40231 @item R @var{bytes}
40232 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
40233 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
40234 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
40235 hexadecimal encoding.
40236
40237 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
40238 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
40239 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
40240 @var{length} bytes.
40241
40242 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
40243 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
40244 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
40245
40246 @end table
40247
40248 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
40249 of blocks.
40250
40251 @node Index Section Format
40252 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
40253 @cindex .gdb_index section format
40254 @cindex index section format
40255
40256 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
40257 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
40258 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
40259 description.
40260
40261 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
40262 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
40263 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
40264 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
40265 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
40266 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
40267
40268 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
40269
40270 @enumerate
40271 @item
40272 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
40273 unless otherwise noted:
40274
40275 @enumerate
40276 @item
40277 The version number, currently 6. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
40278 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
40279 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions
40280 4 and 5 do not. @value{GDBN} will only read version 4 and 5 indices
40281 if the @code{--use-deprecated-index-sections} option is used.
40282
40283 @item
40284 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
40285
40286 @item
40287 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
40288 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
40289 to the next offset.
40290
40291 @item
40292 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
40293
40294 @item
40295 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
40296
40297 @item
40298 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
40299 @end enumerate
40300
40301 @item
40302 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
40303 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
40304 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
40305 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
40306 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
40307 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
40308 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
40309 CU indices.
40310
40311 @item
40312 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
40313 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
40314 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
40315 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
40316
40317 @item
40318 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
40319 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
40320
40321 @enumerate
40322 @item
40323 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
40324
40325 @item
40326 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
40327 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
40328
40329 @item
40330 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
40331 @end enumerate
40332
40333 @item
40334 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
40335 the hash table is always a power of 2.
40336
40337 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
40338 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
40339 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
40340 constant pool.
40341
40342 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
40343 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
40344 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
40345
40346 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
40347 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
40348 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
40349 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
40350 index version:
40351
40352 @table @asis
40353 @item Version 4
40354 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
40355
40356 @item Versions 5 and 6
40357 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
40358 @end table
40359
40360 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
40361
40362 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
40363 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
40364 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
40365 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
40366 collision.
40367
40368 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
40369 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
40370 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
40371 the code.
40372
40373 @item
40374 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
40375 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
40376 strings.
40377
40378 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
40379 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
40380 Each subsequent value is the index of a CU in the CU list. This
40381 element in the hash table is used to indicate which CUs define the
40382 symbol.
40383
40384 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
40385 @end enumerate
40386
40387 @include gpl.texi
40388
40389 @node GNU Free Documentation License
40390 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
40391 @include fdl.texi
40392
40393 @node Index
40394 @unnumbered Index
40395
40396 @printindex cp
40397
40398 @tex
40399 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
40400 % meantime:
40401 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
40402 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
40403 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
40404 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
40405 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
40406 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
40407 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
40408 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
40409 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
40410 \page\colophon
40411 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
40412 @end tex
40413
40414 @bye
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