Have block_innermost_frame start from selected frame and document.
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-1996, 1998-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c
4 @c %**start of header
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7 @setfilename gdb.info
8 @c
9 @include gdb-cfg.texi
10 @c
11 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
12 @setchapternewpage odd
13 @c %**end of header
14
15 @iftex
16 @c @smallbook
17 @c @cropmarks
18 @end iftex
19
20 @finalout
21 @syncodeindex ky cp
22 @syncodeindex tp cp
23
24 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
25 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
26 @syncodeindex vr cp
27 @syncodeindex fn cp
28
29 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
30 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
31 @set EDITION Tenth
32
33 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
34 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
35
36 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
37
38 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
39 @c manuals to an info tree.
40 @dircategory Software development
41 @direntry
42 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
43 @end direntry
44
45 @copying
46 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
47 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
48 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
49
50 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
51 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
52 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
53 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
54 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
55 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
56
57 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
58 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
59 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
60 @end copying
61
62 @ifnottex
63 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
64
65 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
66 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
67 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
68 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
69 @end ifset
70 Version @value{GDBVN}.
71
72 @insertcopying
73 @end ifnottex
74
75 @titlepage
76 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
77 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
78 @sp 1
79 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
80 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
81 @sp 1
82 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
83 @end ifset
84 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
85 @page
86 @tex
87 {\parskip=0pt
88 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
89 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
90 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
91 }
92 @end tex
93
94 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
95 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
96 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
97 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
98 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
99
100 @insertcopying
101 @end titlepage
102 @page
103
104 @ifnottex
105 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
106
107 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
108
109 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
110
111 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
112 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
113 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
114 @end ifset
115 Version @value{GDBVN}.
116
117 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
118
119 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
120 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
121 software in general. We will miss him.
122
123 @menu
124 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
125 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
126
127 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
128 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
129 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
130 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
131 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
132 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
133 * Stack:: Examining the stack
134 * Source:: Examining source files
135 * Data:: Examining data
136 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
137 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
138 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
139 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
140
141 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
142
143 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
144 * Altering:: Altering execution
145 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
146 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
147 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
148 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
149 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
150 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
151 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
152 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
153 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
154 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
155 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
156 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
157
158 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
159
160 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
161 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
162 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
163 @end ifset
164 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
165 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
166 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
167 @end ifclear
168 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
169 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
170 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
171 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
172 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
173 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
174 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
175 @value{GDBN}
176 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
177 the operating system
178 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
179 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
180 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
181 how you can copy and share GDB
182 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
183 * Index:: Index
184 @end menu
185
186 @end ifnottex
187
188 @contents
189
190 @node Summary
191 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
192
193 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
194 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
195 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
196
197 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
198 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
199
200 @itemize @bullet
201 @item
202 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
203
204 @item
205 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
206
207 @item
208 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
209
210 @item
211 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
212 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
213 @end itemize
214
215 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
216 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
217 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
218
219 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
220 @ref{D,,D}.
221
222 @cindex Modula-2
223 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
224 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
225
226 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
227 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
228
229 @cindex Pascal
230 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
231 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
232 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
233 syntax.
234
235 @cindex Fortran
236 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
237 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
238 underscore.
239
240 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
241 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
242
243 @menu
244 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
245 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
246 @end menu
247
248 @node Free Software
249 @unnumberedsec Free Software
250
251 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
252 General Public License
253 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
254 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
255 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
256 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
257 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
258 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
259
260 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
261 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
262 from anyone else.
263
264 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
265
266 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
267 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
268 include with the free software. Many of our most important
269 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
270 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
271 when an important free software package does not come with a free
272 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
273 gaps today.
274
275 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
276 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
277 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
278 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
279 them from the free software world.
280
281 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
282 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
283 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
284 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
285 contract to make it non-free.
286
287 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
288 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
289 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
290 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
291 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
292 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
293 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
294
295 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
296 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
297 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
298 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
299
300 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
301 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
302 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
303 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
304 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
305 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
306 community.
307
308 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
309 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
310 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
311 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
312 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
313 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
314 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
315 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
316 of the manual.
317
318 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
319 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
320 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
321 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
322 manual to replace it.
323
324 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
325 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
326 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
327 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
328 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
329 the free software community.
330
331 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
332 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
333 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
334 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
335 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
336 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
337 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
338 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
339 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
340
341 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
342 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
343 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
344 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
345 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
346 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
347 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
348 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
349
350 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
351 published by other publishers, at
352 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
353
354 @node Contributors
355 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
356
357 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
358 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
359 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
360 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
361 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
362 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
363 blow-by-blow account.
364
365 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
366
367 @quotation
368 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
369 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
370 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
371 @end quotation
372
373 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
374 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
375 releases:
376 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
377 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
378 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
379 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
380 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
381 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
382 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
383 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
384 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
385
386 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
387 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
388
389 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
390 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
391 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
392 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
393 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
394
395 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
396 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
397 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
398
399 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
400 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
401
402 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
403
404 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
405 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
406 support.
407 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
408 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
409 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
410 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
411 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
412 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
413 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
414 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
415 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
416 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
417 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
418 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
419 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
420 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
421 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
422 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
423
424 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
425
426 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
427 libraries.
428
429 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
430 about several machine instruction sets.
431
432 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
433 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
434 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
435 and RDI targets, respectively.
436
437 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
438 command-line editing and command history.
439
440 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
441 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
442
443 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
444 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
445 symbols.
446
447 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
448 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
449
450 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
451
452 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
453 processors.
454
455 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
456
457 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
458
459 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
460
461 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
462 watchpoints.
463
464 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
465
466 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
467
468 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
469 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
470
471 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
472 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
473 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
474 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
475 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
476 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
477 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
478
479 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
480 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
481
482 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
483 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
484 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
485 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
486 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
487 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
488 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
489 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
490 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
491 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
492 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
493 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
494 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
495 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
496 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
497
498 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
499 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
500
501 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
502 Hat.
503
504 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
505 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
506 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
507 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
508 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
509 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
510
511 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
512 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
513 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
514 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
515 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
516 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
517 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
518 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
519 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
520 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
521 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
522 Weigand.
523
524 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
525 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
526 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
527 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
528
529 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
530 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
531
532 @node Sample Session
533 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
534
535 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
536 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
537 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
538
539 @iftex
540 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
541 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
542 @end iftex
543
544 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
545 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
546
547 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
548 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
549 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
550 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
551 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
552 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
553 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
554 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
555 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
556
557 @smallexample
558 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
559 $ @b{./m4}
560 @b{define(foo,0000)}
561
562 @b{foo}
563 0000
564 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
565
566 @b{bar}
567 0000
568 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
569
570 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
571 @b{baz}
572 @b{Ctrl-d}
573 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
574 @end smallexample
575
576 @noindent
577 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
578
579 @smallexample
580 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
581 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
582 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
583 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
584 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
585 the conditions.
586 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
587 for details.
588
589 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
590 (@value{GDBP})
591 @end smallexample
592
593 @noindent
594 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
595 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
596 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
597 that examples fit in this manual.
598
599 @smallexample
600 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
601 @end smallexample
602
603 @noindent
604 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
605 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
606 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
607 @code{break} command.
608
609 @smallexample
610 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
611 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
612 @end smallexample
613
614 @noindent
615 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
616 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
617 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
618
619 @smallexample
620 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
621 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
622 @b{define(foo,0000)}
623
624 @b{foo}
625 0000
626 @end smallexample
627
628 @noindent
629 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
630 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
631 context where it stops.
632
633 @smallexample
634 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
635
636 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
637 at builtin.c:879
638 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
639 @end smallexample
640
641 @noindent
642 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
643 the next line of the current function.
644
645 @smallexample
646 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
647 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
648 : nil,
649 @end smallexample
650
651 @noindent
652 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
653 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
654 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
655 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
656
657 @smallexample
658 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
659 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
660 at input.c:530
661 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
662 @end smallexample
663
664 @noindent
665 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
666 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
667 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
668 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
669 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
670 stack frame for each active subroutine.
671
672 @smallexample
673 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
674 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
675 at input.c:530
676 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
677 at builtin.c:882
678 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
679 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
680 at macro.c:71
681 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
682 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
683 @end smallexample
684
685 @noindent
686 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
687 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
688 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
689
690 @smallexample
691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
692 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
693 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
694 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
695 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
696 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
697 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
698 : xstrdup(rq);
699 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
700 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
701 @end smallexample
702
703 @noindent
704 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
705 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
706 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
707 (@code{print}) to see their values.
708
709 @smallexample
710 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
711 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
713 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
714 @end smallexample
715
716 @noindent
717 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
718 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
719 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
720
721 @smallexample
722 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
723 533 xfree(rquote);
724 534
725 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
726 : xstrdup (lq);
727 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
728 : xstrdup (rq);
729 537
730 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
731 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
732 540 @}
733 541
734 542 void
735 @end smallexample
736
737 @noindent
738 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
739 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
740
741 @smallexample
742 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
743 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
744 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
745 540 @}
746 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
747 $3 = 9
748 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
749 $4 = 7
750 @end smallexample
751
752 @noindent
753 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
754 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
755 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
756 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
757 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
758 assignments.
759
760 @smallexample
761 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
762 $5 = 7
763 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
764 $6 = 9
765 @end smallexample
766
767 @noindent
768 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
769 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
770 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
771 example that caused trouble initially:
772
773 @smallexample
774 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
775 Continuing.
776
777 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
778
779 baz
780 0000
781 @end smallexample
782
783 @noindent
784 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
785 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
786 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
787
788 @smallexample
789 @b{Ctrl-d}
790 Program exited normally.
791 @end smallexample
792
793 @noindent
794 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
795 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
796 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
797
798 @smallexample
799 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
800 @end smallexample
801
802 @node Invocation
803 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
804
805 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
806 The essentials are:
807 @itemize @bullet
808 @item
809 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
810 @item
811 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
812 @end itemize
813
814 @menu
815 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
816 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
817 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
818 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
819 @end menu
820
821 @node Invoking GDB
822 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
823
824 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
825 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
826
827 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
828 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
829
830 The command-line options described here are designed
831 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
832 options may effectively be unavailable.
833
834 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
835 specifying an executable program:
836
837 @smallexample
838 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
839 @end smallexample
840
841 @noindent
842 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
843 specified:
844
845 @smallexample
846 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
847 @end smallexample
848
849 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
850 to debug a running process:
851
852 @smallexample
853 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
854 @end smallexample
855
856 @noindent
857 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
858 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
859
860 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
861 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
862 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
863 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
864 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
865
866 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
867 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
868 option processing.
869 @smallexample
870 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
871 @end smallexample
872 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
873 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
874
875 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
876 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
877
878 @smallexample
879 @value{GDBP} -silent
880 @end smallexample
881
882 @noindent
883 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
884 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
885
886 @noindent
887 Type
888
889 @smallexample
890 @value{GDBP} -help
891 @end smallexample
892
893 @noindent
894 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
895 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
896
897 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
898 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
899 @samp{-x} option is used.
900
901
902 @menu
903 * File Options:: Choosing files
904 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
905 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
906 @end menu
907
908 @node File Options
909 @subsection Choosing Files
910
911 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
912 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
913 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
914 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
915 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
916 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
917 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
918 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
919 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
920 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
921 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
922 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
923 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
924
925 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
926 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
927 argument and ignore it.
928
929 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
930 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
931 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
932 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
933 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
934
935 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
936 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
937 @c it.
938
939 @table @code
940 @item -symbols @var{file}
941 @itemx -s @var{file}
942 @cindex @code{--symbols}
943 @cindex @code{-s}
944 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
945
946 @item -exec @var{file}
947 @itemx -e @var{file}
948 @cindex @code{--exec}
949 @cindex @code{-e}
950 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
951 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
952
953 @item -se @var{file}
954 @cindex @code{--se}
955 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
956 file.
957
958 @item -core @var{file}
959 @itemx -c @var{file}
960 @cindex @code{--core}
961 @cindex @code{-c}
962 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
963
964 @item -pid @var{number}
965 @itemx -p @var{number}
966 @cindex @code{--pid}
967 @cindex @code{-p}
968 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
969
970 @item -command @var{file}
971 @itemx -x @var{file}
972 @cindex @code{--command}
973 @cindex @code{-x}
974 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
975 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
976 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
977
978 @item -eval-command @var{command}
979 @itemx -ex @var{command}
980 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
981 @cindex @code{-ex}
982 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
983
984 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
985 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
986
987 @smallexample
988 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
989 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
990 @end smallexample
991
992 @item -directory @var{directory}
993 @itemx -d @var{directory}
994 @cindex @code{--directory}
995 @cindex @code{-d}
996 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
997
998 @item -r
999 @itemx -readnow
1000 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1001 @cindex @code{-r}
1002 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1003 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1004 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1005
1006 @end table
1007
1008 @node Mode Options
1009 @subsection Choosing Modes
1010
1011 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1012 batch mode or quiet mode.
1013
1014 @table @code
1015 @item -nx
1016 @itemx -n
1017 @cindex @code{--nx}
1018 @cindex @code{-n}
1019 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1020 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1021 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1022 Files}.
1023
1024 @item -quiet
1025 @itemx -silent
1026 @itemx -q
1027 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1028 @cindex @code{--silent}
1029 @cindex @code{-q}
1030 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1031 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1032
1033 @item -batch
1034 @cindex @code{--batch}
1035 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1036 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1037 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1038 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1039 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1040 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1041 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1042
1043 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1044 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1045 make this more useful, the message
1046
1047 @smallexample
1048 Program exited normally.
1049 @end smallexample
1050
1051 @noindent
1052 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1053 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1054 mode.
1055
1056 @item -batch-silent
1057 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1058 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1059 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1060 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1061 for an interactive session.
1062
1063 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1064 messages, for example.
1065
1066 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1067 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1068
1069 @item -return-child-result
1070 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1071 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1072 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1073
1074 @itemize @bullet
1075 @item
1076 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1077 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1078 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1079 @item
1080 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1081 @item
1082 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1083 the exit code will be -1.
1084 @end itemize
1085
1086 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1087 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1088 interface.
1089
1090 @item -nowindows
1091 @itemx -nw
1092 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1093 @cindex @code{-nw}
1094 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1095 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1096 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1097
1098 @item -windows
1099 @itemx -w
1100 @cindex @code{--windows}
1101 @cindex @code{-w}
1102 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1103 used if possible.
1104
1105 @item -cd @var{directory}
1106 @cindex @code{--cd}
1107 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1108 instead of the current directory.
1109
1110 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1111 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1112 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1113 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1114 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1115
1116 @item -fullname
1117 @itemx -f
1118 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1119 @cindex @code{-f}
1120 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1121 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1122 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1123 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1124 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1125 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1126 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1127 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1128 frame.
1129
1130 @item -epoch
1131 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1132 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1133 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1134 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1135 separate window.
1136
1137 @item -annotate @var{level}
1138 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1139 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1140 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1141 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1142 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1143 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1144 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1145 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1146 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1147
1148 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1149 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1150
1151 @item --args
1152 @cindex @code{--args}
1153 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1154 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1155 This option stops option processing.
1156
1157 @item -baud @var{bps}
1158 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1159 @cindex @code{--baud}
1160 @cindex @code{-b}
1161 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1162 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1163
1164 @item -l @var{timeout}
1165 @cindex @code{-l}
1166 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1167 for remote debugging.
1168
1169 @item -tty @var{device}
1170 @itemx -t @var{device}
1171 @cindex @code{--tty}
1172 @cindex @code{-t}
1173 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1174 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1175
1176 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1177 @item -tui
1178 @cindex @code{--tui}
1179 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1180 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1181 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1182 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1183 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1184 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1185
1186 @c @item -xdb
1187 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1188 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1189 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1190 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1191 @c systems.
1192
1193 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1194 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1195 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1196 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1197 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1198 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1199
1200 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1201 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1202 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1203 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1204 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1205 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1206
1207 @item -write
1208 @cindex @code{--write}
1209 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1210 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1211 (@pxref{Patching}).
1212
1213 @item -statistics
1214 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1215 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1216 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1217
1218 @item -version
1219 @cindex @code{--version}
1220 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1221 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1222
1223 @end table
1224
1225 @node Startup
1226 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1227 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1228
1229 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1230
1231 @enumerate
1232 @item
1233 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1234 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1235
1236 @item
1237 @cindex init file
1238 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1239 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1240 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1241 that file.
1242
1243 @item
1244 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1245 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1246 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1247 that file.
1248
1249 @item
1250 Processes command line options and operands.
1251
1252 @item
1253 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1254 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1255 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1256 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1257 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1258 @value{GDBN}.
1259
1260 @item
1261 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1262 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1263 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1264 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1265
1266 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1267 you must do something like the following:
1268
1269 @smallexample
1270 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" -ex "file myprogram"
1271 @end smallexample
1272
1273 The following does not work because the auto-loading is turned off too late:
1274
1275 @smallexample
1276 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" myprogram
1277 @end smallexample
1278
1279 @item
1280 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1281 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1282
1283 @item
1284 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1285 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1286 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1287 @end enumerate
1288
1289 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1290 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1291 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1292 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1293 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1294 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1295
1296 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1297 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1298
1299 @cindex init file name
1300 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1301 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1302 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1303 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1304 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1305 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1306 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1307 the file to the standard name.
1308
1309
1310 @node Quitting GDB
1311 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1312 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1313 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1314
1315 @table @code
1316 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1317 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1318 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1319 @itemx q
1320 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1321 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1322 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1323 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1324 error code.
1325 @end table
1326
1327 @cindex interrupt
1328 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1329 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1330 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1331 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1332 until a time when it is safe.
1333
1334 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1335 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1336 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1337
1338 @node Shell Commands
1339 @section Shell Commands
1340
1341 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1342 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1343 just use the @code{shell} command.
1344
1345 @table @code
1346 @kindex shell
1347 @kindex !
1348 @cindex shell escape
1349 @item shell @var{command-string}
1350 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1351 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1352 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1353 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1354 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1355 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1356 @end table
1357
1358 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1359 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1360 @value{GDBN}:
1361
1362 @table @code
1363 @kindex make
1364 @cindex calling make
1365 @item make @var{make-args}
1366 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1367 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1368 @end table
1369
1370 @node Logging Output
1371 @section Logging Output
1372 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1373 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1374
1375 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1376 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1377
1378 @table @code
1379 @kindex set logging
1380 @item set logging on
1381 Enable logging.
1382 @item set logging off
1383 Disable logging.
1384 @cindex logging file name
1385 @item set logging file @var{file}
1386 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1387 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1388 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1389 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1390 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1391 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1392 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1393 @kindex show logging
1394 @item show logging
1395 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1396 @end table
1397
1398 @node Commands
1399 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1400
1401 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1402 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1403 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1404 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1405 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1406
1407 @menu
1408 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1409 * Completion:: Command completion
1410 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1411 @end menu
1412
1413 @node Command Syntax
1414 @section Command Syntax
1415
1416 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1417 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1418 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1419 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1420 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1421 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1422
1423 @cindex abbreviation
1424 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1425 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1426 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1427 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1428 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1429 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1430 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1431
1432 @cindex repeating commands
1433 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1434 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1435 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1436 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1437 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1438 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1439 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1440
1441 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1442 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1443 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1444
1445 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1446 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1447 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1448 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1449 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1450
1451 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1452 @cindex comment
1453 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1454 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1455 Files,,Command Files}).
1456
1457 @cindex repeating command sequences
1458 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1459 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1460 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1461 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1462 for editing.
1463
1464 @node Completion
1465 @section Command Completion
1466
1467 @cindex completion
1468 @cindex word completion
1469 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1470 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1471 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1472 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1473
1474 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1475 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1476 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1477 enter it). For example, if you type
1478
1479 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1480 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1481 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1482 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1483 @smallexample
1484 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1485 @end smallexample
1486
1487 @noindent
1488 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1489 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1490
1491 @smallexample
1492 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1493 @end smallexample
1494
1495 @noindent
1496 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1497 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1498 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1499 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1500 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1501 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1502
1503 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1504 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1505 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1506 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1507 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1508 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1509 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1510 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1511 example:
1512
1513 @smallexample
1514 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1515 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1516 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1517 make_abs_section make_function_type
1518 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1519 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1520 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1521 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1522 @end smallexample
1523
1524 @noindent
1525 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1526 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1527 command.
1528
1529 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1530 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1531 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1532 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1533 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1534
1535 @cindex quotes in commands
1536 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1537 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1538 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1539 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1540 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1541 @value{GDBN} commands.
1542
1543 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1544 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1545 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1546 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1547 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1548 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1549 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1550 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1551 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1552 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1553 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1554
1555 @smallexample
1556 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1557 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1558 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1559 @end smallexample
1560
1561 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1562 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1563 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1564 place:
1565
1566 @smallexample
1567 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1568 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1569 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1570 @end smallexample
1571
1572 @noindent
1573 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1574 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1575 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1576
1577 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1578 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1579 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1580 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1581
1582 @cindex completion of structure field names
1583 @cindex structure field name completion
1584 @cindex completion of union field names
1585 @cindex union field name completion
1586 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1587 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1588 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1589 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1590 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1591 left-hand-side:
1592
1593 @smallexample
1594 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1595 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1596 to_data to_isatty to_write
1597 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1598 to_flush to_read
1599 @end smallexample
1600
1601 @noindent
1602 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1603 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1604 follows:
1605
1606 @smallexample
1607 struct ui_file
1608 @{
1609 int *magic;
1610 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1611 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1612 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1613 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1614 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1615 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1616 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1617 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1618 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1619 void *to_data;
1620 @}
1621 @end smallexample
1622
1623
1624 @node Help
1625 @section Getting Help
1626 @cindex online documentation
1627 @kindex help
1628
1629 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1630 using the command @code{help}.
1631
1632 @table @code
1633 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1634 @item help
1635 @itemx h
1636 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1637 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1638
1639 @smallexample
1640 (@value{GDBP}) help
1641 List of classes of commands:
1642
1643 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1644 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1645 data -- Examining data
1646 files -- Specifying and examining files
1647 internals -- Maintenance commands
1648 obscure -- Obscure features
1649 running -- Running the program
1650 stack -- Examining the stack
1651 status -- Status inquiries
1652 support -- Support facilities
1653 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1654 stopping the program
1655 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1656
1657 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1658 commands in that class.
1659 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1660 documentation.
1661 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1662 (@value{GDBP})
1663 @end smallexample
1664 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1665
1666 @item help @var{class}
1667 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1668 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1669 help display for the class @code{status}:
1670
1671 @smallexample
1672 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1673 Status inquiries.
1674
1675 List of commands:
1676
1677 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1678 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1679 info -- Generic command for showing things
1680 about the program being debugged
1681 show -- Generic command for showing things
1682 about the debugger
1683
1684 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1685 documentation.
1686 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1687 (@value{GDBP})
1688 @end smallexample
1689
1690 @item help @var{command}
1691 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1692 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1693
1694 @kindex apropos
1695 @item apropos @var{args}
1696 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1697 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1698 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1699
1700 @smallexample
1701 apropos reload
1702 @end smallexample
1703
1704 @noindent
1705 results in:
1706
1707 @smallexample
1708 @c @group
1709 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1710 multiple times in one run
1711 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1712 multiple times in one run
1713 @c @end group
1714 @end smallexample
1715
1716 @kindex complete
1717 @item complete @var{args}
1718 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1719 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1720 command you want completed. For example:
1721
1722 @smallexample
1723 complete i
1724 @end smallexample
1725
1726 @noindent results in:
1727
1728 @smallexample
1729 @group
1730 if
1731 ignore
1732 info
1733 inspect
1734 @end group
1735 @end smallexample
1736
1737 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1738 @end table
1739
1740 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1741 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1742 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1743 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1744 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1745 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1746
1747 @c @group
1748 @table @code
1749 @kindex info
1750 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1751 @item info
1752 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1753 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1754 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1755 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1756 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1757 @w{@code{help info}}.
1758
1759 @kindex set
1760 @item set
1761 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1762 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1763 @code{set prompt $}.
1764
1765 @kindex show
1766 @item show
1767 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1768 @value{GDBN} itself.
1769 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1770 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1771 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1772 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1773
1774 @kindex info set
1775 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1776 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1777 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1778 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1779 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1780 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1781 @end table
1782 @c @end group
1783
1784 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1785 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1786
1787 @table @code
1788 @kindex show version
1789 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1790 @item show version
1791 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1792 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1793 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1794 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1795 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1796 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1797 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1798 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1799 @value{GDBN}.
1800
1801 @kindex show copying
1802 @kindex info copying
1803 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1804 @item show copying
1805 @itemx info copying
1806 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1807
1808 @kindex show warranty
1809 @kindex info warranty
1810 @item show warranty
1811 @itemx info warranty
1812 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1813 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1814
1815 @end table
1816
1817 @node Running
1818 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1819
1820 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1821 debugging information when you compile it.
1822
1823 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1824 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1825 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1826 kill a child process.
1827
1828 @menu
1829 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1830 * Starting:: Starting your program
1831 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1832 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1833
1834 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1835 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1836 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1837 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1838
1839 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1840 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1841 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1842 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1843 @end menu
1844
1845 @node Compilation
1846 @section Compiling for Debugging
1847
1848 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1849 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1850 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1851 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1852 and addresses in the executable code.
1853
1854 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1855 the compiler.
1856
1857 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1858 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1859 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1860 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1861 executables containing debugging information.
1862
1863 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1864 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1865 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1866 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1867 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1868
1869 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1870 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1871 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1872
1873 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1874 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1875 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1876 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1877 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1878 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1879
1880 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1881 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1882 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1883
1884 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1885 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1886 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1887 format in @value{GDBN}.
1888
1889 @need 2000
1890 @node Starting
1891 @section Starting your Program
1892 @cindex starting
1893 @cindex running
1894
1895 @table @code
1896 @kindex run
1897 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1898 @item run
1899 @itemx r
1900 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1901 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1902 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1903 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1904 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1905
1906 @end table
1907
1908 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1909 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1910 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1911 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1912 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1913 message like this one:
1914
1915 @smallexample
1916 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1917 Try "help target" or "continue".
1918 @end smallexample
1919
1920 @noindent
1921 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1922 first (@pxref{load}).
1923
1924 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1925 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1926 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1927 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1928 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1929 divided into four categories:
1930
1931 @table @asis
1932 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1933 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1934 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1935 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1936 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1937 the arguments.
1938 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1939 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1940 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1941
1942 @item The @emph{environment.}
1943 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1944 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1945 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1946 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1947
1948 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1949 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1950 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1951 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1952
1953 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1954 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1955 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1956 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1957 set a different device for your program.
1958 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1959
1960 @cindex pipes
1961 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1962 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1963 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1964 wrong program.
1965 @end table
1966
1967 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1968 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1969 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1970 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1971 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1972
1973 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1974 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1975 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1976 your current breakpoints.
1977
1978 @table @code
1979 @kindex start
1980 @item start
1981 @cindex run to main procedure
1982 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1983 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1984 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1985 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1986 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1987 procedure, depending on the language used.
1988
1989 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1990 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1991 the @samp{run} command.
1992
1993 @cindex elaboration phase
1994 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1995 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1996 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1997 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1998 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1999 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2000 will remain to halt execution.
2001
2002 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2003 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2004 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2005 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2006 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2007
2008 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2009 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2010 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2011 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2012 elaboration code before running your program.
2013
2014 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2015 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2016 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2017 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2018 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2019 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2020 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2021 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2022 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2023 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2024 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2025
2026 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2027 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2028 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2029 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2030
2031 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2032 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2033 environment:
2034
2035 @smallexample
2036 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2037 (@value{GDBP}) run
2038 @end smallexample
2039
2040 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2041 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2042
2043 @kindex set disable-randomization
2044 @item set disable-randomization
2045 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2046 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2047 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2048 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2049 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2050
2051 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2052 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2053
2054 @smallexample
2055 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2056 @end smallexample
2057
2058 @item set disable-randomization off
2059 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2060 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2061 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2062 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2063 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2064 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2065
2066 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2067 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2068 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2069 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2070 a code at its expected addresses.
2071
2072 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2073 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2074 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2075 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2076 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2077 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2078 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2079 a randomly chosen address.
2080
2081 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2082 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2083 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2084 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2085 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2086
2087 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2088 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2089
2090 @item show disable-randomization
2091 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2092 the virtual address space of the started program.
2093
2094 @end table
2095
2096 @node Arguments
2097 @section Your Program's Arguments
2098
2099 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2100 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2101 @code{run} command.
2102 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2103 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2104 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2105 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2106 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2107
2108 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2109 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2110 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2111 the program, not by the shell.
2112
2113 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2114 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2115
2116 @table @code
2117 @kindex set args
2118 @item set args
2119 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2120 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2121 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2122 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2123 it again without arguments.
2124
2125 @kindex show args
2126 @item show args
2127 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2128 @end table
2129
2130 @node Environment
2131 @section Your Program's Environment
2132
2133 @cindex environment (of your program)
2134 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2135 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2136 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2137 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2138 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2139 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2140 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2141
2142 @table @code
2143 @kindex path
2144 @item path @var{directory}
2145 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2146 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2147 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2148 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2149 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2150 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2151 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2152
2153 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2154 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2155 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2156 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2157 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2158 @var{directory} to the search path.
2159 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2160 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2161
2162 @kindex show paths
2163 @item show paths
2164 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2165 environment variable).
2166
2167 @kindex show environment
2168 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2169 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2170 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2171 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2172 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2173
2174 @kindex set environment
2175 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2176 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2177 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2178 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2179 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2180 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2181 null value.
2182 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2183 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2184
2185 For example, this command:
2186
2187 @smallexample
2188 set env USER = foo
2189 @end smallexample
2190
2191 @noindent
2192 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2193 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2194 are not actually required.)
2195
2196 @kindex unset environment
2197 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2198 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2199 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2200 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2201 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2202 @end table
2203
2204 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2205 the shell indicated
2206 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2207 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2208 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2209 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2210 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2211 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2212 @file{.profile}.
2213
2214 @node Working Directory
2215 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2216
2217 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2218 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2219 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2220 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2221 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2222 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2223
2224 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2225 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2226 Specify Files}.
2227
2228 @table @code
2229 @kindex cd
2230 @cindex change working directory
2231 @item cd @var{directory}
2232 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2233
2234 @kindex pwd
2235 @item pwd
2236 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2237 @end table
2238
2239 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2240 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2241 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2242 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2243 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2244 current working directory of the debuggee.
2245
2246 @node Input/Output
2247 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2248
2249 @cindex redirection
2250 @cindex i/o
2251 @cindex terminal
2252 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2253 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2254 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2255 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2256 running your program.
2257
2258 @table @code
2259 @kindex info terminal
2260 @item info terminal
2261 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2262 program is using.
2263 @end table
2264
2265 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2266 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2267
2268 @smallexample
2269 run > outfile
2270 @end smallexample
2271
2272 @noindent
2273 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2274
2275 @kindex tty
2276 @cindex controlling terminal
2277 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2278 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2279 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2280 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2281 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2282
2283 @smallexample
2284 tty /dev/ttyb
2285 @end smallexample
2286
2287 @noindent
2288 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2289 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2290 that as their controlling terminal.
2291
2292 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2293 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2294 terminal.
2295
2296 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2297 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2298 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2299 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2300
2301 @cindex inferior tty
2302 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2303 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2304 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2305 program.
2306
2307 @table @code
2308 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2309 @kindex set inferior-tty
2310 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2311
2312 @item show inferior-tty
2313 @kindex show inferior-tty
2314 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2315 @end table
2316
2317 @node Attach
2318 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2319 @kindex attach
2320 @cindex attach
2321
2322 @table @code
2323 @item attach @var{process-id}
2324 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2325 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2326 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2327 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2328 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2329
2330 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2331 executing the command.
2332 @end table
2333
2334 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2335 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2336 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2337 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2338
2339 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2340 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2341 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2342 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2343 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2344 Specify Files}.
2345
2346 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2347 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2348 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2349 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2350 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2351 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2352 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2353
2354 @table @code
2355 @kindex detach
2356 @item detach
2357 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2358 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2359 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2360 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2361 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2362 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2363 executing the command.
2364 @end table
2365
2366 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2367 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2368 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2369 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2370 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2371 Messages}).
2372
2373 @node Kill Process
2374 @section Killing the Child Process
2375
2376 @table @code
2377 @kindex kill
2378 @item kill
2379 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2380 @end table
2381
2382 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2383 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2384 is running.
2385
2386 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2387 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2388 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2389 outside the debugger.
2390
2391 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2392 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2393 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2394 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2395 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2396 breakpoint settings).
2397
2398 @node Inferiors and Programs
2399 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2400
2401 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2402 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2403 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2404 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2405 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2406 from multiple executables.
2407
2408 @cindex inferior
2409 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2410 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2411 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2412 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2413 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2414 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2415 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2416 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2417 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2418 threads running in it.
2419
2420 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2421 inferiors}}:
2422
2423 @table @code
2424 @kindex info inferiors
2425 @item info inferiors
2426 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2427
2428 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2429
2430 @enumerate
2431 @item
2432 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2433
2434 @item
2435 the target system's inferior identifier
2436
2437 @item
2438 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2439
2440 @end enumerate
2441
2442 @noindent
2443 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2444 indicates the current inferior.
2445
2446 For example,
2447 @end table
2448 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2449
2450 @smallexample
2451 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2452 Num Description Executable
2453 2 process 2307 hello
2454 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2455 @end smallexample
2456
2457 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2458
2459 @table @code
2460 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2461 @item inferior @var{infno}
2462 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2463 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2464 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2465 @end table
2466
2467
2468 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2469 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2470 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2471 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2472 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2473 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2474
2475 @table @code
2476 @kindex add-inferior
2477 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2478 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2479 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2480 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2481 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2482 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2483
2484 @kindex clone-inferior
2485 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2486 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2487 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2488 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2489 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2490
2491 @smallexample
2492 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2493 Num Description Executable
2494 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2495 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2496 Added inferior 2.
2497 1 inferiors added.
2498 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2499 Num Description Executable
2500 2 <null> helloworld
2501 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2502 @end smallexample
2503
2504 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2505
2506 @kindex remove-inferiors
2507 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2508 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2509 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2510 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2511
2512 @end table
2513
2514 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2515 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2516 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2517 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2518
2519 @table @code
2520 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2521 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2522 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2523 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2524 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2525 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2526
2527 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2528 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2529 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2530 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2531 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2532 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2533 @end table
2534
2535 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2536 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2537 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2538 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2539
2540
2541 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2542 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2543
2544 @table @code
2545 @kindex set print inferior-events
2546 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2547 @item set print inferior-events
2548 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2549 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2550 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2551 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2552 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2553 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2554
2555 @kindex show print inferior-events
2556 @item show print inferior-events
2557 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2558 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2559 @end table
2560
2561 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2562 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2563 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2564
2565
2566 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2567 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2568 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2569 info program-spaces}} command.
2570
2571 @table @code
2572 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2573 @item maint info program-spaces
2574 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2575 @value{GDBN}.
2576
2577 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2578
2579 @enumerate
2580 @item
2581 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2582
2583 @item
2584 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2585 the @code{file} command.
2586
2587 @end enumerate
2588
2589 @noindent
2590 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2591 indicates the current program space.
2592
2593 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2594 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2595 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2596
2597 @smallexample
2598 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2599 Id Executable
2600 2 goodbye
2601 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2602 * 1 hello
2603 @end smallexample
2604
2605 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2606 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2607 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2608 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2609 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2610
2611 @smallexample
2612 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2613 Id Executable
2614 * 1 vfork-test
2615 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2616 @end smallexample
2617
2618 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2619 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2620 @end table
2621
2622 @node Threads
2623 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2624
2625 @cindex threads of execution
2626 @cindex multiple threads
2627 @cindex switching threads
2628 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2629 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2630 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2631 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2632 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2633 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2634 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2635
2636 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2637 programs:
2638
2639 @itemize @bullet
2640 @item automatic notification of new threads
2641 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2642 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2643 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2644 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2645 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2646 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2647 messages on thread start and exit.
2648 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2649 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2650 isn't compatible with the program.
2651 @end itemize
2652
2653 @quotation
2654 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2655 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2656 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2657 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2658 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2659 like this:
2660
2661 @smallexample
2662 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2663 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2664 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2665 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2666 @end smallexample
2667 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2668 @c doesn't support threads"?
2669 @end quotation
2670
2671 @cindex focus of debugging
2672 @cindex current thread
2673 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2674 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2675 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2676 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2677 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2678
2679 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2680 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2681 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2682 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2683 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2684 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2685 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2686 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2687 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2688 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2689
2690 @smallexample
2691 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2692 @end smallexample
2693
2694 @noindent
2695 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2696 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2697 further qualifier.
2698
2699 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2700 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2701 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2702 @c program?
2703 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2704 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2705 @c threads ab initio?
2706
2707 @cindex thread number
2708 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2709 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2710 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2711
2712 @table @code
2713 @kindex info threads
2714 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2715 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2716 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2717 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2718 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2719
2720 @enumerate
2721 @item
2722 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2723
2724 @item
2725 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2726
2727 @item
2728 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2729 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2730 program itself.
2731
2732 @item
2733 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2734 @end enumerate
2735
2736 @noindent
2737 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2738 indicates the current thread.
2739
2740 For example,
2741 @end table
2742 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2743
2744 @smallexample
2745 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2746 Id Target Id Frame
2747 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2748 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2749 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2750 at threadtest.c:68
2751 @end smallexample
2752
2753 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2754 Solaris-specific command:
2755
2756 @table @code
2757 @item maint info sol-threads
2758 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2759 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2760 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2761 @end table
2762
2763 @table @code
2764 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2765 @item thread @var{threadno}
2766 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2767 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2768 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2769 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2770 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2771
2772 @smallexample
2773 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2774 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2775 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2776 8 printf ("hello\n");
2777 @end smallexample
2778
2779 @noindent
2780 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2781 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2782 threads.
2783
2784 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2785 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2786 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2787 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2788 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2789 information on convenience variables.
2790
2791 @kindex thread apply
2792 @cindex apply command to several threads
2793 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2794 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2795 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2796 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2797 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2798 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2799 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2800 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2801
2802 @kindex thread name
2803 @cindex name a thread
2804 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2805 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2806 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2807 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2808
2809 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2810 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2811 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2812 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2813 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2814
2815 @kindex thread find
2816 @cindex search for a thread
2817 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2818 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2819 matches the supplied regular expression.
2820
2821 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2822 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2823 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2824 is the LWP id.
2825
2826 @smallexample
2827 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2828 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2829 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2830 Id Target Id Frame
2831 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2832 @end smallexample
2833
2834 @kindex set print thread-events
2835 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2836 @item set print thread-events
2837 @itemx set print thread-events on
2838 @itemx set print thread-events off
2839 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2840 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2841 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2842 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2843 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2844
2845 @kindex show print thread-events
2846 @item show print thread-events
2847 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2848 have started and exited.
2849 @end table
2850
2851 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2852 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2853 programs with multiple threads.
2854
2855 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2856 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2857
2858 @table @code
2859 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2860 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2861 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2862 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2863 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2864 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2865 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2866 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2867 macro.
2868
2869 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2870 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2871 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2872 to find @code{libthread_db}.
2873
2874 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2875 refers to the default system directories that are
2876 normally searched for loading shared libraries.
2877
2878 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2879 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2880 was loaded in the inferior process.
2881
2882 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2883 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2884 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2885 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2886 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2887 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2888 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2889
2890 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2891 only on some platforms.
2892
2893 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2894 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2895 Display current libthread_db search path.
2896
2897 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2898 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2899 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2900 @item set debug libthread-db
2901 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2902 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2903 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2904 @end table
2905
2906 @node Forks
2907 @section Debugging Forks
2908
2909 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2910 @cindex multiple processes
2911 @cindex processes, multiple
2912 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2913 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2914 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2915 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2916 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2917 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2918 will cause it to terminate.
2919
2920 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2921 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2922 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2923 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2924 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2925 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2926 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2927 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2928 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2929 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2930
2931 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2932 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2933 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2934 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2935
2936 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2937 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2938
2939 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2940 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2941
2942 @table @code
2943 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2944 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2945 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2946 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2947 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2948
2949 @table @code
2950 @item parent
2951 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2952 unimpeded. This is the default.
2953
2954 @item child
2955 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2956 unimpeded.
2957
2958 @end table
2959
2960 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2961 @item show follow-fork-mode
2962 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2963 @end table
2964
2965 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2966 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2967 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2968
2969 @table @code
2970 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2971 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2972 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2973 retain debugger control over them both.
2974
2975 @table @code
2976 @item on
2977 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2978 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2979 independently. This is the default.
2980
2981 @item off
2982 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2983 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2984 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2985 is held suspended.
2986
2987 @end table
2988
2989 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2990 @item show detach-on-fork
2991 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2992 @end table
2993
2994 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2995 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2996 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2997 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2998 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2999 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3000
3001 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3002 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3003 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3004 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3005 and Programs}.
3006
3007 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3008 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3009 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3010 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3011 the child process's @code{main}.
3012
3013 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3014 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3015
3016 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3017 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3018 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3019 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3020 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3021 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3022 command.
3023
3024 @table @code
3025 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3026 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3027
3028 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3029 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3030
3031 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3032
3033 @table @code
3034 @item new
3035 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3036 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3037 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3038 original inferior.
3039
3040 For example:
3041
3042 @smallexample
3043 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3044 (gdb) info inferior
3045 Id Description Executable
3046 * 1 <null> prog1
3047 (@value{GDBP}) run
3048 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3049 Program exited normally.
3050 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3051 Id Description Executable
3052 * 2 <null> prog2
3053 1 <null> prog1
3054 @end smallexample
3055
3056 @item same
3057 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3058 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3059 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3060 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3061 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3062
3063 For example:
3064
3065 @smallexample
3066 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3067 Id Description Executable
3068 * 1 <null> prog1
3069 (@value{GDBP}) run
3070 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3071 Program exited normally.
3072 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3073 Id Description Executable
3074 * 1 <null> prog2
3075 @end smallexample
3076
3077 @end table
3078 @end table
3079
3080 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3081 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3082 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3083
3084 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3085 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3086
3087 @cindex checkpoint
3088 @cindex restart
3089 @cindex bookmark
3090 @cindex snapshot of a process
3091 @cindex rewind program state
3092
3093 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3094 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3095 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3096 later.
3097
3098 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3099 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3100 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3101 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3102 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3103
3104 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3105 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3106 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3107 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3108 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3109 start again from there.
3110
3111 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3112 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3113
3114 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3115
3116 @table @code
3117 @kindex checkpoint
3118 @item checkpoint
3119 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3120 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3121 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3122
3123 @kindex info checkpoints
3124 @item info checkpoints
3125 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3126 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3127 listed:
3128
3129 @table @code
3130 @item Checkpoint ID
3131 @item Process ID
3132 @item Code Address
3133 @item Source line, or label
3134 @end table
3135
3136 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3137 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3138 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3139 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3140 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3141 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3142 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3143
3144 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3145 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3146 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3147 the debugger.
3148
3149 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3150 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3151 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3152
3153 @end table
3154
3155 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3156 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3157 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3158 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3159 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3160 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3161 previously read data can be read again.
3162
3163 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3164 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3165 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3166 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3167 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3168 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3169
3170 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3171 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3172 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3173 different execution path this time.
3174
3175 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3176 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3177 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3178 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3179 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3180 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3181 potentially pose a problem.
3182
3183 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3184
3185 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3186 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3187 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3188 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3189 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3190 next.
3191
3192 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3193 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3194 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3195 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3196 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3197
3198 @node Stopping
3199 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3200
3201 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3202 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3203 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3204
3205 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3206 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3207 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3208 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3209 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3210 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3211 explicitly request this information at any time.
3212
3213 @table @code
3214 @kindex info program
3215 @item info program
3216 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3217 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3218 @end table
3219
3220 @menu
3221 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3222 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3223 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3224 Skipping over functions and files
3225 * Signals:: Signals
3226 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3227 @end menu
3228
3229 @node Breakpoints
3230 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3231
3232 @cindex breakpoints
3233 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3234 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3235 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3236 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3237 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3238 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3239 program.
3240
3241 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3242 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3243 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3244 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3245 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3246 call).
3247
3248 @cindex watchpoints
3249 @cindex data breakpoints
3250 @cindex memory tracing
3251 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3252 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3253 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3254 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3255 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3256 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3257 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3258 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3259 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3260 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3261 same commands.
3262
3263 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3264 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3265 Automatic Display}.
3266
3267 @cindex catchpoints
3268 @cindex breakpoint on events
3269 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3270 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3271 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3272 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3273 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3274 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3275 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3276
3277 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3278 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3279 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3280 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3281 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3282 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3283 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3284 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3285 enable it again.
3286
3287 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3288 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3289 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3290 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3291 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3292 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3293 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3294
3295 @menu
3296 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3297 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3298 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3299 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3300 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3301 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3302 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3303 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3304 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3305 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3306 @end menu
3307
3308 @node Set Breaks
3309 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3310
3311 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3312 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3313 @c
3314 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3315
3316 @kindex break
3317 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3318 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3319 @cindex latest breakpoint
3320 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3321 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3322 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3323 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3324 convenience variables.
3325
3326 @table @code
3327 @item break @var{location}
3328 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3329 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3330 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3331 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3332 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3333
3334 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3335 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3336 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3337 that situation.
3338
3339 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3340 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3341 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3342
3343 @item break
3344 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3345 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3346 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3347 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3348 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3349 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3350 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3351 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3352 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3353 inside loops.
3354
3355 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3356 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3357 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3358 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3359 existed when your program stopped.
3360
3361 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3362 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3363 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3364 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3365 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3366 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3367 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3368
3369 @kindex tbreak
3370 @item tbreak @var{args}
3371 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3372 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3373 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3374 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3375
3376 @kindex hbreak
3377 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3378 @item hbreak @var{args}
3379 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3380 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3381 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3382 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3383 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3384 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3385 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3386 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3387 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3388 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3389 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3390 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3391 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3392 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3393 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3394 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3395 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3396 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3397
3398 @kindex thbreak
3399 @item thbreak @var{args}
3400 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3401 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3402 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3403 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3404 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3405 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3406 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3407 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3408
3409 @kindex rbreak
3410 @cindex regular expression
3411 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3412 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3413 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3414 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3415 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3416 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3417 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3418 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3419 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3420
3421 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3422 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3423 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3424 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3425 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3426 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3427
3428 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3429 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3430 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3431 classes.
3432
3433 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3434 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3435 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3436
3437 @smallexample
3438 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3439 @end smallexample
3440
3441 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3442 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3443 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3444 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3445 every function in a given file:
3446
3447 @smallexample
3448 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3449 @end smallexample
3450
3451 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3452 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3453
3454 @kindex info breakpoints
3455 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3456 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3457 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3458 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3459 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3460 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3461 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3462
3463 @table @emph
3464 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3465 @item Type
3466 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3467 @item Disposition
3468 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3469 @item Enabled or Disabled
3470 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3471 that are not enabled.
3472 @item Address
3473 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3474 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3475 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3476 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3477 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3478 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3479 @item What
3480 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3481 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3482 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3483 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3484 @end table
3485
3486 @noindent
3487 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3488 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3489 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3490 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3491 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3492 valid location.
3493
3494 @noindent
3495 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3496 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3497 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3498 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3499 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3500
3501 @noindent
3502 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3503 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3504 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3505 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3506 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3507 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3508 @end table
3509
3510 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3511 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3512 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3513 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3514
3515 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3516 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3517 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3518 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3519
3520 @itemize @bullet
3521 @item
3522 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3523
3524 @item
3525 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3526 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3527
3528 @item
3529 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3530 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3531
3532 @item
3533 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3534 several places where that function is inlined.
3535 @end itemize
3536
3537 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3538 the relevant locations.
3539
3540 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3541 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3542 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3543 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3544 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3545 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3546 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3547
3548 For example:
3549
3550 @smallexample
3551 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3552 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3553 stop only if i==1
3554 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3555 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3556 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3557 @end smallexample
3558
3559 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3560 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3561 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3562 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3563 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3564 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3565 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3566 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3567 that belong to that breakpoint.
3568
3569 @cindex pending breakpoints
3570 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3571 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3572 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3573 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3574 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3575 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3576 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3577 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3578 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3579 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3580 is not yet resolved.
3581
3582 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3583 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3584 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3585 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3586 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3587 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3588
3589 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3590 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3591 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3592 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3593
3594 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3595 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3596 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3597
3598 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3599 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3600 address specification to an address:
3601
3602 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3603 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3604 @table @code
3605 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3606 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3607 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3608
3609 @item set breakpoint pending on
3610 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3611 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3612
3613 @item set breakpoint pending off
3614 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3615 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3616 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3617
3618 @item show breakpoint pending
3619 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3620 @end table
3621
3622 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3623 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3624 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3625
3626 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3627 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3628 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3629 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3630 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3631 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3632 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3633 breakpoints.
3634
3635 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3636
3637 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3638 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3639 @table @code
3640 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3641 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3642 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3643 breakpoint must be used.
3644
3645 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3646 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3647 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3648 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3649 @end table
3650
3651 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3652 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3653 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3654 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3655 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3656 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3657 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3658 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3659 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3660
3661 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3662 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3663 @table @code
3664 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3665 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3666 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3667 removed from the target when it stops.
3668
3669 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3670 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3671 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3672 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3673 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3674
3675 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3676 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3677 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3678 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3679 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3680 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3681 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3682 @end table
3683
3684 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3685 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3686 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3687 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3688 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3689 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3690 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3691 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3692
3693
3694 @node Set Watchpoints
3695 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3696
3697 @cindex setting watchpoints
3698 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3699 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3700 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3701 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3702 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3703
3704 @itemize @bullet
3705 @item
3706 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3707
3708 @item
3709 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3710 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3711 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3712
3713 @item
3714 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3715 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3716 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3717 @end itemize
3718
3719 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3720 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3721 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3722 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3723 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3724 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3725 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3726 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3727 the expression changes.
3728
3729 @cindex software watchpoints
3730 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3731 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3732 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3733 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3734 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3735 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3736 culprit.)
3737
3738 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3739 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3740 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3741
3742 @table @code
3743 @kindex watch
3744 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3745 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3746 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3747 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3748 to watch the value of a single variable:
3749
3750 @smallexample
3751 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3752 @end smallexample
3753
3754 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3755 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3756 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3757 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3758 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3759 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3760
3761 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3762 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3763 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3764 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3765 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3766 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3767 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3768 error.
3769
3770 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3771 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3772 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3773 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3774 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3775 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3776 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3777 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3778 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3779 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3780 Examples:
3781
3782 @smallexample
3783 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3784 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3785 @end smallexample
3786
3787 @kindex rwatch
3788 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3789 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3790 by the program.
3791
3792 @kindex awatch
3793 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3794 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3795 or written into by the program.
3796
3797 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3798 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3799 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3800 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3801 @end table
3802
3803 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3804 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3805 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3806 a never-changing value:
3807
3808 @smallexample
3809 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3810 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3811 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3812 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3813 @end smallexample
3814
3815 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3816 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3817 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3818 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3819 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3820 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3821
3822 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3823 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3824 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3825 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3826 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3827 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3828 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3829 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3830
3831 @table @code
3832 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3833 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3834 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3835
3836 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3837 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3838 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3839 @end table
3840
3841 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3842 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3843 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3844
3845 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3846
3847 @smallexample
3848 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3849 @end smallexample
3850
3851 @noindent
3852 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3853
3854 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3855 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3856 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3857 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3858 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3859 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3860 will print a message like this:
3861
3862 @smallexample
3863 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3864 @end smallexample
3865
3866 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3867 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3868 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3869 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3870 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3871 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3872 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3873 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3874
3875 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3876 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3877 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3878 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3879 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3880 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3881
3882 @smallexample
3883 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3884 @end smallexample
3885
3886 @noindent
3887 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3888
3889 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3890 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3891 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3892 expression with separately allocated resources.
3893
3894 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3895 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3896 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3897
3898 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3899 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3900 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3901 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3902 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3903 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3904 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3905 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3906 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3907
3908 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3909 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3910 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3911 watched expression from every thread.
3912
3913 @quotation
3914 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3915 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3916 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3917 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3918 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3919 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3920 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3921 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3922 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3923 @end quotation
3924
3925 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3926
3927 @node Set Catchpoints
3928 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3929 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3930 @cindex exception handlers
3931 @cindex event handling
3932
3933 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3934 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3935 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3936
3937 @table @code
3938 @kindex catch
3939 @item catch @var{event}
3940 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3941 @table @code
3942 @item throw
3943 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3944 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3945
3946 @item catch
3947 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3948
3949 @item exception
3950 @cindex Ada exception catching
3951 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3952 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3953 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3954 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3955 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3956
3957 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3958 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3959 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3960 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3961 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3962 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3963 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3964 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3965
3966 @item exception unhandled
3967 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3968
3969 @item assert
3970 A failed Ada assertion.
3971
3972 @item exec
3973 @cindex break on fork/exec
3974 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3975 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3976
3977 @item syscall
3978 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3979 @cindex break on a system call.
3980 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3981 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3982 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3983 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3984 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3985 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3986 will be caught.
3987
3988 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3989 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3990 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3991 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3992
3993 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3994 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3995 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3996 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3997
3998 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3999 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4000 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4001 available choices.
4002
4003 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4004 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4005 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4006 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4007 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4008 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4009 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4010 behind the OS upgrades).
4011
4012 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4013 arguments to it:
4014
4015 @smallexample
4016 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4017 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4018 (@value{GDBP}) r
4019 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4020
4021 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4022 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4023 (@value{GDBP}) c
4024 Continuing.
4025
4026 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4027 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4028 (@value{GDBP})
4029 @end smallexample
4030
4031 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4032
4033 @smallexample
4034 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4035 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4036 (@value{GDBP}) r
4037 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4038
4039 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4040 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4041 (@value{GDBP}) c
4042 Continuing.
4043
4044 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4045 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4046 (@value{GDBP})
4047 @end smallexample
4048
4049 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4050 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4051 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4052
4053 @smallexample
4054 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4055 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4056 (@value{GDBP}) r
4057 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4058
4059 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4060 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4061 (@value{GDBP}) c
4062 Continuing.
4063
4064 Program exited normally.
4065 (@value{GDBP})
4066 @end smallexample
4067
4068 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4069 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4070 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4071 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4072
4073 @smallexample
4074 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4075 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4076 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4077 (@value{GDBP})
4078 @end smallexample
4079
4080 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4081 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4082 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4083 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4084 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4085 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4086
4087 @smallexample
4088 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4089 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4090 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4091 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4092 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4093 (@value{GDBP})
4094 @end smallexample
4095
4096 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4097
4098 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4099 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4100
4101 @smallexample
4102 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4103 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4104 @end smallexample
4105
4106 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4107
4108 @item fork
4109 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4110 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4111
4112 @item vfork
4113 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4114 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4115
4116 @end table
4117
4118 @item tcatch @var{event}
4119 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4120 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4121
4122 @end table
4123
4124 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4125
4126 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4127 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4128
4129 @itemize @bullet
4130 @item
4131 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4132 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4133 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4134 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4135 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4136 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4137 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4138 disabled within interactive calls.
4139
4140 @item
4141 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4142
4143 @item
4144 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4145 @end itemize
4146
4147 @cindex raise exceptions
4148 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4149 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4150 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4151 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4152 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4153 out where the exception was raised.
4154
4155 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4156 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4157 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4158 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4159
4160 @smallexample
4161 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4162 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4163 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4164 @end smallexample
4165
4166 @noindent
4167 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4168 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4169 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4170
4171 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4172 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4173 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4174 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4175 raised.
4176
4177
4178 @node Delete Breaks
4179 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4180
4181 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4182 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4183 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4184 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4185 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4186 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4187
4188 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4189 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4190 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4191 their breakpoint numbers.
4192
4193 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4194 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4195 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4196
4197 @table @code
4198 @kindex clear
4199 @item clear
4200 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4201 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4202 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4203 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4204
4205 @item clear @var{location}
4206 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4207 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4208 most useful ones are listed below:
4209
4210 @table @code
4211 @item clear @var{function}
4212 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4213 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4214
4215 @item clear @var{linenum}
4216 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4217 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4218 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4219 @end table
4220
4221 @cindex delete breakpoints
4222 @kindex delete
4223 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4224 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4225 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4226 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4227 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4228 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4229 @end table
4230
4231 @node Disabling
4232 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4233
4234 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4235 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4236 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4237 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4238 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4239
4240 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4241 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4242 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4243 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4244 do not know which numbers to use.
4245
4246 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4247 affects all of its locations.
4248
4249 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4250 states of enablement:
4251
4252 @itemize @bullet
4253 @item
4254 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4255 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4256 @item
4257 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4258 @item
4259 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4260 disabled.
4261 @item
4262 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4263 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4264 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4265 @end itemize
4266
4267 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4268 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4269
4270 @table @code
4271 @kindex disable
4272 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4273 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4274 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4275 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4276 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4277 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4278 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4279
4280 @kindex enable
4281 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4282 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4283 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4284
4285 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4286 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4287 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4288
4289 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4290 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4291 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4292 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4293 @end table
4294
4295 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4296 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4297 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4298 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4299 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4300 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4301 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4302 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4303 Stepping}.)
4304
4305 @node Conditions
4306 @subsection Break Conditions
4307 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4308 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4309
4310 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4311 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4312 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4313 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4314 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4315 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4316 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4317 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4318
4319 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4320 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4321 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4322 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4323 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4324
4325 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4326 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4327 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4328 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4329 one.
4330
4331 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4332 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4333 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4334 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4335 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4336 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4337 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4338 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4339 conditions for the
4340 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4341 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4342
4343 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4344 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4345 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4346 with the @code{condition} command.
4347
4348 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4349 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4350 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4351 catchpoint.
4352
4353 @table @code
4354 @kindex condition
4355 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4356 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4357 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4358 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4359 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4360 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4361 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4362 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4363 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4364 prints an error message:
4365
4366 @smallexample
4367 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4368 @end smallexample
4369
4370 @noindent
4371 @value{GDBN} does
4372 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4373 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4374 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4375
4376 @item condition @var{bnum}
4377 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4378 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4379 @end table
4380
4381 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4382 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4383 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4384 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4385 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4386 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4387 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4388 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4389 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4390 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4391 your program reaches it.
4392
4393 @table @code
4394 @kindex ignore
4395 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4396 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4397 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4398 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4399 takes no action.
4400
4401 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4402 a count of zero.
4403
4404 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4405 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4406 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4407 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4408
4409 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4410 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4411 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4412
4413 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4414 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4415 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4416 Variables}.
4417 @end table
4418
4419 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4420
4421
4422 @node Break Commands
4423 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4424
4425 @cindex breakpoint commands
4426 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4427 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4428 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4429 enable other breakpoints.
4430
4431 @table @code
4432 @kindex commands
4433 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4434 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4435 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4436 @itemx end
4437 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4438 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4439 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4440
4441 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4442 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4443
4444 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4445 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4446 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4447 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4448 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4449 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4450 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4451 Expressions}).
4452 @end table
4453
4454 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4455 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4456
4457 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4458 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4459 that resumes execution.
4460
4461 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4462 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4463 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4464 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4465 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4466
4467 @kindex silent
4468 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4469 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4470 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4471 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4472 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4473 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4474
4475 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4476 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4477 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4478
4479 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4480 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4481
4482 @smallexample
4483 break foo if x>0
4484 commands
4485 silent
4486 printf "x is %d\n",x
4487 cont
4488 end
4489 @end smallexample
4490
4491 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4492 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4493 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4494 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4495 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4496 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4497 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4498
4499 @smallexample
4500 break 403
4501 commands
4502 silent
4503 set x = y + 4
4504 cont
4505 end
4506 @end smallexample
4507
4508 @node Save Breakpoints
4509 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4510
4511 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4512 breakpoints}} command.
4513
4514 @table @code
4515 @kindex save breakpoints
4516 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4517 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4518 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4519 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4520 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4521 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4522 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4523 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4524 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4525 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4526 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4527 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4528 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4529 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4530 that can no longer be recreated.
4531 @end table
4532
4533 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4534 @node Error in Breakpoints
4535 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4536
4537 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4538 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4539
4540 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4541 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4542 @smallexample
4543 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4544 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4545 @end smallexample
4546
4547 @noindent
4548 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4549 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4550 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4551
4552 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4553 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4554
4555 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4556 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4557 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4558
4559 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4560 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4561 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4562 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4563
4564 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4565 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4566 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4567 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4568 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4569 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4570 first in the bundle.
4571
4572 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4573 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4574 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4575 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4576 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4577 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4578 is hit.
4579
4580 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4581 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4582
4583 @smallexample
4584 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4585 @end smallexample
4586
4587 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4588 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4589 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4590 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4591 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4592 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4593 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4594 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4595
4596 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4597 adjusted breakpoints:
4598
4599 @smallexample
4600 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4601 to 0x00010410.
4602 @end smallexample
4603
4604 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4605 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4606 frequently than expected.
4607
4608 @node Continuing and Stepping
4609 @section Continuing and Stepping
4610
4611 @cindex stepping
4612 @cindex continuing
4613 @cindex resuming execution
4614 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4615 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4616 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4617 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4618 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4619 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4620 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4621 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4622
4623 @table @code
4624 @kindex continue
4625 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4626 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4627 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4628 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4629 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4630 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4631 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4632 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4633 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4634 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4635
4636 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4637 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4638 @code{continue} is ignored.
4639
4640 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4641 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4642 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4643 @code{continue}.
4644 @end table
4645
4646 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4647 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4648 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4649 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4650
4651 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4652 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4653 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4654 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4655 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4656 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4657
4658 @table @code
4659 @kindex step
4660 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4661 @item step
4662 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4663 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4664 abbreviated @code{s}.
4665
4666 @quotation
4667 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4668 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4669 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4670 @c distinction here.
4671 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4672 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4673 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4674 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4675 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4676 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4677 below.
4678 @end quotation
4679
4680 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4681 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4682 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4683 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4684 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4685 called within the line.
4686
4687 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4688 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4689 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4690 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4691 was any debugging information about the routine.
4692
4693 @item step @var{count}
4694 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4695 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4696 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4697
4698 @kindex next
4699 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4700 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4701 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4702 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4703 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4704 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4705 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4706 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4707
4708 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4709
4710
4711 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4712 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4713 @c
4714 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4715 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4716 @c function are executed without stopping.
4717
4718 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4719 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4720 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4721
4722 @kindex set step-mode
4723 @item set step-mode
4724 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4725 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4726 @itemx set step-mode on
4727 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4728 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4729 information rather than stepping over it.
4730
4731 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4732 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4733 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4734
4735 @item set step-mode off
4736 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4737 debug information. This is the default.
4738
4739 @item show step-mode
4740 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4741 source line debug information.
4742
4743 @kindex finish
4744 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4745 @item finish
4746 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4747 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4748 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4749
4750 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4751 ,Returning from a Function}).
4752
4753 @kindex until
4754 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4755 @cindex run until specified location
4756 @item until
4757 @itemx u
4758 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4759 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4760 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4761 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4762 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4763 than the address of the jump.
4764
4765 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4766 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4767 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4768 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4769 through the next iteration.
4770
4771 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4772 stack frame.
4773
4774 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4775 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4776 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4777 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4778 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4779
4780 @smallexample
4781 (@value{GDBP}) f
4782 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4783 206 expand_input();
4784 (@value{GDBP}) until
4785 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4786 @end smallexample
4787
4788 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4789 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4790 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4791 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4792 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4793 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4794 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4795
4796 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4797 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4798 argument.
4799
4800 @item until @var{location}
4801 @itemx u @var{location}
4802 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4803 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4804 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4805 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4806 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4807 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4808 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4809 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4810 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4811 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4812 invocations have returned.
4813
4814 @smallexample
4815 94 int factorial (int value)
4816 95 @{
4817 96 if (value > 1) @{
4818 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4819 98 @}
4820 99 return (value);
4821 100 @}
4822 @end smallexample
4823
4824
4825 @kindex advance @var{location}
4826 @itemx advance @var{location}
4827 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4828 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4829 @ref{Specify Location}.
4830 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4831 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4832 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4833 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4834
4835
4836 @kindex stepi
4837 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4838 @item stepi
4839 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4840 @itemx si
4841 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4842
4843 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4844 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4845 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4846 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4847
4848 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4849
4850 @need 750
4851 @kindex nexti
4852 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4853 @item nexti
4854 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4855 @itemx ni
4856 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4857 proceed until the function returns.
4858
4859 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4860 @end table
4861
4862 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
4863 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
4864 @cindex skipping over functions and files
4865
4866 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
4867 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
4868 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
4869
4870 For example, consider the following C function:
4871
4872 @smallexample
4873 101 int func()
4874 102 @{
4875 103 foo(boring());
4876 104 bar(boring());
4877 105 @}
4878 @end smallexample
4879
4880 @noindent
4881 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
4882 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
4883 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
4884 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
4885
4886 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
4887 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
4888 is called from many places.
4889
4890 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
4891 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
4892 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
4893 @code{foo}.
4894
4895 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
4896 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
4897
4898 @table @code
4899 @kindex skip function
4900 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
4901 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
4902 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
4903 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
4904 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
4905
4906 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
4907 will be skipped.
4908
4909 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
4910 @kbd{skip function file}.)
4911
4912 @kindex skip file
4913 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
4914 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
4915 will be skipped over when stepping.
4916
4917 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
4918 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
4919 @end table
4920
4921 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
4922 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
4923
4924 @table @code
4925 @kindex info skip
4926 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4927 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
4928 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
4929 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
4930
4931 @table @emph
4932 @item Identifier
4933 A number identifying this skip.
4934 @item Type
4935 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
4936 @item Enabled or Disabled
4937 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
4938 @item Address
4939 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
4940 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
4941 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
4942 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
4943 address here.
4944 @item What
4945 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
4946 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
4947 where it is defined.
4948 @end table
4949
4950 @kindex skip delete
4951 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4952 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
4953 skips.
4954
4955 @kindex skip enable
4956 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4957 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
4958 skips.
4959
4960 @kindex skip disable
4961 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
4962 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
4963 skips.
4964
4965 @end table
4966
4967 @node Signals
4968 @section Signals
4969 @cindex signals
4970
4971 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4972 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4973 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4974 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4975 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4976 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4977 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4978 requested an alarm).
4979
4980 @cindex fatal signals
4981 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4982 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4983 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4984 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4985 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4986 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4987
4988 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4989 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4990 signal.
4991
4992 @cindex handling signals
4993 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4994 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4995 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4996 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4997 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4998
4999 @table @code
5000 @kindex info signals
5001 @kindex info handle
5002 @item info signals
5003 @itemx info handle
5004 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5005 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5006 the defined types of signals.
5007
5008 @item info signals @var{sig}
5009 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5010
5011 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5012
5013 @kindex handle
5014 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5015 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5016 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5017 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5018 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5019 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5020 say what change to make.
5021 @end table
5022
5023 @c @group
5024 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5025 Their full names are:
5026
5027 @table @code
5028 @item nostop
5029 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5030 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5031
5032 @item stop
5033 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5034 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5035
5036 @item print
5037 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5038
5039 @item noprint
5040 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5041 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5042
5043 @item pass
5044 @itemx noignore
5045 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5046 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5047 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5048
5049 @item nopass
5050 @itemx ignore
5051 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5052 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5053 @end table
5054 @c @end group
5055
5056 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5057 program until you
5058 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5059 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5060 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5061 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5062 program sees that signal when you continue.
5063
5064 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5065 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5066 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5067 erroneous signals.
5068
5069 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5070 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5071 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5072 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5073 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5074 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5075 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5076 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5077 Program a Signal}.
5078
5079 @cindex extra signal information
5080 @anchor{extra signal information}
5081
5082 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5083 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5084 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5085 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5086 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5087 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5088 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5089 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5090 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5091 system header.
5092
5093 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5094 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5095
5096 @smallexample
5097 @group
5098 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5099 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5100 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5101 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5102 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5103 type = struct @{
5104 int si_signo;
5105 int si_errno;
5106 int si_code;
5107 union @{
5108 int _pad[28];
5109 struct @{...@} _kill;
5110 struct @{...@} _timer;
5111 struct @{...@} _rt;
5112 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5113 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5114 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5115 @} _sifields;
5116 @}
5117 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5118 type = struct @{
5119 void *si_addr;
5120 @}
5121 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5122 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5123 @end group
5124 @end smallexample
5125
5126 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5127
5128 @node Thread Stops
5129 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5130
5131 @cindex stopped threads
5132 @cindex threads, stopped
5133
5134 @cindex continuing threads
5135 @cindex threads, continuing
5136
5137 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5138 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5139 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5140 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5141 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5142 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5143 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5144 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5145 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5146
5147 @menu
5148 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5149 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5150 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5151 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5152 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5153 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5154 @end menu
5155
5156 @node All-Stop Mode
5157 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5158
5159 @cindex all-stop mode
5160
5161 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5162 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5163 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5164 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5165 underfoot.
5166
5167 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5168 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5169 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5170
5171 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5172 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5173 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5174 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5175 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5176 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5177 stops.
5178
5179 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5180 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5181 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5182 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5183
5184 @cindex automatic thread selection
5185 @cindex switching threads automatically
5186 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5187 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5188 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5189 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5190 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5191 thread.
5192
5193 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5194 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5195
5196 @table @code
5197 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5198 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5199 @cindex lock scheduler
5200 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5201 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5202 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5203 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5204 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5205 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5206 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5207 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5208 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5209 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5210 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5211 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5212
5213 @item show scheduler-locking
5214 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5215 @end table
5216
5217 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5218 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5219 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5220 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5221 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5222 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5223 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5224 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5225 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5226 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5227 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5228 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5229 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5230 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5231
5232 @table @code
5233 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5234 @item set schedule-multiple
5235 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5236 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5237 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5238 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5239 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5240 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5241
5242 @item show schedule-multiple
5243 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5244 multiple processes.
5245 @end table
5246
5247 @node Non-Stop Mode
5248 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5249
5250 @cindex non-stop mode
5251
5252 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5253 @c with more details.
5254
5255 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5256 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5257 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5258 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5259 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5260 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5261
5262 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5263 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5264 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5265 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5266 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5267 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5268 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5269 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5270 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5271 independently and simultaneously.
5272
5273 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5274 or attach to your program:
5275
5276 @smallexample
5277 # Enable the async interface.
5278 set target-async 1
5279
5280 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5281 set pagination off
5282
5283 # Finally, turn it on!
5284 set non-stop on
5285 @end smallexample
5286
5287 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5288
5289 @table @code
5290 @kindex set non-stop
5291 @item set non-stop on
5292 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5293 @item set non-stop off
5294 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5295 @kindex show non-stop
5296 @item show non-stop
5297 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5298 @end table
5299
5300 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5301 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5302 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5303 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5304 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5305 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5306 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5307 default.
5308
5309 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5310 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5311 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5312
5313 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5314 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5315 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5316 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5317 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5318
5319 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5320 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5321 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5322 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5323 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5324
5325 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5326
5327 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5328 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5329 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5330 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5331 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5332 previously current thread.
5333
5334 @node Background Execution
5335 @subsection Background Execution
5336
5337 @cindex foreground execution
5338 @cindex background execution
5339 @cindex asynchronous execution
5340 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5341
5342 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5343 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5344 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5345 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5346 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5347 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5348
5349 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5350 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5351 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5352
5353 @table @code
5354 @kindex set target-async
5355 @item set target-async on
5356 Enable asynchronous mode.
5357 @item set target-async off
5358 Disable asynchronous mode.
5359 @kindex show target-async
5360 @item show target-async
5361 Show the current target-async setting.
5362 @end table
5363
5364 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5365 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5366
5367 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5368 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5369 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5370 are:
5371
5372 @table @code
5373 @kindex run&
5374 @item run
5375 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5376
5377 @item attach
5378 @kindex attach&
5379 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5380
5381 @item step
5382 @kindex step&
5383 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5384
5385 @item stepi
5386 @kindex stepi&
5387 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5388
5389 @item next
5390 @kindex next&
5391 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5392
5393 @item nexti
5394 @kindex nexti&
5395 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5396
5397 @item continue
5398 @kindex continue&
5399 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5400
5401 @item finish
5402 @kindex finish&
5403 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5404
5405 @item until
5406 @kindex until&
5407 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5408
5409 @end table
5410
5411 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5412 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5413 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5414 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5415 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5416 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5417
5418 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5419 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5420
5421 @table @code
5422 @kindex interrupt
5423 @item interrupt
5424 @itemx interrupt -a
5425
5426 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5427 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5428 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5429 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5430 @end table
5431
5432 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5433 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5434
5435 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5436 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5437 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5438
5439 @table @code
5440 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5441 @cindex thread breakpoints
5442 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5443 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5444 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5445 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5446 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5447 specify some source line.
5448
5449 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5450 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5451 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5452 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5453 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5454
5455 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5456 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5457 program.
5458
5459 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5460 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5461 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5462
5463 @smallexample
5464 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5465 @end smallexample
5466
5467 @end table
5468
5469 @node Interrupted System Calls
5470 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5471
5472 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5473 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5474 @cindex premature return from system calls
5475 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5476 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5477 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5478 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5479 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5480 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5481 stop execution.
5482
5483 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5484 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5485 style anyways.
5486
5487 For example, do not write code like this:
5488
5489 @smallexample
5490 sleep (10);
5491 @end smallexample
5492
5493 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5494 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5495
5496 Instead, write this:
5497
5498 @smallexample
5499 int unslept = 10;
5500 while (unslept > 0)
5501 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5502 @end smallexample
5503
5504 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5505 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5506 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5507 @value{GDBN}.
5508
5509 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5510 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5511 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5512 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5513
5514 @node Observer Mode
5515 @subsection Observer Mode
5516
5517 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5518 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5519 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5520 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5521 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5522
5523 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5524 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5525 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5526 mode.
5527
5528 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5529 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5530 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5531 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5532 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5533
5534 @table @code
5535
5536 @kindex observer
5537 @item set observer on
5538 @itemx set observer off
5539 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5540 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5541 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5542 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5543
5544 @item show observer
5545 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5546
5547 @kindex may-write-registers
5548 @item set may-write-registers on
5549 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5550 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5551 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5552 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5553
5554 @item show may-write-registers
5555 Show the current permission to write registers.
5556
5557 @kindex may-write-memory
5558 @item set may-write-memory on
5559 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5560 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5561 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5562 defaults to @code{on}.
5563
5564 @item show may-write-memory
5565 Show the current permission to write memory.
5566
5567 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5568 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5569 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5570 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5571 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5572 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5573
5574 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5575 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5576
5577 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5578 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5579 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5580 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5581 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5582 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5583 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5584
5585 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5586 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5587
5588 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5589 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5590 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5591 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5592 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5593 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5594 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5595
5596 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5597 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5598
5599 @kindex may-interrupt
5600 @item set may-interrupt on
5601 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5602 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5603 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5604 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5605 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5606
5607 @item show may-interrupt
5608 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5609
5610 @end table
5611
5612 @node Reverse Execution
5613 @chapter Running programs backward
5614 @cindex reverse execution
5615 @cindex running programs backward
5616
5617 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5618 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5619 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5620 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5621
5622 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5623 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5624 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5625 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5626 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5627 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5628
5629 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5630 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5631 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5632 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5633 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5634 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5635 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5636 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5637 prior values@footnote{
5638 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5639 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5640 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5641
5642 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5643 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5644 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5645 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5646 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5647 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5648 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5649 }.
5650
5651 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5652 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5653
5654 @table @code
5655 @kindex reverse-continue
5656 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5657 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5658 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5659 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5660 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5661 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5662 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5663
5664 @kindex reverse-step
5665 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5666 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5667 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5668 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5669
5670 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5671 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5672 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5673 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5674 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5675 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5676
5677 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5678 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5679
5680 @kindex reverse-stepi
5681 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5682 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5683 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5684 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5685 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5686 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5687 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5688
5689 @kindex reverse-next
5690 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5691 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5692 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5693 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5694 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5695 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5696 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5697 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5698 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5699 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5700
5701 @kindex reverse-nexti
5702 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5703 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5704 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5705 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5706 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5707 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5708 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5709 frame) is reached.
5710
5711 @kindex reverse-finish
5712 @item reverse-finish
5713 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5714 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5715 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5716 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5717
5718 @kindex set exec-direction
5719 @item set exec-direction
5720 Set the direction of target execution.
5721 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5722 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5723 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5724 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5725 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5726 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5727 @item set exec-direction forward
5728 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5729 This is the default.
5730 @end table
5731
5732
5733 @node Process Record and Replay
5734 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5735 @cindex process record and replay
5736 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5737
5738 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5739 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5740 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5741
5742 @cindex replay mode
5743 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5744 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5745 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5746 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5747 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5748 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5749 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5750 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5751 execution log.
5752
5753 @cindex record mode
5754 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5755 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5756 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5757 for future replay.
5758
5759 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5760 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5761 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5762 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5763 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5764 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5765
5766 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5767 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5768 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5769 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5770
5771 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5772 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5773
5774 @table @code
5775 @kindex target record
5776 @kindex record
5777 @kindex rec
5778 @item target record
5779 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5780 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5781 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5782 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5783 the @kbd{target record} command.
5784
5785 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5786
5787 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5788 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5789 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5790 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5791 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5792
5793 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5794 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5795 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5796 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5797 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5798 support these two modes.
5799
5800 @kindex record stop
5801 @kindex rec s
5802 @item record stop
5803 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5804 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5805 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5806
5807 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5808 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5809 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5810 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5811 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5812
5813 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5814 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5815 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5816 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5817 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5818
5819 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5820 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5821
5822 @kindex record save
5823 @item record save @var{filename}
5824 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5825 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5826 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5827
5828 @kindex record restore
5829 @item record restore @var{filename}
5830 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5831 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5832
5833 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5834 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5835 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5836
5837 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5838 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5839 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5840 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5841 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5842 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5843 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5844 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5845
5846 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5847 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5848 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5849
5850 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5851 @item show record insn-number-max
5852 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5853
5854 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5855 @item set record stop-at-limit
5856 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5857 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5858 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5859 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5860 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5861 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5862
5863 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5864 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5865
5866 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5867 @item show record stop-at-limit
5868 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5869
5870 @kindex set record memory-query
5871 @item set record memory-query
5872 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5873 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5874 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5875
5876 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5877 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5878 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5879 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5880 results.
5881
5882 @kindex show record memory-query
5883 @item show record memory-query
5884 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5885
5886 @kindex info record
5887 @item info record
5888 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5889 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5890
5891 @itemize @bullet
5892 @item
5893 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5894 @item
5895 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5896 @item
5897 Highest recorded instruction number.
5898 @item
5899 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5900 @item
5901 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5902 @item
5903 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5904 @end itemize
5905
5906 @kindex record delete
5907 @kindex rec del
5908 @item record delete
5909 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5910 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5911 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5912 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5913 @end table
5914
5915
5916 @node Stack
5917 @chapter Examining the Stack
5918
5919 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5920 stopped and how it got there.
5921
5922 @cindex call stack
5923 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5924 is generated.
5925 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5926 the arguments of the call,
5927 and the local variables of the function being called.
5928 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5929 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5930 stack}.
5931
5932 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5933 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5934
5935 @cindex selected frame
5936 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5937 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5938 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5939 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5940 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5941 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5942
5943 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5944 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5945 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5946
5947 @menu
5948 * Frames:: Stack frames
5949 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5950 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5951 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5952
5953 @end menu
5954
5955 @node Frames
5956 @section Stack Frames
5957
5958 @cindex frame, definition
5959 @cindex stack frame
5960 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5961 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5962 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5963 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5964 which the function is executing.
5965
5966 @cindex initial frame
5967 @cindex outermost frame
5968 @cindex innermost frame
5969 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5970 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5971 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5972 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5973 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5974 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5975 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5976 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5977
5978 @cindex frame pointer
5979 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5980 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5981 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5982 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5983 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5984 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5985
5986 @cindex frame number
5987 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5988 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5989 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5990 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5991 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5992
5993 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5994 @c underflow problems.
5995 @cindex frameless execution
5996 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5997 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5998 @smallexample
5999 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6000 @end smallexample
6001 generates functions without a frame.)
6002 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6003 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6004 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6005 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6006 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6007 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6008 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6009
6010 @table @code
6011 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6012 @cindex current stack frame
6013 @item frame @var{args}
6014 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6015 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6016 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6017 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6018
6019 @kindex select-frame
6020 @cindex selecting frame silently
6021 @item select-frame
6022 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6023 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6024 @code{frame}.
6025 @end table
6026
6027 @node Backtrace
6028 @section Backtraces
6029
6030 @cindex traceback
6031 @cindex call stack traces
6032 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6033 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6034 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6035 stack.
6036
6037 @table @code
6038 @kindex backtrace
6039 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6040 @item backtrace
6041 @itemx bt
6042 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6043 frames in the stack.
6044
6045 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6046 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6047
6048 @item backtrace @var{n}
6049 @itemx bt @var{n}
6050 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6051
6052 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6053 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6054 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6055
6056 @item backtrace full
6057 @itemx bt full
6058 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6059 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6060 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6061 number of frames to print, as described above.
6062 @end table
6063
6064 @kindex where
6065 @kindex info stack
6066 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6067 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6068
6069 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6070 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6071 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6072 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6073 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6074 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6075 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6076 multi-threaded program.
6077
6078 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6079 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6080 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6081 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6082 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6083 line number.
6084
6085 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6086 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6087
6088 @smallexample
6089 @group
6090 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6091 at builtin.c:993
6092 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6093 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6094 at macro.c:71
6095 (More stack frames follow...)
6096 @end group
6097 @end smallexample
6098
6099 @noindent
6100 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6101 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6102 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6103
6104 @noindent
6105 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6106 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6107 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6108 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6109 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6110
6111 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6112 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6113 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6114 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6115 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6116 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6117 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6118 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6119 such a backtrace might look like:
6120
6121 @smallexample
6122 @group
6123 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6124 at builtin.c:993
6125 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6126 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6127 at macro.c:71
6128 (More stack frames follow...)
6129 @end group
6130 @end smallexample
6131
6132 @noindent
6133 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6134 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6135
6136 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6137 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6138 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6139
6140 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6141 @cindex program entry point
6142 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6143 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6144 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6145 @code{main}@footnote{
6146 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6147 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6148 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6149 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6150 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6151 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6152
6153 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6154 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6155
6156 @table @code
6157 @item set backtrace past-main
6158 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6159 @kindex set backtrace
6160 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6161
6162 @item set backtrace past-main off
6163 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6164 default.
6165
6166 @item show backtrace past-main
6167 @kindex show backtrace
6168 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6169
6170 @item set backtrace past-entry
6171 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6172 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6173 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6174 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6175
6176 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6177 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6178 application. This is the default.
6179
6180 @item show backtrace past-entry
6181 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6182
6183 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6184 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6185 @cindex backtrace limit
6186 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6187 unlimited.
6188
6189 @item show backtrace limit
6190 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6191 @end table
6192
6193 @node Selection
6194 @section Selecting a Frame
6195
6196 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6197 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6198 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6199 of the stack frame just selected.
6200
6201 @table @code
6202 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6203 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6204 @item frame @var{n}
6205 @itemx f @var{n}
6206 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6207 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6208 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6209 @code{main}.
6210
6211 @item frame @var{addr}
6212 @itemx f @var{addr}
6213 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6214 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6215 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6216 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6217 switches between them.
6218
6219 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6220 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6221
6222 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6223 pointer and a program counter.
6224
6225 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6226 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6227
6228 @kindex up
6229 @item up @var{n}
6230 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6231 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6232 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6233
6234 @kindex down
6235 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6236 @item down @var{n}
6237 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6238 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6239 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6240 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6241 @end table
6242
6243 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6244 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6245 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6246 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6247
6248 @need 1000
6249 For example:
6250
6251 @smallexample
6252 @group
6253 (@value{GDBP}) up
6254 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6255 at env.c:10
6256 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6257 @end group
6258 @end smallexample
6259
6260 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6261 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6262 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6263 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6264 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6265 for details.
6266
6267 @table @code
6268 @kindex down-silently
6269 @kindex up-silently
6270 @item up-silently @var{n}
6271 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6272 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6273 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6274 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6275 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6276 distracting.
6277 @end table
6278
6279 @node Frame Info
6280 @section Information About a Frame
6281
6282 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6283 stack frame.
6284
6285 @table @code
6286 @item frame
6287 @itemx f
6288 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6289 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6290 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6291 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6292 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6293
6294 @kindex info frame
6295 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6296 @item info frame
6297 @itemx info f
6298 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6299 including:
6300
6301 @itemize @bullet
6302 @item
6303 the address of the frame
6304 @item
6305 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6306 @item
6307 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6308 @item
6309 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6310 @item
6311 the address of the frame's arguments
6312 @item
6313 the address of the frame's local variables
6314 @item
6315 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6316 @item
6317 which registers were saved in the frame
6318 @end itemize
6319
6320 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6321 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6322 the usual conventions.
6323
6324 @item info frame @var{addr}
6325 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6326 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6327 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6328 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6329 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6330 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6331
6332 @kindex info args
6333 @item info args
6334 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6335
6336 @item info locals
6337 @kindex info locals
6338 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6339 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6340 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6341
6342 @kindex info catch
6343 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6344 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
6345 @item info catch
6346 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6347 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6348 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6349 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6350 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6351
6352 @end table
6353
6354
6355 @node Source
6356 @chapter Examining Source Files
6357
6358 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6359 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6360 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6361 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6362 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6363 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6364 source files by explicit command.
6365
6366 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6367 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6368 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6369
6370 @menu
6371 * List:: Printing source lines
6372 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6373 * Edit:: Editing source files
6374 * Search:: Searching source files
6375 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6376 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6377 @end menu
6378
6379 @node List
6380 @section Printing Source Lines
6381
6382 @kindex list
6383 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6384 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6385 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6386 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6387 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6388
6389 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6390
6391 @table @code
6392 @item list @var{linenum}
6393 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6394 current source file.
6395
6396 @item list @var{function}
6397 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6398 @var{function}.
6399
6400 @item list
6401 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6402 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6403 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6404 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6405 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6406
6407 @item list -
6408 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6409 @end table
6410
6411 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6412 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6413 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6414
6415 @table @code
6416 @kindex set listsize
6417 @item set listsize @var{count}
6418 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6419 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6420
6421 @kindex show listsize
6422 @item show listsize
6423 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6424 @end table
6425
6426 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6427 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6428 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6429 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6430 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6431
6432 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6433 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6434 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6435 to specify some source line.
6436
6437 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6438
6439 @table @code
6440 @item list @var{linespec}
6441 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6442
6443 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6444 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6445 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6446 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6447 the same source file as the first linespec.
6448
6449 @item list ,@var{last}
6450 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6451
6452 @item list @var{first},
6453 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6454
6455 @item list +
6456 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6457
6458 @item list -
6459 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6460
6461 @item list
6462 As described in the preceding table.
6463 @end table
6464
6465 @node Specify Location
6466 @section Specifying a Location
6467 @cindex specifying location
6468 @cindex linespec
6469
6470 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6471 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6472 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6473 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6474
6475 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6476 @value{GDBN} understands:
6477
6478 @table @code
6479 @item @var{linenum}
6480 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6481
6482 @item -@var{offset}
6483 @itemx +@var{offset}
6484 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6485 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6486 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6487 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6488 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6489 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6490 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6491 linespec.
6492
6493 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6494 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6495
6496 @item @var{function}
6497 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6498 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6499
6500 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6501 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6502
6503 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6504 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6505 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6506 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6507 functions in different source files.
6508
6509 @item @var{label}
6510 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6511 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6512 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6513 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6514 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6515
6516 @item *@var{address}
6517 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6518 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6519 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6520 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6521 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6522 source files.
6523
6524 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6525 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6526 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6527 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6528 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6529 of @var{address}:
6530
6531 @table @code
6532 @item @var{expression}
6533 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6534
6535 @item @var{funcaddr}
6536 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6537 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6538 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6539 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6540 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6541 (although the Pascal form also works).
6542
6543 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6544 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6545
6546 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6547 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6548 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6549 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6550 functions with identical names in different source files.
6551 @end table
6552
6553 @end table
6554
6555
6556 @node Edit
6557 @section Editing Source Files
6558 @cindex editing source files
6559
6560 @kindex edit
6561 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6562 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6563 The editing program of your choice
6564 is invoked with the current line set to
6565 the active line in the program.
6566 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6567 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6568
6569 @table @code
6570 @item edit @var{location}
6571 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6572 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6573 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6574 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6575 command most commonly used:
6576
6577 @table @code
6578 @item edit @var{number}
6579 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6580
6581 @item edit @var{function}
6582 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6583 @end table
6584
6585 @end table
6586
6587 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6588 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6589 @footnote{
6590 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6591 following command-line syntax:
6592 @smallexample
6593 ex +@var{number} file
6594 @end smallexample
6595 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6596 the file where to start editing.}.
6597 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6598 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6599 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6600 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6601 @smallexample
6602 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6603 export EDITOR
6604 gdb @dots{}
6605 @end smallexample
6606 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6607 @smallexample
6608 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6609 gdb @dots{}
6610 @end smallexample
6611
6612 @node Search
6613 @section Searching Source Files
6614 @cindex searching source files
6615
6616 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6617 regular expression.
6618
6619 @table @code
6620 @kindex search
6621 @kindex forward-search
6622 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6623 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6624 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6625 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6626 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6627 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6628 @code{fo}.
6629
6630 @kindex reverse-search
6631 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6632 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6633 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6634 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6635 this command as @code{rev}.
6636 @end table
6637
6638 @node Source Path
6639 @section Specifying Source Directories
6640
6641 @cindex source path
6642 @cindex directories for source files
6643 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6644 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6645 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6646 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6647 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6648 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6649 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6650
6651 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6652 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6653 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6654 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6655 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6656 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6657 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6658 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6659 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6660 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6661 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6662
6663 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6664 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6665 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6666 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6667 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6668 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6669
6670 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6671 source files.
6672
6673 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6674 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6675 each line is in the file.
6676
6677 @kindex directory
6678 @kindex dir
6679 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6680 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6681 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6682
6683 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6684 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6685
6686 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6687 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6688 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6689 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6690 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6691 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6692 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6693 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6694 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6695 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6696 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6697 name to look up the sources.
6698
6699 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6700 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6701 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6702 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6703 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6704 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6705 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6706 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6707
6708 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6709 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6710 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6711 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6712 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6713 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6714 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6715
6716 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6717 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6718 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6719 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6720 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6721 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6722 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6723 command.
6724
6725 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6726 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6727 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6728 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6729 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6730 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6731 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6732
6733 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6734 @cindex default source path substitution
6735 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6736 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6737 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6738 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6739 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6740 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6741 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6742 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6743 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6744 together.
6745
6746 @table @code
6747 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6748 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6749 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6750 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6751 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6752 part of absolute file names) or
6753 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6754 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6755
6756 @kindex cdir
6757 @kindex cwd
6758 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6759 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6760 @cindex compilation directory
6761 @cindex current directory
6762 @cindex working directory
6763 @cindex directory, current
6764 @cindex directory, compilation
6765 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6766 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6767 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6768 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6769 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6770 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6771
6772 @item directory
6773 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6774
6775 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6776 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6777
6778 @item set directories @var{path-list}
6779 @kindex set directories
6780 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
6781 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
6782
6783 @item show directories
6784 @kindex show directories
6785 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6786
6787 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6788 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6789 @kindex set substitute-path
6790 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6791 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6792 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6793
6794 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6795 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6796
6797 @smallexample
6798 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6799 @end smallexample
6800
6801 @noindent
6802 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6803 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6804 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6805
6806 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6807 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6808 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6809 the substitution.
6810
6811 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6812
6813 @smallexample
6814 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6815 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6816 @end smallexample
6817
6818 @noindent
6819 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6820 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6821 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6822 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6823
6824
6825 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6826 @kindex unset substitute-path
6827 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6828 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6829 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6830
6831 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6832
6833 @item show substitute-path [path]
6834 @kindex show substitute-path
6835 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6836 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6837
6838 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6839 rules.
6840
6841 @end table
6842
6843 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6844 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6845 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6846
6847 @enumerate
6848 @item
6849 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6850
6851 @item
6852 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6853 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6854 directories in one command.
6855 @end enumerate
6856
6857 @node Machine Code
6858 @section Source and Machine Code
6859 @cindex source line and its code address
6860
6861 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6862 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6863 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6864 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6865 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6866 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6867 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6868 well as hex.
6869
6870 @table @code
6871 @kindex info line
6872 @item info line @var{linespec}
6873 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6874 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6875 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6876 @end table
6877
6878 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6879 the object code for the first line of function
6880 @code{m4_changequote}:
6881
6882 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6883 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6884 @smallexample
6885 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6886 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6887 @end smallexample
6888
6889 @noindent
6890 @cindex code address and its source line
6891 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6892 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6893 @smallexample
6894 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6895 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6896 @end smallexample
6897
6898 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6899 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6900 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6901 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6902 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6903 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6904 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6905 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6906 Variables}).
6907
6908 @table @code
6909 @kindex disassemble
6910 @cindex assembly instructions
6911 @cindex instructions, assembly
6912 @cindex machine instructions
6913 @cindex listing machine instructions
6914 @item disassemble
6915 @itemx disassemble /m
6916 @itemx disassemble /r
6917 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6918 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6919 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6920 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6921 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6922 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6923 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6924 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6925 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6926 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
6927
6928 @table @code
6929 @item @var{start},@var{end}
6930 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
6931 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
6932 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
6933 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
6934 @end table
6935
6936 @noindent
6937 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
6938 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
6939
6940 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6941 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6942
6943 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6944 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6945 @end table
6946
6947 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6948 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6949
6950 @smallexample
6951 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6952 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6953 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6954 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6955 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6956 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6957 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6958 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6959 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6960 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6961 End of assembler dump.
6962 @end smallexample
6963
6964 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6965 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6966
6967 @smallexample
6968 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6969 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6970 5 @{
6971 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6972 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6973 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6974 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6975 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6976
6977 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6978 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6979 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6980
6981 7 return 0;
6982 8 @}
6983 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6984 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6985 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6986
6987 End of assembler dump.
6988 @end smallexample
6989
6990 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
6991
6992 @smallexample
6993 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
6994 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
6995 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
6996 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
6997 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
6998 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
6999 End of assembler dump.
7000 @end smallexample
7001
7002 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7003 mnemonics or other syntax.
7004
7005 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7006 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7007 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7008 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7009 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7010
7011 @table @code
7012 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7013 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7014 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7015 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7016 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7017 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7018
7019 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7020 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7021 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7022 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7023
7024 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7025 @item show disassembly-flavor
7026 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7027 @end table
7028
7029 @table @code
7030 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7031 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7032 @item set disassemble-next-line
7033 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7034 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7035 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7036 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7037 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7038 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7039 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7040 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7041 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7042 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7043 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7044 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7045 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7046 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7047 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7048 instruction.
7049 @end table
7050
7051
7052 @node Data
7053 @chapter Examining Data
7054
7055 @cindex printing data
7056 @cindex examining data
7057 @kindex print
7058 @kindex inspect
7059 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
7060 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
7061 @c different window or something like that.
7062 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7063 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7064 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7065 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7066 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7067 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7068
7069 @table @code
7070 @item print @var{expr}
7071 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7072 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7073 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7074 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7075 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7076 Formats}.
7077
7078 @item print
7079 @itemx print /@var{f}
7080 @cindex reprint the last value
7081 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7082 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7083 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7084 @end table
7085
7086 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7087 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7088 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7089
7090 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7091 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7092 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7093 Table}.
7094
7095 @menu
7096 * Expressions:: Expressions
7097 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7098 * Variables:: Program variables
7099 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7100 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7101 * Memory:: Examining memory
7102 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7103 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7104 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7105 * Value History:: Value history
7106 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7107 * Registers:: Registers
7108 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7109 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7110 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7111 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7112 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7113 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7114 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7115 character set than GDB does
7116 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7117 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7118 @end menu
7119
7120 @node Expressions
7121 @section Expressions
7122
7123 @cindex expressions
7124 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7125 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7126 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7127 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7128 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7129 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7130 @ref{Compilation}.
7131
7132 @cindex arrays in expressions
7133 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7134 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7135 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7136 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7137 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7138 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7139
7140 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7141 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7142 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7143 languages.
7144
7145 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7146 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7147
7148 @cindex casts, in expressions
7149 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7150 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7151 at that address in memory.
7152 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7153
7154 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7155 to programming languages:
7156
7157 @table @code
7158 @item @@
7159 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7160 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7161
7162 @item ::
7163 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7164 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7165
7166 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7167 @cindex type casting memory
7168 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7169 @cindex casts, to view memory
7170 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7171 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7172 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7173 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7174 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7175 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7176 @end table
7177
7178 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7179 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7180 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7181
7182 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7183 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7184 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7185 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7186 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7187 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7188 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7189
7190 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7191 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7192 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7193 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7194 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7195 as well.
7196
7197 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7198 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7199 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7200 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7201 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7202 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7203 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7204 choices.
7205
7206 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7207 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7208 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7209
7210 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7211 @smallexample
7212 @group
7213 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7214 [0] cancel
7215 [1] all
7216 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7217 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7218 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7219 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7220 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7221 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7222 > 2 4 6
7223 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7224 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7225 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7226 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7227 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7228 breakpoints.
7229 (@value{GDBP})
7230 @end group
7231 @end smallexample
7232
7233 @table @code
7234 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7235 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7236 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7237
7238 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7239 is ambiguous.
7240
7241 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7242 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7243 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7244 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7245 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7246 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7247 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7248 in the use of the menu.
7249
7250 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7251 when an ambiguity is detected.
7252
7253 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7254 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7255
7256 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7257 @item show multiple-symbols
7258 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7259 @end table
7260
7261 @node Variables
7262 @section Program Variables
7263
7264 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7265 in your program.
7266
7267 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7268 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7269
7270 @itemize @bullet
7271 @item
7272 global (or file-static)
7273 @end itemize
7274
7275 @noindent or
7276
7277 @itemize @bullet
7278 @item
7279 visible according to the scope rules of the
7280 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7281 @end itemize
7282
7283 @noindent This means that in the function
7284
7285 @smallexample
7286 foo (a)
7287 int a;
7288 @{
7289 bar (a);
7290 @{
7291 int b = test ();
7292 bar (b);
7293 @}
7294 @}
7295 @end smallexample
7296
7297 @noindent
7298 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7299 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7300 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7301 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7302
7303 @cindex variable name conflict
7304 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7305 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7306 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7307 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7308 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7309 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
7310 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7311
7312 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7313 @ifnotinfo
7314 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7315 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7316 @end ifnotinfo
7317 @smallexample
7318 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7319 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7320 @end smallexample
7321
7322 @noindent
7323 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7324 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7325 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7326 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7327
7328 @smallexample
7329 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7330 @end smallexample
7331
7332 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
7333 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
7334 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
7335 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
7336 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
7337
7338 @smallexample
7339 void
7340 foo (int a)
7341 @{
7342 if (a < 10)
7343 bar (a);
7344 else
7345 process (a); /* Stop here */
7346 @}
7347
7348 int
7349 bar (int a)
7350 @{
7351 foo (a + 5);
7352 @}
7353 @end smallexample
7354
7355 @noindent
7356 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
7357 here is what you might see
7358 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
7359
7360 @smallexample
7361 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7362 $1 = 10
7363 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7364 $2 = 5
7365 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
7366 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
7367 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7368 $3 = 5
7369 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7370 $4 = 0
7371 @end smallexample
7372
7373 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7374 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7375 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7376 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7377 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7378 @c conflict?? --mew
7379
7380 @cindex wrong values
7381 @cindex variable values, wrong
7382 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7383 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7384 @quotation
7385 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7386 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7387 scope, and just before exit.
7388 @end quotation
7389 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7390 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7391 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7392 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7393 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7394 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7395 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7396 variable definitions may be gone.
7397
7398 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7399 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7400 when compiling.
7401
7402 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7403 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7404 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7405 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7406 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7407 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7408 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7409
7410 @smallexample
7411 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7412 @end smallexample
7413
7414 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7415 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7416 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
7417 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
7418 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7419
7420 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7421 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7422 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7423 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7424
7425 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
7426 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
7427 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
7428 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
7429 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
7430
7431 @smallexample
7432 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
7433 29 i++;
7434 (gdb) next
7435 30 e (i);
7436 (gdb) print i
7437 $1 = 31
7438 (gdb) print i@@entry
7439 $2 = 30
7440 @end smallexample
7441
7442 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7443 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7444 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7445 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7446 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7447 For program code
7448
7449 @smallexample
7450 char var0[] = "A";
7451 signed char var1[] = "A";
7452 @end smallexample
7453
7454 You get during debugging
7455 @smallexample
7456 (gdb) print var0
7457 $1 = "A"
7458 (gdb) print var1
7459 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7460 @end smallexample
7461
7462 @node Arrays
7463 @section Artificial Arrays
7464
7465 @cindex artificial array
7466 @cindex arrays
7467 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7468 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7469 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7470 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7471 program.
7472
7473 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7474 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7475 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7476 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7477 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7478 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7479 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7480 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7481 example. If a program says
7482
7483 @smallexample
7484 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7485 @end smallexample
7486
7487 @noindent
7488 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7489
7490 @smallexample
7491 p *array@@len
7492 @end smallexample
7493
7494 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7495 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7496 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7497 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7498 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7499
7500 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7501 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7502 The value need not be in memory:
7503 @smallexample
7504 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7505 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7506 @end smallexample
7507
7508 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7509 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7510 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7511 @smallexample
7512 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7513 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7514 @end smallexample
7515
7516 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7517 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7518 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7519 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7520 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7521 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7522 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7523 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7524 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7525 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7526
7527 @smallexample
7528 set $i = 0
7529 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7530 @key{RET}
7531 @key{RET}
7532 @dots{}
7533 @end smallexample
7534
7535 @node Output Formats
7536 @section Output Formats
7537
7538 @cindex formatted output
7539 @cindex output formats
7540 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7541 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7542 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7543 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7544 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7545
7546 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7547 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7548 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7549 letters supported are:
7550
7551 @table @code
7552 @item x
7553 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7554 hexadecimal.
7555
7556 @item d
7557 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7558
7559 @item u
7560 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7561
7562 @item o
7563 Print as integer in octal.
7564
7565 @item t
7566 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7567 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7568 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7569 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7570
7571 @item a
7572 @cindex unknown address, locating
7573 @cindex locate address
7574 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7575 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7576 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7577
7578 @smallexample
7579 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7580 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7581 @end smallexample
7582
7583 @noindent
7584 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7585 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7586
7587 @item c
7588 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7589 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7590 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7591 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7592
7593 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7594 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7595 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7596 data.
7597
7598 @item f
7599 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7600 using typical floating point syntax.
7601
7602 @item s
7603 @cindex printing strings
7604 @cindex printing byte arrays
7605 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7606 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7607 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7608 natural types.
7609
7610 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7611 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7612 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7613 array.
7614
7615 @item r
7616 @cindex raw printing
7617 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7618 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7619 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7620 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7621 pretty-printer which might exist.
7622 @end table
7623
7624 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7625
7626 @smallexample
7627 p/x $pc
7628 @end smallexample
7629
7630 @noindent
7631 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7632 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7633
7634 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7635 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7636 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7637
7638 @node Memory
7639 @section Examining Memory
7640
7641 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7642 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7643
7644 @cindex examining memory
7645 @table @code
7646 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7647 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7648 @itemx x @var{addr}
7649 @itemx x
7650 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7651 @end table
7652
7653 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7654 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7655 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7656 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7657 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7658
7659 @table @r
7660 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7661 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7662 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7663 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7664 @c 4.1.2.
7665
7666 @item @var{f}, the display format
7667 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7668 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7669 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7670 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7671 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7672
7673 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7674 The unit size is any of
7675
7676 @table @code
7677 @item b
7678 Bytes.
7679 @item h
7680 Halfwords (two bytes).
7681 @item w
7682 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7683 @item g
7684 Giant words (eight bytes).
7685 @end table
7686
7687 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7688 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7689 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7690 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7691 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7692 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7693 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7694 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7695 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7696 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7697 be altered.
7698
7699 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7700 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7701 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7702 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7703 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7704 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7705 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7706 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7707 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7708 a value from memory).
7709 @end table
7710
7711 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7712 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7713 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7714 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7715 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7716
7717 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7718 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7719 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7720 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7721 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7722
7723 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7724 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7725 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7726 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7727 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7728 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7729 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7730 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7731 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7732
7733 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7734 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7735 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7736 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7737 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7738 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7739 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7740
7741 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7742 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7743
7744 @smallexample
7745 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7746 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7747 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7748 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7749 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7750 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7751 @end smallexample
7752
7753 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7754 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7755 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7756 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7757 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7758 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7759 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7760 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7761 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7762
7763 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7764 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7765 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7766
7767 @cindex remote memory comparison
7768 @cindex verify remote memory image
7769 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7770 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7771 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7772 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7773 situations.
7774
7775 @table @code
7776 @kindex compare-sections
7777 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7778 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7779 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7780 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7781 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7782 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7783 remote request.
7784 @end table
7785
7786 @node Auto Display
7787 @section Automatic Display
7788 @cindex automatic display
7789 @cindex display of expressions
7790
7791 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7792 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7793 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7794 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7795 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7796 The automatic display looks like this:
7797
7798 @smallexample
7799 2: foo = 38
7800 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7801 @end smallexample
7802
7803 @noindent
7804 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7805 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7806 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7807 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7808 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7809 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7810
7811 @table @code
7812 @kindex display
7813 @item display @var{expr}
7814 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7815 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7816
7817 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7818
7819 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7820 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7821 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7822 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7823 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7824
7825 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7826 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7827 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7828 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7829 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7830 @end table
7831
7832 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7833 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7834 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7835
7836 @table @code
7837 @kindex delete display
7838 @kindex undisplay
7839 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7840 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7841 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
7842 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
7843 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
7844 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
7845 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7846
7847 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7848 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7849
7850 @kindex disable display
7851 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7852 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7853 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7854 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
7855 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
7856 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
7857 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
7858 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7859
7860 @kindex enable display
7861 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7862 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7863 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7864 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
7865 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
7866 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
7867 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7868
7869 @item display
7870 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7871 done when your program stops.
7872
7873 @kindex info display
7874 @item info display
7875 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7876 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7877 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7878 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7879 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7880 @end table
7881
7882 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7883 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7884 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7885 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7886 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7887 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7888 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7889 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7890 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7891 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7892 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7893
7894 @node Print Settings
7895 @section Print Settings
7896
7897 @cindex format options
7898 @cindex print settings
7899 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7900 and symbols are printed.
7901
7902 @noindent
7903 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7904
7905 @table @code
7906 @kindex set print
7907 @item set print address
7908 @itemx set print address on
7909 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7910 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7911 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7912 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7913 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7914 @code{set print address on}:
7915
7916 @smallexample
7917 @group
7918 (@value{GDBP}) f
7919 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7920 at input.c:530
7921 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7922 @end group
7923 @end smallexample
7924
7925 @item set print address off
7926 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7927 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7928
7929 @smallexample
7930 @group
7931 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7932 (@value{GDBP}) f
7933 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7934 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7935 @end group
7936 @end smallexample
7937
7938 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7939 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7940 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7941 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7942
7943 @kindex show print
7944 @item show print address
7945 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7946 @end table
7947
7948 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7949 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7950 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7951 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7952 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7953 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7954 it prints a symbolic address:
7955
7956 @table @code
7957 @item set print symbol-filename on
7958 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7959 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7960 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7961 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7962
7963 @item set print symbol-filename off
7964 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7965 default.
7966
7967 @item show print symbol-filename
7968 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7969 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7970 @end table
7971
7972 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7973 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7974 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7975
7976 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7977 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7978
7979 @table @code
7980 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7981 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7982 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7983 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7984 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7985 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7986
7987 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7988 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7989 symbolic address.
7990 @end table
7991
7992 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7993 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7994 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7995 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7996 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7997 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7998 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7999 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8000
8001 @smallexample
8002 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8003 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8004 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8005 @end smallexample
8006
8007 @quotation
8008 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8009 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8010 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8011 @end quotation
8012
8013 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8014
8015 @table @code
8016 @item set print array
8017 @itemx set print array on
8018 @cindex pretty print arrays
8019 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8020 but uses more space. The default is off.
8021
8022 @item set print array off
8023 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8024
8025 @item show print array
8026 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8027 arrays.
8028
8029 @cindex print array indexes
8030 @item set print array-indexes
8031 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8032 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8033 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8034 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8035
8036 @item set print array-indexes off
8037 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8038
8039 @item show print array-indexes
8040 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8041 arrays.
8042
8043 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8044 @cindex number of array elements to print
8045 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8046 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8047 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8048 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8049 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8050 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8051 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8052
8053 @item show print elements
8054 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8055 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8056
8057 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8058 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8059 @cindex printing frame argument values
8060 @cindex print all frame argument values
8061 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8062 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8063 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8064 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8065 values are:
8066
8067 @table @code
8068 @item all
8069 The values of all arguments are printed.
8070
8071 @item scalars
8072 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8073 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8074 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8075 only scalar arguments are shown:
8076
8077 @smallexample
8078 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8079 at frame-args.c:23
8080 @end smallexample
8081
8082 @item none
8083 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8084 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8085
8086 @smallexample
8087 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8088 at frame-args.c:23
8089 @end smallexample
8090 @end table
8091
8092 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8093 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8094 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8095 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8096 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8097 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8098 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8099 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8100 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8101 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8102
8103 @item show print frame-arguments
8104 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8105
8106 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8107 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8108 @kindex set print entry-values
8109 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8110 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8111 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8112 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8113 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8114
8115 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8116 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8117 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8118 @code{no} setting.
8119
8120 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8121 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8122 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8123 this information.
8124
8125 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8126
8127 @table @code
8128 @item no
8129 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8130 point.
8131 @smallexample
8132 #0 equal (val=5)
8133 #0 different (val=6)
8134 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8135 #0 born (val=10)
8136 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8137 @end smallexample
8138
8139 @item only
8140 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8141 values are never printed.
8142 @smallexample
8143 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8144 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8145 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8146 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8147 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8148 @end smallexample
8149
8150 @item preferred
8151 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8152 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8153 value for such parameter.
8154 @smallexample
8155 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8156 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8157 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8158 #0 born (val=10)
8159 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8160 @end smallexample
8161
8162 @item if-needed
8163 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8164 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8165 parameter.
8166 @smallexample
8167 #0 equal (val=5)
8168 #0 different (val=6)
8169 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8170 #0 born (val=10)
8171 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8172 @end smallexample
8173
8174 @item both
8175 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8176 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8177 optimizations.
8178 @smallexample
8179 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8180 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8181 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8182 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8183 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8184 @end smallexample
8185
8186 @item compact
8187 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8188 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8189 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8190 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8191 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8192 @smallexample
8193 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8194 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8195 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8196 #0 born (val=10)
8197 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8198 @end smallexample
8199
8200 @item default
8201 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8202 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8203 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8204 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8205 @smallexample
8206 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8207 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8208 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8209 #0 born (val=10)
8210 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8211 @end smallexample
8212 @end table
8213
8214 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8215 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8216
8217 @item show print entry-values
8218 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8219 entry.
8220
8221 @item set print repeats
8222 @cindex repeated array elements
8223 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8224 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8225 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8226 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8227 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8228 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8229 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8230
8231 @item show print repeats
8232 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8233 elements.
8234
8235 @item set print null-stop
8236 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8237 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8238 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8239 contain only short strings.
8240 The default is off.
8241
8242 @item show print null-stop
8243 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8244 @sc{null} character.
8245
8246 @item set print pretty on
8247 @cindex print structures in indented form
8248 @cindex indentation in structure display
8249 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8250 per line, like this:
8251
8252 @smallexample
8253 @group
8254 $1 = @{
8255 next = 0x0,
8256 flags = @{
8257 sweet = 1,
8258 sour = 1
8259 @},
8260 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
8261 @}
8262 @end group
8263 @end smallexample
8264
8265 @item set print pretty off
8266 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8267
8268 @smallexample
8269 @group
8270 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8271 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8272 @end group
8273 @end smallexample
8274
8275 @noindent
8276 This is the default format.
8277
8278 @item show print pretty
8279 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8280
8281 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8282 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8283 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8284 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8285 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8286 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8287 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8288 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8289
8290 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8291 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8292 international character sets, and is the default.
8293
8294 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8295 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8296
8297 @item set print union on
8298 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8299 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8300 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8301
8302 @item set print union off
8303 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8304 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8305 instead.
8306
8307 @item show print union
8308 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8309 structures and other unions.
8310
8311 For example, given the declarations
8312
8313 @smallexample
8314 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8315 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8316 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8317 Bug_forms;
8318
8319 struct thing @{
8320 Species it;
8321 union @{
8322 Tree_forms tree;
8323 Bug_forms bug;
8324 @} form;
8325 @};
8326
8327 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8328 @end smallexample
8329
8330 @noindent
8331 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8332
8333 @smallexample
8334 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8335 @end smallexample
8336
8337 @noindent
8338 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8339
8340 @smallexample
8341 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8342 @end smallexample
8343
8344 @noindent
8345 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8346 and in Pascal.
8347 @end table
8348
8349 @need 1000
8350 @noindent
8351 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8352
8353 @table @code
8354 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8355 @item set print demangle
8356 @itemx set print demangle on
8357 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8358 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8359 linkage. The default is on.
8360
8361 @item show print demangle
8362 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8363
8364 @item set print asm-demangle
8365 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8366 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8367 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8368 The default is off.
8369
8370 @item show print asm-demangle
8371 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8372 or demangled form.
8373
8374 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8375 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8376 @kindex set demangle-style
8377 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8378 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8379 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8380
8381 @table @code
8382 @item auto
8383 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8384
8385 @item gnu
8386 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8387 This is the default.
8388
8389 @item hp
8390 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8391
8392 @item lucid
8393 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8394
8395 @item arm
8396 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8397 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8398 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8399 require further enhancement to permit that.
8400
8401 @end table
8402 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8403
8404 @item show demangle-style
8405 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8406
8407 @item set print object
8408 @itemx set print object on
8409 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8410 @cindex display derived types
8411 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8412 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8413 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
8414 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
8415 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
8416 type is sufficient.
8417
8418 @item set print object off
8419 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8420 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8421
8422 @item show print object
8423 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8424
8425 @item set print static-members
8426 @itemx set print static-members on
8427 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8428 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8429
8430 @item set print static-members off
8431 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8432
8433 @item show print static-members
8434 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8435
8436 @item set print pascal_static-members
8437 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8438 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8439 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8440 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8441
8442 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8443 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8444
8445 @item show print pascal_static-members
8446 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8447
8448 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8449 @item set print vtbl
8450 @itemx set print vtbl on
8451 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8452 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8453 @cindex VTBL display
8454 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8455 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8456 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8457
8458 @item set print vtbl off
8459 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8460
8461 @item show print vtbl
8462 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8463 @end table
8464
8465 @node Pretty Printing
8466 @section Pretty Printing
8467
8468 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8469 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8470 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8471
8472 @menu
8473 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8474 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8475 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8476 @end menu
8477
8478 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8479 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8480
8481 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8482 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8483 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8484
8485 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8486 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8487 pretty-printers with their names.
8488 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8489 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8490 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8491 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8492
8493 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8494 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8495 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8496 do anything special.
8497
8498 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8499
8500 @itemize @bullet
8501 @item
8502 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8503 all inferiors.
8504
8505 @item
8506 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8507 when debugging that program.
8508 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8509
8510 @item
8511 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8512 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8513 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8514 @end itemize
8515
8516 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8517 pretty-printers are selected,
8518
8519 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8520 for new types.
8521
8522 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8523 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8524
8525 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8526
8527 @smallexample
8528 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8529 $1 = @{
8530 static npos = 4294967295,
8531 _M_dataplus = @{
8532 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8533 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8534 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8535 @},
8536 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8537 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8538 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8539 @}
8540 @}
8541 @end smallexample
8542
8543 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8544
8545 @smallexample
8546 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8547 $2 = "abcd"
8548 @end smallexample
8549
8550 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8551 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8552 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8553
8554 @table @code
8555 @kindex info pretty-printer
8556 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8557 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
8558 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
8559
8560 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
8561 whose pretty-printers to list.
8562 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
8563 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
8564 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
8565 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
8566 looks up a printer from these three objects.
8567
8568 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
8569 to list.
8570
8571 @kindex disable pretty-printer
8572 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8573 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8574 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
8575
8576 @kindex enable pretty-printer
8577 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8578 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8579 @end table
8580
8581 Example:
8582
8583 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
8584 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
8585 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
8586 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
8587
8588 @smallexample
8589 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8590 library1.so:
8591 foo
8592 library2.so:
8593 bar
8594 bar1
8595 bar2
8596 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8597 library2.so:
8598 bar
8599 bar1
8600 bar2
8601 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
8602 1 printer disabled
8603 2 of 3 printers enabled
8604 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8605 library1.so:
8606 foo [disabled]
8607 library2.so:
8608 bar
8609 bar1
8610 bar2
8611 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
8612 1 printer disabled
8613 1 of 3 printers enabled
8614 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8615 library1.so:
8616 foo [disabled]
8617 library2.so:
8618 bar
8619 bar1 [disabled]
8620 bar2
8621 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
8622 1 printer disabled
8623 0 of 3 printers enabled
8624 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8625 library1.so:
8626 foo [disabled]
8627 library2.so:
8628 bar [disabled]
8629 bar1 [disabled]
8630 bar2
8631 @end smallexample
8632
8633 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
8634 as can each individual subprinter.
8635
8636 @node Value History
8637 @section Value History
8638
8639 @cindex value history
8640 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8641 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8642 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8643 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8644 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8645 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8646 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8647 symbol table.
8648
8649 @cindex @code{$}
8650 @cindex @code{$$}
8651 @cindex history number
8652 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8653 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8654 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8655 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8656 history number.
8657
8658 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8659 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8660 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8661 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8662 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8663 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8664 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8665
8666 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8667 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8668
8669 @smallexample
8670 p *$
8671 @end smallexample
8672
8673 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8674 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8675
8676 @smallexample
8677 p *$.next
8678 @end smallexample
8679
8680 @noindent
8681 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8682 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8683
8684 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8685 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8686
8687 @smallexample
8688 print x
8689 set x=5
8690 @end smallexample
8691
8692 @noindent
8693 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8694 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8695
8696 @table @code
8697 @kindex show values
8698 @item show values
8699 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8700 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8701 values} does not change the history.
8702
8703 @item show values @var{n}
8704 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8705
8706 @item show values +
8707 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8708 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8709 @end table
8710
8711 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8712 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8713
8714 @node Convenience Vars
8715 @section Convenience Variables
8716
8717 @cindex convenience variables
8718 @cindex user-defined variables
8719 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8720 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8721 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8722 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8723 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8724
8725 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8726 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8727 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8728 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8729 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8730
8731 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8732 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8733 For example:
8734
8735 @smallexample
8736 set $foo = *object_ptr
8737 @end smallexample
8738
8739 @noindent
8740 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8741 @code{object_ptr}.
8742
8743 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8744 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8745 value with another assignment at any time.
8746
8747 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8748 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8749 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8750 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8751
8752 @table @code
8753 @kindex show convenience
8754 @cindex show all user variables
8755 @item show convenience
8756 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8757 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8758
8759 @kindex init-if-undefined
8760 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8761 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8762 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8763 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8764 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8765 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8766 override default values used in a command script.
8767
8768 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8769 any side-effects do not occur.
8770 @end table
8771
8772 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8773 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8774 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8775
8776 @smallexample
8777 set $i = 0
8778 print bar[$i++]->contents
8779 @end smallexample
8780
8781 @noindent
8782 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8783
8784 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8785 values likely to be useful.
8786
8787 @table @code
8788 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8789 @item $_
8790 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8791 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8792 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8793 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8794 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8795 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8796 to the type of @code{$__}.
8797
8798 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8799 @item $__
8800 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8801 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8802 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8803
8804 @item $_exitcode
8805 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8806 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8807 the program being debugged terminates.
8808
8809 @item $_sdata
8810 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
8811 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
8812 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
8813 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
8814 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
8815
8816 @item $_siginfo
8817 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8818 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8819 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8820 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8821 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8822
8823 @item $_tlb
8824 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8825 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8826 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8827 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8828 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8829 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8830
8831 @end table
8832
8833 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8834 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8835 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8836
8837 @cindex convenience functions
8838 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8839 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8840 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8841 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8842 @value{GDBN}.
8843
8844 @table @code
8845 @item help function
8846 @kindex help function
8847 @cindex show all convenience functions
8848 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8849 @end table
8850
8851 @node Registers
8852 @section Registers
8853
8854 @cindex registers
8855 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8856 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8857 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8858 your machine.
8859
8860 @table @code
8861 @kindex info registers
8862 @item info registers
8863 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8864 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8865
8866 @kindex info all-registers
8867 @cindex floating point registers
8868 @item info all-registers
8869 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8870 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8871
8872 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8873 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8874 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8875 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8876 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8877 @end table
8878
8879 @cindex stack pointer register
8880 @cindex program counter register
8881 @cindex process status register
8882 @cindex frame pointer register
8883 @cindex standard registers
8884 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8885 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8886 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8887 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8888 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8889 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8890 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8891 you could print the program counter in hex with
8892
8893 @smallexample
8894 p/x $pc
8895 @end smallexample
8896
8897 @noindent
8898 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8899
8900 @smallexample
8901 x/i $pc
8902 @end smallexample
8903
8904 @noindent
8905 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8906 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8907 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8908 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8909 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8910 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8911 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8912
8913 @smallexample
8914 set $sp += 4
8915 @end smallexample
8916
8917 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8918 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8919 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8920 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8921 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8922 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8923 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8924
8925 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8926 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8927 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8928 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8929 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8930 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8931 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8932
8933 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8934 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8935 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8936 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8937 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8938 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8939 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8940 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8941 prints the data in both formats.
8942
8943 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8944 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8945 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8946 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8947 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8948 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8949 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8950
8951 @smallexample
8952 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8953 $1 = @{
8954 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8955 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8956 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8957 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8958 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8959 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8960 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8961 @}
8962 @end smallexample
8963
8964 @noindent
8965 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8966 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8967 value to a @code{struct} member:
8968
8969 @smallexample
8970 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8971 @end smallexample
8972
8973 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8974 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8975 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8976 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8977 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8978 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8979
8980 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8981 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8982 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8983 frame makes no difference.
8984
8985 @node Floating Point Hardware
8986 @section Floating Point Hardware
8987 @cindex floating point
8988
8989 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8990 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8991
8992 @table @code
8993 @kindex info float
8994 @item info float
8995 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8996 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8997 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8998 the ARM and x86 machines.
8999 @end table
9000
9001 @node Vector Unit
9002 @section Vector Unit
9003 @cindex vector unit
9004
9005 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9006 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9007
9008 @table @code
9009 @kindex info vector
9010 @item info vector
9011 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9012 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9013 @end table
9014
9015 @node OS Information
9016 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9017 @cindex OS information
9018
9019 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9020 you debug your program.
9021
9022 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
9023 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
9024 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
9025 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
9026 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
9027 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
9028 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
9029 structure.
9030
9031 @table @code
9032 @item info udot
9033 @kindex info udot
9034 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
9035 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
9036 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
9037 the @code{examine} command.
9038 @end table
9039
9040 @cindex auxiliary vector
9041 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9042 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9043 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9044 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9045 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9046 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9047 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9048 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9049 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9050 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9051 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9052 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9053
9054 @table @code
9055 @kindex info auxv
9056 @item info auxv
9057 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9058 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9059 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9060 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9061 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9062 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9063 an unrecognized tag.
9064 @end table
9065
9066 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
9067 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
9068 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9069 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9070
9071 @table @code
9072 @kindex info os
9073 @item info os
9074 List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
9075 target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
9076 report an error.
9077
9078 @kindex info os processes
9079 @item info os processes
9080 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9081 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
9082 the command corresponding to the process.
9083 @end table
9084
9085 @node Memory Region Attributes
9086 @section Memory Region Attributes
9087 @cindex memory region attributes
9088
9089 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9090 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9091 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9092 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9093 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9094 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9095 user can override the fetched regions.
9096
9097 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9098 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9099 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9100 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9101 all memory.
9102
9103 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9104 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9105
9106 @table @code
9107 @kindex mem
9108 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9109 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9110 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9111 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9112 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9113 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9114
9115 @item mem auto
9116 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9117 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9118
9119 @kindex delete mem
9120 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9121 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9122 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9123
9124 @kindex disable mem
9125 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9126 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9127 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9128 It may be enabled again later.
9129
9130 @kindex enable mem
9131 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9132 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9133
9134 @kindex info mem
9135 @item info mem
9136 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9137 for each region:
9138
9139 @table @emph
9140 @item Memory Region Number
9141 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9142 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9143 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9144
9145 @item Lo Address
9146 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9147
9148 @item Hi Address
9149 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9150
9151 @item Attributes
9152 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9153 @end table
9154 @end table
9155
9156
9157 @subsection Attributes
9158
9159 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9160 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9161 write accesses to a memory region.
9162
9163 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9164 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9165 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9166
9167 @table @code
9168 @item ro
9169 Memory is read only.
9170 @item wo
9171 Memory is write only.
9172 @item rw
9173 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9174 @end table
9175
9176 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9177 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9178 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9179 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9180 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9181
9182 @table @code
9183 @item 8
9184 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9185 @item 16
9186 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9187 @item 32
9188 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9189 @item 64
9190 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9191 @end table
9192
9193 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9194 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9195 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9196 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
9197 @c
9198 @c @table @code
9199 @c @item hwbreak
9200 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
9201 @c @item swbreak (default)
9202 @c @end table
9203
9204 @subsubsection Data Cache
9205 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
9206 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
9207 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
9208 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
9209 registers.
9210
9211 @table @code
9212 @item cache
9213 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
9214 @item nocache
9215 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
9216 @end table
9217
9218 @subsection Memory Access Checking
9219 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
9220 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
9221 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
9222 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
9223
9224 @table @code
9225 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
9226 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
9227 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
9228 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
9229 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
9230 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
9231 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
9232 The default value is @code{on}.
9233 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
9234 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
9235 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
9236 @end table
9237
9238
9239 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
9240 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9241 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
9242 @c
9243 @c @table @code
9244 @c @item verify
9245 @c @item noverify (default)
9246 @c @end table
9247
9248 @node Dump/Restore Files
9249 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
9250 @cindex dump/restore files
9251 @cindex append data to a file
9252 @cindex dump data to a file
9253 @cindex restore data from a file
9254
9255 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
9256 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
9257 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
9258 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
9259 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
9260 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
9261 files.
9262
9263 @table @code
9264
9265 @kindex dump
9266 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9267 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9268 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9269 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
9270
9271 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
9272 @table @code
9273 @item binary
9274 Raw binary form.
9275 @item ihex
9276 Intel hex format.
9277 @item srec
9278 Motorola S-record format.
9279 @item tekhex
9280 Tektronix Hex format.
9281 @end table
9282
9283 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
9284 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
9285 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
9286 form.
9287
9288 @kindex append
9289 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9290 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9291 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9292 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
9293 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
9294
9295 @kindex restore
9296 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
9297 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
9298 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
9299 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
9300 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
9301
9302 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
9303 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
9304 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9305 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9306 from that location.
9307
9308 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9309 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9310 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9311 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9312
9313 @end table
9314
9315 @node Core File Generation
9316 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9317 @cindex dump core from inferior
9318
9319 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9320 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9321 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9322 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9323 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9324 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9325 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9326
9327 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9328 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9329 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9330
9331 @table @code
9332 @kindex gcore
9333 @kindex generate-core-file
9334 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9335 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9336 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9337 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9338 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9339 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9340
9341 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9342 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9343 @end table
9344
9345 @node Character Sets
9346 @section Character Sets
9347 @cindex character sets
9348 @cindex charset
9349 @cindex translating between character sets
9350 @cindex host character set
9351 @cindex target character set
9352
9353 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9354 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9355 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9356 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9357 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9358 @dfn{target character set}.
9359
9360 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9361 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9362 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9363 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9364 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9365 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9366 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9367 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9368 character and string literals in expressions.
9369
9370 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9371 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9372 target-charset} command, described below.
9373
9374 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9375 support:
9376
9377 @table @code
9378 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9379 @kindex set target-charset
9380 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9381 list of supported target character sets, type
9382 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9383
9384 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9385 @kindex set host-charset
9386 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9387
9388 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9389 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9390 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9391 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9392 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9393
9394 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9395 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9396 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9397
9398 @item set charset @var{charset}
9399 @kindex set charset
9400 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9401 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9402 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9403 for both host and target.
9404
9405 @item show charset
9406 @kindex show charset
9407 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9408
9409 @item show host-charset
9410 @kindex show host-charset
9411 Show the name of the current host character set.
9412
9413 @item show target-charset
9414 @kindex show target-charset
9415 Show the name of the current target character set.
9416
9417 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9418 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9419 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9420 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9421 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9422 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9423
9424 @item show target-wide-charset
9425 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9426 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9427 @end table
9428
9429 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9430 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9431 @file{charset-test.c}:
9432
9433 @smallexample
9434 #include <stdio.h>
9435
9436 char ascii_hello[]
9437 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9438 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9439 char ibm1047_hello[]
9440 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9441 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9442
9443 main ()
9444 @{
9445 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9446 @}
9447 @end smallexample
9448
9449 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9450 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9451 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9452
9453 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9454
9455 @smallexample
9456 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9457 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9458 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9459 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9460 @dots{}
9461 (@value{GDBP})
9462 @end smallexample
9463
9464 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9465 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
9466 strings:
9467
9468 @smallexample
9469 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9470 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
9471 (@value{GDBP})
9472 @end smallexample
9473
9474 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
9475 initial character set:
9476 @smallexample
9477 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
9478 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9479 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
9480 (@value{GDBP})
9481 @end smallexample
9482
9483 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
9484 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
9485 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9486 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9487 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9488
9489 @smallexample
9490 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9491 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9492 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9493 $2 = 72 'H'
9494 (@value{GDBP})
9495 @end smallexample
9496
9497 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9498 literals you use in expressions:
9499
9500 @smallexample
9501 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9502 $3 = 43 '+'
9503 (@value{GDBP})
9504 @end smallexample
9505
9506 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9507 character.
9508
9509 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9510 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9511 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9512
9513 @smallexample
9514 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9515 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9516 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9517 $5 = 200 '\310'
9518 (@value{GDBP})
9519 @end smallexample
9520
9521 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9522 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9523
9524 @smallexample
9525 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9526 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9527 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9528 @end smallexample
9529
9530 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9531 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9532 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9533 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9534 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9535
9536 @smallexample
9537 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9538 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9539 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9540 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9541 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9542 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9543 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9544 $7 = 72 '\110'
9545 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9546 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9547 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9548 $9 = 200 'H'
9549 (@value{GDBP})
9550 @end smallexample
9551
9552 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9553 string literals you use in expressions:
9554
9555 @smallexample
9556 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9557 $10 = 78 '+'
9558 (@value{GDBP})
9559 @end smallexample
9560
9561 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9562 character.
9563
9564 @node Caching Remote Data
9565 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9566 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9567
9568 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9569 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9570 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9571 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9572 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9573 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9574 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9575 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9576 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9577 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9578 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9579 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9580 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9581 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9582 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9583
9584 @table @code
9585 @kindex set remotecache
9586 @item set remotecache on
9587 @itemx set remotecache off
9588 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9589 with old scripts.
9590
9591 @kindex show remotecache
9592 @item show remotecache
9593 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9594
9595 @kindex set stack-cache
9596 @item set stack-cache on
9597 @itemx set stack-cache off
9598 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9599 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9600
9601 @kindex show stack-cache
9602 @item show stack-cache
9603 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9604
9605 @kindex info dcache
9606 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9607 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9608 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9609 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9610 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9611 operation.
9612
9613 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9614 printed in hex.
9615
9616 @item set dcache size @var{size}
9617 @cindex dcache size
9618 @kindex set dcache size
9619 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
9620
9621 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
9622 @cindex dcache line-size
9623 @kindex set dcache line-size
9624 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
9625 Must be a power of 2.
9626
9627 @item show dcache size
9628 @kindex show dcache size
9629 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
9630
9631 @item show dcache line-size
9632 @kindex show dcache line-size
9633 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
9634
9635 @end table
9636
9637 @node Searching Memory
9638 @section Search Memory
9639 @cindex searching memory
9640
9641 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9642 @code{find} command.
9643
9644 @table @code
9645 @kindex find
9646 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9647 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9648 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9649 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9650 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9651 @end table
9652
9653 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9654 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9655
9656 @table @r
9657 @item @var{s}, search query size
9658 The size of each search query value.
9659
9660 @table @code
9661 @item b
9662 bytes
9663 @item h
9664 halfwords (two bytes)
9665 @item w
9666 words (four bytes)
9667 @item g
9668 giant words (eight bytes)
9669 @end table
9670
9671 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9672 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9673 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9674
9675 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9676 value's type in the current language.
9677 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9678 pattern as a mixture of types.
9679 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9680 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9681 which is typically four bytes.
9682
9683 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9684 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9685 @end table
9686
9687 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9688 (@code{"}).
9689 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9690 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9691
9692 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9693 number of matches found.
9694
9695 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9696 @samp{$_}.
9697 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9698
9699 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9700
9701 @smallexample
9702 void
9703 hello ()
9704 @{
9705 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9706 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9707 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9708 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9709 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9710 @}
9711 @end smallexample
9712
9713 @noindent
9714 you get during debugging:
9715
9716 @smallexample
9717 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9718 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9719 1 pattern found
9720 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9721 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9722 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9723 2 patterns found
9724 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9725 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9726 1 pattern found
9727 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9728 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9729 1 pattern found
9730 (gdb) print $numfound
9731 $1 = 1
9732 (gdb) print $_
9733 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9734 @end smallexample
9735
9736 @node Optimized Code
9737 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9738 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9739 @cindex debugging optimized code
9740
9741 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9742 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9743 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9744 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9745 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9746 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9747 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9748
9749 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9750 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9751 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9752 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9753
9754 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9755 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9756 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9757 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9758 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9759 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9760
9761 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9762 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9763 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9764 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9765 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9766
9767 @menu
9768 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9769 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
9770 @end menu
9771
9772 @node Inline Functions
9773 @section Inline Functions
9774 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9775
9776 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9777 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9778 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9779 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9780 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9781 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9782 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9783 @code{info frame} command.
9784
9785 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9786 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9787 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9788 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9789 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9790 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9791 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9792 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9793 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9794 local variables in the caller.
9795
9796 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9797 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9798 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9799 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9800 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9801 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9802 instructions are executed.
9803
9804 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9805 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9806 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9807 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9808
9809 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9810 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9811
9812 @itemize @bullet
9813 @item
9814 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9815 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9816 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9817 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9818 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9819 function instead.
9820
9821 @item
9822 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9823 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9824 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9825 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9826 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9827 or inside the inlined function instead.
9828
9829 @item
9830 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9831 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9832 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9833 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9834
9835 @end itemize
9836
9837 @node Tail Call Frames
9838 @section Tail Call Frames
9839 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
9840
9841 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
9842 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
9843 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
9844 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
9845 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
9846
9847 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
9848 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
9849 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
9850 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
9851 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
9852 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
9853 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
9854
9855 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9856 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9857 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9858 this information.
9859
9860 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
9861 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
9862
9863 @smallexample
9864 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
9865 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
9866 (gdb) info frame
9867 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
9868 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
9869 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
9870 source language c++.
9871 Arglist at unknown address.
9872 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
9873 @end smallexample
9874
9875 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
9876 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
9877 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
9878 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
9879 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
9880 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
9881
9882 @table @code
9883 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
9884 @item set debug entry-values
9885 @kindex set debug entry-values
9886 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
9887 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
9888 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
9889 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
9890 result.
9891
9892 @item show debug entry-values
9893 @kindex show debug entry-values
9894 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
9895 values at function entry and tail calls.
9896 @end table
9897
9898 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
9899 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
9900 reference by variable @code{x}):
9901
9902 @smallexample
9903 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
9904 void (*x) (void) = c;
9905 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
9906 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
9907 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
9908
9909 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
9910 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
9911 a () at t.c:3
9912 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
9913 (gdb) bt
9914 #0 a () at t.c:3
9915 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
9916 @end smallexample
9917
9918 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
9919
9920 @smallexample
9921 int i;
9922 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
9923 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
9924 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
9925 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
9926 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
9927 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
9928 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
9929 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
9930
9931 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
9932 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
9933 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
9934 (gdb) bt
9935 #0 f () at t.c:2
9936 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
9937 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
9938 @end smallexample
9939
9940 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
9941 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
9942
9943 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
9944 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
9945 @set ARROW @click{}
9946 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
9947 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
9948 @end ifset
9949 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
9950 @set ARROW ->
9951 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
9952 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
9953 @end ifclear
9954
9955 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
9956 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
9957 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
9958
9959 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
9960 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
9961 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
9962 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
9963 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
9964 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
9965
9966 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
9967 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
9968 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
9969 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
9970 omitted.
9971
9972 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
9973 entry may fail:
9974
9975 @smallexample
9976 int v;
9977 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
9978 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
9979 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
9980 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
9981 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
9982 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
9983
9984 (gdb) bt
9985 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
9986 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
9987 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
9988 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
9989 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
9990 @end smallexample
9991
9992 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
9993 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
9994 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
9995 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
9996 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
9997
9998 @node Macros
9999 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10000
10001 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10002 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10003 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10004 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10005 where it was defined.
10006
10007 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10008 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10009 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10010 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10011
10012 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10013 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10014 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10015 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10016 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10017 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10018 see @ref{List}.
10019
10020 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10021 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10022 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10023
10024 @table @code
10025
10026 @kindex macro expand
10027 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10028 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10029 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10030 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10031 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10032 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10033 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10034 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10035 it can be any string of tokens.
10036
10037 @kindex macro exp1
10038 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10039 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10040 @cindex expand macro once
10041 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10042 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10043 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10044 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10045 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10046 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10047 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10048 can be any string of tokens.
10049
10050 @kindex info macro
10051 @cindex macro definition, showing
10052 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10053 @cindex macros, from debug info
10054 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10055 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10056 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10057 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10058 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10059 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10060
10061 @kindex info macros
10062 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10063 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10064 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10065 command-line where those definitions were established.
10066
10067 @kindex macro define
10068 @cindex user-defined macros
10069 @cindex defining macros interactively
10070 @cindex macros, user-defined
10071 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10072 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10073 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10074 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10075 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10076 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10077 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10078 @var{arglist}.
10079
10080 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10081 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10082 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10083 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10084 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10085
10086 @kindex macro undef
10087 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10088 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10089 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10090 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10091 in the program being debugged.
10092
10093 @kindex macro list
10094 @item macro list
10095 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10096 @end table
10097
10098 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10099 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10100 show our source files:
10101
10102 @smallexample
10103 $ cat sample.c
10104 #include <stdio.h>
10105 #include "sample.h"
10106
10107 #define M 42
10108 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10109
10110 main ()
10111 @{
10112 #define N 28
10113 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10114 #undef N
10115 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10116 #define N 1729
10117 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10118 @}
10119 $ cat sample.h
10120 #define Q <
10121 $
10122 @end smallexample
10123
10124 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10125 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10126 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10127 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10128 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10129 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10130 information.
10131
10132 @smallexample
10133 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10134 $
10135 @end smallexample
10136
10137 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10138
10139 @smallexample
10140 $ gdb -nw sample
10141 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10142 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10143 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10144 (@value{GDBP})
10145 @end smallexample
10146
10147 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10148 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10149 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10150
10151 @smallexample
10152 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10153 3
10154 4 #define M 42
10155 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10156 6
10157 7 main ()
10158 8 @{
10159 9 #define N 28
10160 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10161 11 #undef N
10162 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10163 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10164 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10165 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10166 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10167 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10168 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10169 #define Q <
10170 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10171 expands to: (42 + 1)
10172 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10173 expands to: once (M + 1)
10174 (@value{GDBP})
10175 @end smallexample
10176
10177 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10178 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10179 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10180 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10181
10182 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10183 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10184
10185 @smallexample
10186 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10187 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10188 (@value{GDBP}) run
10189 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10190
10191 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10192 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10193 (@value{GDBP})
10194 @end smallexample
10195
10196 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10197
10198 @smallexample
10199 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10200 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10201 #define N 28
10202 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10203 expands to: 28 < 42
10204 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10205 $1 = 1
10206 (@value{GDBP})
10207 @end smallexample
10208
10209 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
10210 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
10211 thereof) in force at each point:
10212
10213 @smallexample
10214 (@value{GDBP}) next
10215 Hello, world!
10216 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10217 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10218 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
10219 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
10220 (@value{GDBP}) next
10221 We're so creative.
10222 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10223 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10224 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
10225 #define N 1729
10226 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10227 expands to: 1729 < 42
10228 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10229 $2 = 0
10230 (@value{GDBP})
10231 @end smallexample
10232
10233 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
10234 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
10235 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
10236 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
10237
10238 @smallexample
10239 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
10240 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
10241 -D__STDC__=1
10242 (@value{GDBP})
10243 @end smallexample
10244
10245
10246 @node Tracepoints
10247 @chapter Tracepoints
10248 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
10249 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
10250
10251 @cindex tracepoints
10252 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
10253 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
10254 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
10255 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
10256 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
10257 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
10258 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
10259
10260 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
10261 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
10262 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
10263 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
10264 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
10265 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
10266 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
10267 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
10268 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
10269 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
10270 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
10271
10272 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
10273 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
10274 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
10275 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
10276 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
10277 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
10278 Packets}.
10279
10280 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
10281 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
10282 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
10283
10284 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
10285
10286 @menu
10287 * Set Tracepoints::
10288 * Analyze Collected Data::
10289 * Tracepoint Variables::
10290 * Trace Files::
10291 @end menu
10292
10293 @node Set Tracepoints
10294 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
10295
10296 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
10297 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
10298 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
10299 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
10300 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
10301 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
10302 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
10303
10304 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
10305 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
10306 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
10307 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
10308 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
10309 tracepoint was hit.
10310
10311 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
10312 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
10313 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
10314 either.
10315
10316 @cindex fast tracepoints
10317 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
10318 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
10319 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
10320
10321 @cindex static tracepoints
10322 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
10323 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
10324 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
10325 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
10326 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
10327 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
10328 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
10329 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
10330 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
10331 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
10332 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
10333 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
10334 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
10335 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
10336 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
10337 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
10338 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
10339 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
10340 static tracepoint marker.
10341
10342 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
10343 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
10344
10345 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
10346 conditions and actions.
10347
10348 @menu
10349 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
10350 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
10351 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
10352 * Tracepoint Conditions::
10353 * Trace State Variables::
10354 * Tracepoint Actions::
10355 * Listing Tracepoints::
10356 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
10357 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
10358 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
10359 @end menu
10360
10361 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
10362 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
10363
10364 @table @code
10365 @cindex set tracepoint
10366 @kindex trace
10367 @item trace @var{location}
10368 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
10369 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
10370 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
10371 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
10372 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
10373 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
10374 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
10375 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
10376 in tracing}).
10377 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
10378 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
10379 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
10380 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
10381 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
10382 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
10383 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
10384 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
10385 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
10386 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
10387 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
10388 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
10389
10390 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
10391
10392 @smallexample
10393 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
10394
10395 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
10396
10397 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
10398
10399 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
10400
10401 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
10402 @end smallexample
10403
10404 @noindent
10405 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
10406
10407 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
10408 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
10409 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
10410 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
10411 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
10412 information on tracepoint conditions.
10413
10414 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10415 @cindex set fast tracepoint
10416 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
10417 @kindex ftrace
10418 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
10419 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
10420 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
10421 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
10422 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
10423 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
10424 message.
10425
10426 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
10427 @code{trace}.
10428
10429 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
10430 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
10431 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
10432 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
10433 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
10434 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
10435 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
10436 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
10437
10438 @example
10439 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
10440 @end example
10441
10442 @noindent
10443 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
10444 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
10445
10446 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10447 @cindex set static tracepoint
10448 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
10449 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
10450 @kindex strace
10451 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
10452 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
10453 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
10454 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
10455 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
10456
10457 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
10458 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
10459 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
10460 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
10461 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
10462 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
10463 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
10464 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
10465 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
10466 tracing engine:
10467
10468 @smallexample
10469 main ()
10470 @{
10471 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
10472 @}
10473 @end smallexample
10474
10475 @noindent
10476 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
10477 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
10478
10479 @smallexample
10480 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10481 Cnt Enb ID Address What
10482 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
10483 Data: "str %s"
10484 [etc...]
10485 @end smallexample
10486
10487 @noindent
10488 so you may probe the marker above with:
10489
10490 @smallexample
10491 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
10492 @end smallexample
10493
10494 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
10495 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
10496 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
10497 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
10498 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
10499 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
10500 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
10501 the @samp{Data:} field.
10502
10503 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
10504 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
10505 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
10506
10507 @vindex $tpnum
10508 @cindex last tracepoint number
10509 @cindex recent tracepoint number
10510 @cindex tracepoint number
10511 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
10512 of the most recently set tracepoint.
10513
10514 @kindex delete tracepoint
10515 @cindex tracepoint deletion
10516 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10517 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
10518 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
10519 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
10520
10521 Examples:
10522
10523 @smallexample
10524 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
10525
10526 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
10527 @end smallexample
10528
10529 @noindent
10530 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
10531 @end table
10532
10533 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10534 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10535
10536 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
10537
10538 @table @code
10539 @kindex disable tracepoint
10540 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10541 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
10542 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
10543 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
10544 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
10545 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
10546 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
10547 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
10548 next trace experiment.
10549
10550 @kindex enable tracepoint
10551 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10552 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
10553 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
10554 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
10555 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
10556 next time a trace experiment is run.
10557 @end table
10558
10559 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
10560 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
10561
10562 @table @code
10563 @kindex passcount
10564 @cindex tracepoint pass count
10565 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
10566 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
10567 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
10568 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
10569 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
10570 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
10571 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
10572 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
10573 user.
10574
10575 Examples:
10576
10577 @smallexample
10578 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
10579 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
10580
10581 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
10582 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
10583 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10584 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
10585 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
10586 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
10587 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
10588 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
10589 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
10590 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
10591 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
10592 @end smallexample
10593 @end table
10594
10595 @node Tracepoint Conditions
10596 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
10597 @cindex conditional tracepoints
10598 @cindex tracepoint conditions
10599
10600 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
10601 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
10602 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
10603 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
10604 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
10605 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
10606 is true.
10607
10608 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
10609 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
10610 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
10611 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
10612 just as with breakpoints.
10613
10614 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
10615 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
10616 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
10617 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
10618 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
10619 accesses, and so forth.
10620
10621 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
10622 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
10623 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
10624 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
10625 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
10626 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
10627 search through.
10628
10629 @smallexample
10630 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
10631 @end smallexample
10632
10633 @node Trace State Variables
10634 @subsection Trace State Variables
10635 @cindex trace state variables
10636
10637 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
10638 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
10639 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
10640 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
10641 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
10642 integers.
10643
10644 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
10645 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
10646 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
10647 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
10648
10649 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
10650 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
10651 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
10652 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
10653 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
10654 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
10655 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
10656 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
10657 variable with the same name.
10658
10659 @table @code
10660
10661 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
10662 @kindex tvariable
10663 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
10664 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
10665 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
10666 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
10667 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
10668 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
10669 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
10670 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
10671 value. The default initial value is 0.
10672
10673 @item info tvariables
10674 @kindex info tvariables
10675 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
10676 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
10677 currently running.
10678
10679 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
10680 @kindex delete tvariable
10681 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
10682 are specified.
10683
10684 @end table
10685
10686 @node Tracepoint Actions
10687 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
10688
10689 @table @code
10690 @kindex actions
10691 @cindex tracepoint actions
10692 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10693 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
10694 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
10695 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
10696 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
10697 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
10698 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
10699 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
10700 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
10701 @code{while-stepping}.
10702
10703 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
10704 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
10705 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
10706
10707 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
10708 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
10709 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
10710
10711 @smallexample
10712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
10713
10714 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
10715
10716 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
10717 @end smallexample
10718
10719 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
10720 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
10721 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
10722 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
10723 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
10724 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
10725 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
10726 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
10727
10728 @smallexample
10729 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10730 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10731 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
10732 > collect bar,baz
10733 > collect $regs
10734 > while-stepping 12
10735 > collect $pc, arr[i]
10736 > end
10737 end
10738 @end smallexample
10739
10740 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
10741 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10742 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
10743 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
10744 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
10745 special arguments are supported:
10746
10747 @table @code
10748 @item $regs
10749 Collect all registers.
10750
10751 @item $args
10752 Collect all function arguments.
10753
10754 @item $locals
10755 Collect all local variables.
10756
10757 @item $_ret
10758 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
10759 of a backtrace.
10760
10761 @item $_sdata
10762 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
10763 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
10764 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
10765 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
10766 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
10767 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
10768 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
10769 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
10770 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
10771
10772 @smallexample
10773 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
10774 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
10775 @end smallexample
10776
10777 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
10778 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
10779 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
10780 @value{GDBN}.
10781 @end table
10782
10783 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
10784 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
10785 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
10786
10787 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
10788 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
10789 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
10790 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
10791 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
10792 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
10793 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
10794 @samp{mystr}.
10795
10796 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
10797 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
10798
10799 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
10800 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10801 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
10802 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
10803 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
10804 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
10805 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
10806 action were used.
10807
10808 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
10809 @item while-stepping @var{n}
10810 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
10811 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
10812 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
10813 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
10814
10815 @smallexample
10816 > while-stepping 12
10817 > collect $regs, myglobal
10818 > end
10819 >
10820 @end smallexample
10821
10822 @noindent
10823 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
10824 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
10825 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
10826 @code{stepping}.
10827
10828 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10829 @kindex set default-collect
10830 @cindex default collection action
10831 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
10832 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
10833 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
10834 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
10835 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
10836 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
10837
10838 @item show default-collect
10839 @kindex show default-collect
10840 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
10841 tracepoint hit.
10842
10843 @end table
10844
10845 @node Listing Tracepoints
10846 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
10847
10848 @table @code
10849 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10850 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10851 @cindex information about tracepoints
10852 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
10853 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
10854 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
10855 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
10856 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
10857 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
10858
10859 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
10860 tracing:
10861
10862 @itemize @bullet
10863 @item
10864 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
10865 @end itemize
10866
10867 @smallexample
10868 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
10869 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
10870 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
10871 while-stepping 20
10872 collect globfoo, $regs
10873 end
10874 collect globfoo2
10875 end
10876 pass count 1200
10877 (@value{GDBP})
10878 @end smallexample
10879
10880 @noindent
10881 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10882 @end table
10883
10884 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10885 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10886
10887 @table @code
10888 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
10889 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
10890 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
10891 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
10892 program.
10893
10894 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
10895
10896 @table @emph
10897 @item Count
10898 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
10899 stable identifier.
10900 @item ID
10901 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
10902 @item Enabled or Disabled
10903 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
10904 that are not enabled.
10905 @item Address
10906 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
10907 @item What
10908 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
10909 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
10910 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
10911 will be left blank.
10912 @end table
10913
10914 @noindent
10915 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
10916
10917 @table @emph
10918 @item Data
10919 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
10920 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
10921 marker call.
10922 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
10923 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
10924 @end table
10925
10926 @smallexample
10927 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10928 Cnt ID Enb Address What
10929 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
10930 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
10931 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
10932 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
10933 Data: str %s
10934 (@value{GDBP})
10935 @end smallexample
10936 @end table
10937
10938 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10939 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10940
10941 @table @code
10942 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
10943 @cindex start a new trace experiment
10944 @cindex collected data discarded
10945 @item tstart
10946 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
10947 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
10948 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
10949 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
10950 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
10951 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
10952 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
10953 information, and so forth.
10954
10955 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
10956 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
10957 @item tstop
10958 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
10959 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
10960 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
10961 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
10962 needs to be stopped quickly.
10963
10964 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10965 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10966 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10967
10968 @kindex tstatus
10969 @cindex status of trace data collection
10970 @cindex trace experiment, status of
10971 @item tstatus
10972 This command displays the status of the current trace data
10973 collection.
10974 @end table
10975
10976 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10977
10978 @smallexample
10979 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10980 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10981 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10982 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
10983 > while-stepping 11
10984 > collect $regs
10985 > end
10986 > end
10987 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10988 [time passes @dots{}]
10989 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10990 @end smallexample
10991
10992 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
10993 @cindex disconnected tracing
10994 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10995 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10996 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10997 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10998 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10999 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11000 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11001 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11002
11003 @table @code
11004 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11005 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11006 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11007 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11008 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11009 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11010 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11011 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11012
11013 @item show disconnected-tracing
11014 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11015 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11016
11017 @end table
11018
11019 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11020 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11021 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11022 it will continue after reconnection.
11023
11024 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11025 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11026 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11027 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11028 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11029 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11030 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11031 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11032 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11033 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11034
11035 @cindex circular trace buffer
11036 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11037 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11038 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11039 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11040 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11041 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11042 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11043 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11044 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11045 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11046 the next run.
11047
11048 @table @code
11049 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11050 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11051 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11052 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11053 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11054 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11055 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11056
11057 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11058 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11059 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11060 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11061 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11062 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11063
11064 @end table
11065
11066 @table @code
11067 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11068 @kindex set trace-user
11069
11070 @item show trace-user
11071 @kindex show trace-user
11072
11073 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11074 @kindex set trace-notes
11075 Set the trace run's notes.
11076
11077 @item show trace-notes
11078 @kindex show trace-notes
11079 Show the trace run's notes.
11080
11081 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11082 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11083 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11084 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11085 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11086
11087 @item show trace-stop-notes
11088 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11089 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11090
11091 @end table
11092
11093 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11094 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11095
11096 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11097 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11098 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11099 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11100 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11101 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11102 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11103 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11104 mentioned here.
11105
11106 @itemize @bullet
11107
11108 @item
11109 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11110 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11111 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11112 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11113 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11114 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11115 cannot be collected either.
11116
11117 @item
11118 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11119 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11120 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11121 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11122 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11123 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11124 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11125 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11126 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11127 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11128
11129 @item
11130 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11131 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11132 in a misleading way.
11133
11134 @item
11135 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11136 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11137 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11138 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11139 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11140 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11141 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11142 by @code{ptr}.
11143
11144 @item
11145 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11146 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11147 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11148 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11149 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11150 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11151 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11152 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11153 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11154 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11155 invalid address.
11156
11157 @item
11158 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11159 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11160 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11161 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11162 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11163 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11164 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
11165 it to zero.
11166
11167 @end itemize
11168
11169 @node Analyze Collected Data
11170 @section Using the Collected Data
11171
11172 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
11173 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
11174 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
11175 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
11176 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
11177 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
11178 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
11179 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
11180 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
11181 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
11182 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
11183 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
11184 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
11185 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
11186 the buffer will fail.
11187
11188 @menu
11189 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
11190 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
11191 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
11192 @end menu
11193
11194 @node tfind
11195 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
11196
11197 @kindex tfind
11198 @cindex select trace snapshot
11199 @cindex find trace snapshot
11200 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
11201 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
11202 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
11203 snapshot is selected.
11204
11205 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
11206
11207 @table @code
11208 @item tfind start
11209 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
11210 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
11211
11212 @item tfind none
11213 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
11214
11215 @item tfind end
11216 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
11217
11218 @item tfind
11219 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
11220
11221 @item tfind -
11222 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
11223 retracing earlier steps.
11224
11225 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
11226 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
11227 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
11228 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
11229 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
11230
11231 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
11232 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
11233 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
11234 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
11235 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
11236
11237 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11238 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
11239 addresses (exclusive).
11240
11241 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11242 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
11243 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
11244
11245 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
11246 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
11247 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
11248 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
11249 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
11250 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
11251 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
11252 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
11253 @end table
11254
11255 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
11256 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
11257 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
11258 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
11259 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
11260 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
11261 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
11262 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
11263 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
11264 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
11265 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
11266 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
11267 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
11268 tracepoint as the current one.
11269
11270 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
11271 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
11272 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
11273 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
11274 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
11275
11276 @smallexample
11277 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11278 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11279 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
11280 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
11281 > tfind
11282 > end
11283
11284 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
11285 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
11286 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
11287 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
11288 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
11289 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
11290 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
11291 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
11292 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
11293 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
11294 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
11295 @end smallexample
11296
11297 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
11298 the buffer:
11299
11300 @smallexample
11301 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11302 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11303 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
11304 > tfind line
11305 > end
11306
11307 Frame 0, X = 1
11308 Frame 7, X = 2
11309 Frame 13, X = 255
11310 @end smallexample
11311
11312 @node tdump
11313 @subsection @code{tdump}
11314 @kindex tdump
11315 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
11316 @cindex tracepoint data, display
11317
11318 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
11319 the current trace snapshot.
11320
11321 @smallexample
11322 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
11323 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11324 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
11325 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
11326 > end
11327
11328 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11329
11330 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
11331 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
11332 at gdb_test.c:444
11333 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
11334
11335 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
11336 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
11337 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
11338 d1 0x18 24
11339 d2 0x80 128
11340 d3 0x33 51
11341 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
11342 d5 0x22 34
11343 d6 0xe0 224
11344 d7 0x380035 3670069
11345 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
11346 a1 0x3000668 50333288
11347 a2 0x100 256
11348 a3 0x322000 3284992
11349 a4 0x3000698 50333336
11350 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
11351 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
11352 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
11353 ps 0x0 0
11354 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
11355 fpcontrol 0x0 0
11356 fpstatus 0x0 0
11357 fpiaddr 0x0 0
11358 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
11359 p1 = (void *) 0x11
11360 p2 = (void *) 0x22
11361 p3 = (void *) 0x33
11362 p4 = (void *) 0x44
11363 p5 = (void *) 0x55
11364 p6 = (void *) 0x66
11365 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
11366
11367 (@value{GDBP})
11368 @end smallexample
11369
11370 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
11371 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
11372 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
11373 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
11374
11375 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
11376 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
11377 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
11378 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
11379 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
11380 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
11381 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
11382 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
11383 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
11384 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
11385
11386 @node save tracepoints
11387 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
11388 @kindex save tracepoints
11389 @kindex save-tracepoints
11390 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
11391
11392 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
11393 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
11394 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
11395 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
11396 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
11397 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
11398
11399 @node Tracepoint Variables
11400 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
11401 @cindex tracepoint variables
11402 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
11403
11404 @table @code
11405 @vindex $trace_frame
11406 @item (int) $trace_frame
11407 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
11408 snapshot is selected.
11409
11410 @vindex $tracepoint
11411 @item (int) $tracepoint
11412 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
11413
11414 @vindex $trace_line
11415 @item (int) $trace_line
11416 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
11417
11418 @vindex $trace_file
11419 @item (char []) $trace_file
11420 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
11421
11422 @vindex $trace_func
11423 @item (char []) $trace_func
11424 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
11425 @end table
11426
11427 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
11428 use @code{output} instead.
11429
11430 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
11431 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
11432 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
11433 which are managed by the target.
11434
11435 @smallexample
11436 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11437
11438 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
11439 > output $trace_file
11440 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
11441 > tfind
11442 > end
11443 @end smallexample
11444
11445 @node Trace Files
11446 @section Using Trace Files
11447 @cindex trace files
11448
11449 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
11450 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
11451 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
11452 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
11453 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
11454
11455 @table @code
11456
11457 @kindex tsave
11458 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
11459 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
11460 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
11461 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
11462 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
11463 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
11464 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
11465 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
11466 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
11467
11468 @kindex target tfile
11469 @kindex tfile
11470 @item target tfile @var{filename}
11471 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
11472 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
11473 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
11474 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
11475 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
11476 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
11477
11478 @end table
11479
11480 @node Overlays
11481 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
11482 @cindex overlays
11483
11484 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
11485 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
11486 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
11487 use overlays.
11488
11489 @menu
11490 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
11491 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
11492 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
11493 mapped by asking the inferior.
11494 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
11495 @end menu
11496
11497 @node How Overlays Work
11498 @section How Overlays Work
11499 @cindex mapped overlays
11500 @cindex unmapped overlays
11501 @cindex load address, overlay's
11502 @cindex mapped address
11503 @cindex overlay area
11504
11505 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
11506 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
11507 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
11508 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
11509 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
11510
11511 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
11512 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
11513 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
11514 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
11515 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
11516 largest overlay as well.
11517
11518 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
11519 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
11520 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
11521 there.
11522
11523 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
11524 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
11525 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
11526
11527 @smallexample
11528 @group
11529 Data Instruction Larger
11530 Address Space Address Space Address Space
11531 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
11532 | | | | | |
11533 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
11534 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
11535 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
11536 | and heap | | | | | |
11537 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
11538 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
11539 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
11540 | | | | | |
11541 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
11542 address | | | | | |
11543 | overlay | <-' | | |
11544 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
11545 | | <---. | | load address
11546 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
11547 | | | |
11548 +-----------+ | |
11549 +-----------+
11550 | |
11551 +-----------+
11552
11553 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
11554 @end group
11555 @end smallexample
11556
11557 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
11558 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
11559 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
11560 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
11561 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
11562 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
11563 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
11564 program and the overlay area.
11565
11566 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
11567 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
11568 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
11569 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
11570 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
11571 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
11572 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
11573
11574 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
11575 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
11576 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
11577
11578 @itemize @bullet
11579
11580 @item
11581 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
11582 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
11583 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
11584 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
11585
11586 @item
11587 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
11588 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
11589 your program's performance.
11590
11591 @item
11592 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
11593 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
11594 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
11595 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
11596 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
11597 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
11598 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
11599
11600 @item
11601 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
11602 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
11603 instruction and data spaces.
11604
11605 @end itemize
11606
11607 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
11608 improved in many ways:
11609
11610 @itemize @bullet
11611
11612 @item
11613 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
11614 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
11615 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
11616 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
11617 area in the usual way.
11618
11619 @item
11620 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
11621 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
11622
11623 @item
11624 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
11625 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
11626 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
11627 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
11628 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
11629 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
11630 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
11631
11632 @end itemize
11633
11634
11635 @node Overlay Commands
11636 @section Overlay Commands
11637
11638 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
11639 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
11640 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
11641 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
11642 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
11643 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
11644
11645 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
11646 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
11647
11648 @table @code
11649 @item overlay off
11650 @kindex overlay
11651 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
11652 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
11653 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
11654 overlay support is disabled.
11655
11656 @item overlay manual
11657 @cindex manual overlay debugging
11658 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11659 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
11660 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
11661 commands described below.
11662
11663 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
11664 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
11665 @cindex map an overlay
11666 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
11667 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
11668 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
11669 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
11670 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
11671 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
11672
11673 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
11674 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
11675 @cindex unmap an overlay
11676 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
11677 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
11678 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
11679 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
11680
11681 @item overlay auto
11682 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11683 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
11684 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
11685 Overlay Debugging}.
11686
11687 @item overlay load-target
11688 @itemx overlay load
11689 @cindex reloading the overlay table
11690 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
11691 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
11692 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
11693 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
11694 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
11695
11696 @item overlay list-overlays
11697 @itemx overlay list
11698 @cindex listing mapped overlays
11699 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
11700 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
11701
11702 @end table
11703
11704 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
11705 of the function the address falls in:
11706
11707 @smallexample
11708 (@value{GDBP}) print main
11709 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
11710 @end smallexample
11711 @noindent
11712 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
11713 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
11714 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
11715 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
11716
11717 @smallexample
11718 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11719 No sections are mapped.
11720 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11721 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
11722 @end smallexample
11723 @noindent
11724 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
11725 name normally:
11726
11727 @smallexample
11728 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11729 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
11730 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
11731 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11732 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
11733 @end smallexample
11734
11735 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
11736 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
11737 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
11738 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
11739 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
11740
11741 @itemize @bullet
11742 @item
11743 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
11744 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
11745 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
11746 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
11747 @item
11748 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
11749 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
11750 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
11751 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
11752 breakpoints properly.
11753 @end itemize
11754
11755
11756 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
11757 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
11758 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
11759
11760 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
11761 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
11762 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
11763 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
11764 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
11765 current state of the overlays.
11766
11767 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
11768 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
11769
11770 @table @asis
11771
11772 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
11773 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
11774
11775 @smallexample
11776 struct
11777 @{
11778 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
11779 unsigned long vma;
11780
11781 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
11782 unsigned long size;
11783
11784 /* The overlay's load address. */
11785 unsigned long lma;
11786
11787 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
11788 zero otherwise. */
11789 unsigned long mapped;
11790 @}
11791 @end smallexample
11792
11793 @item @code{_novlys}:
11794 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
11795 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
11796
11797 @end table
11798
11799 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
11800 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
11801 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
11802 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
11803 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
11804 currently mapped.
11805
11806 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
11807 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
11808 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
11809 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
11810 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
11811 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
11812 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
11813 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
11814 are not being executed.
11815
11816 @node Overlay Sample Program
11817 @section Overlay Sample Program
11818 @cindex overlay example program
11819
11820 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
11821 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
11822 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
11823 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
11824 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
11825 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
11826 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
11827
11828 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
11829 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
11830 suite. The program consists of the following files from
11831 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
11832
11833 @table @file
11834 @item overlays.c
11835 The main program file.
11836 @item ovlymgr.c
11837 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
11838 @item foo.c
11839 @itemx bar.c
11840 @itemx baz.c
11841 @itemx grbx.c
11842 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
11843 @item d10v.ld
11844 @itemx m32r.ld
11845 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
11846 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
11847 @end table
11848
11849 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
11850 cross-compiler like this:
11851
11852 @smallexample
11853 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
11854 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
11855 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
11856 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
11857 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
11858 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
11859 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
11860 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
11861 @end smallexample
11862
11863 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
11864 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
11865 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
11866
11867
11868 @node Languages
11869 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
11870 @cindex languages
11871
11872 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
11873 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
11874 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
11875 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
11876 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
11877 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
11878
11879 @cindex working language
11880 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
11881 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
11882 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
11883 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
11884 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
11885 language}.
11886
11887 @menu
11888 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
11889 * Show:: Displaying the language
11890 * Checks:: Type and range checks
11891 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
11892 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
11893 @end menu
11894
11895 @node Setting
11896 @section Switching Between Source Languages
11897
11898 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
11899 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
11900 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
11901 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
11902 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
11903 are printed, etc.
11904
11905 In addition to the working language, every source file that
11906 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
11907 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
11908 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
11909 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
11910 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
11911 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
11912 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
11913 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
11914 Displaying the Language}.
11915
11916 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
11917 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
11918 another language. In that case, make the
11919 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
11920 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
11921 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
11922
11923 @menu
11924 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
11925 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
11926 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
11927 @end menu
11928
11929 @node Filenames
11930 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
11931
11932 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
11933 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
11934
11935 @table @file
11936 @item .ada
11937 @itemx .ads
11938 @itemx .adb
11939 @itemx .a
11940 Ada source file.
11941
11942 @item .c
11943 C source file
11944
11945 @item .C
11946 @itemx .cc
11947 @itemx .cp
11948 @itemx .cpp
11949 @itemx .cxx
11950 @itemx .c++
11951 C@t{++} source file
11952
11953 @item .d
11954 D source file
11955
11956 @item .m
11957 Objective-C source file
11958
11959 @item .f
11960 @itemx .F
11961 Fortran source file
11962
11963 @item .mod
11964 Modula-2 source file
11965
11966 @item .s
11967 @itemx .S
11968 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
11969 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
11970 @end table
11971
11972 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
11973 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
11974
11975 @node Manually
11976 @subsection Setting the Working Language
11977
11978 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
11979 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
11980 your program.
11981
11982 @kindex set language
11983 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
11984 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
11985 a language, such as
11986 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
11987 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
11988
11989 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
11990 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
11991 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11992 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11993 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11994 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11995 command such as:
11996
11997 @smallexample
11998 print a = b + c
11999 @end smallexample
12000
12001 @noindent
12002 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12003 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12004 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12005 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12006
12007 @node Automatically
12008 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12009
12010 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12011 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12012 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12013 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12014 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12015 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12016 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12017 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12018 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12019
12020 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12021 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12022 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12023 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12024 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12025
12026 @node Show
12027 @section Displaying the Language
12028
12029 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12030 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12031
12032 @table @code
12033 @item show language
12034 @kindex show language
12035 Display the current working language. This is the
12036 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12037 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12038
12039 @item info frame
12040 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12041 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12042 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12043 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12044 information listed here.
12045
12046 @item info source
12047 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12048 Display the source language of this source file.
12049 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12050 information listed here.
12051 @end table
12052
12053 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12054 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12055 with a language explicitly:
12056
12057 @table @code
12058 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12059 @kindex set extension-language
12060 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12061 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12062
12063 @item info extensions
12064 @kindex info extensions
12065 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12066 @end table
12067
12068 @node Checks
12069 @section Type and Range Checking
12070
12071 @quotation
12072 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
12073 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
12074 section documents the intended facilities.
12075 @end quotation
12076 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
12077
12078 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12079 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12080 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
12081 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12082 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12083 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
12084 errors when your program is running.
12085
12086 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
12087 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
12088 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
12089 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
12090 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
12091 automatically based on your program's source language.
12092 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
12093 settings of supported languages.
12094
12095 @menu
12096 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12097 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12098 @end menu
12099
12100 @cindex type checking
12101 @cindex checks, type
12102 @node Type Checking
12103 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12104
12105 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12106 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12107 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12108 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12109
12110 @smallexample
12111 1 + 2 @result{} 3
12112 @exdent but
12113 @error{} 1 + 2.3
12114 @end smallexample
12115
12116 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
12117 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
12118
12119 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
12120 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
12121 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12122 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
12123 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
12124 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
12125 also issues a warning.
12126
12127 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
12128 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12129 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12130 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12131 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
12132 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
12133
12134 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
12135 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
12136 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
12137 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
12138 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
12139 details on specific languages.
12140
12141 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
12142
12143 @kindex set check type
12144 @kindex show check type
12145 @table @code
12146 @item set check type auto
12147 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
12148 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12149 each language.
12150
12151 @item set check type on
12152 @itemx set check type off
12153 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12154 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
12155 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
12156 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12157 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12158
12159 @item set check type warn
12160 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
12161 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
12162 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
12163 numbers and structures.
12164
12165 @item show type
12166 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
12167 is setting it automatically.
12168 @end table
12169
12170 @cindex range checking
12171 @cindex checks, range
12172 @node Range Checking
12173 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12174
12175 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12176 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12177 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12178 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12179 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12180
12181 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12182 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12183 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12184 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12185
12186 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12187 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12188 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
12189 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
12190 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
12191 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
12192
12193 @smallexample
12194 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
12195 @end smallexample
12196
12197 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
12198 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
12199 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
12200
12201 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
12202
12203 @kindex set check range
12204 @kindex show check range
12205 @table @code
12206 @item set check range auto
12207 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
12208 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12209 each language.
12210
12211 @item set check range on
12212 @itemx set check range off
12213 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12214 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
12215 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
12216 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
12217
12218 @item set check range warn
12219 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
12220 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
12221 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
12222 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
12223 systems).
12224
12225 @item show range
12226 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
12227 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
12228 @end table
12229
12230 @node Supported Languages
12231 @section Supported Languages
12232
12233 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, OpenCL C, Pascal,
12234 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
12235 @c This is false ...
12236 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
12237 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
12238 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
12239 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
12240 language.
12241
12242 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
12243 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
12244 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
12245 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
12246 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
12247 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
12248 language reference or tutorial.
12249
12250 @menu
12251 * C:: C and C@t{++}
12252 * D:: D
12253 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
12254 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
12255 * Fortran:: Fortran
12256 * Pascal:: Pascal
12257 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
12258 * Ada:: Ada
12259 @end menu
12260
12261 @node C
12262 @subsection C and C@t{++}
12263
12264 @cindex C and C@t{++}
12265 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
12266
12267 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
12268 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
12269 together.
12270
12271 @cindex C@t{++}
12272 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
12273 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
12274 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
12275 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
12276 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
12277 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
12278 compiler (@code{aCC}).
12279
12280 @menu
12281 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
12282 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
12283 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
12284 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
12285 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
12286 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
12287 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
12288 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
12289 @end menu
12290
12291 @node C Operators
12292 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
12293
12294 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
12295
12296 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12297 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12298 often defined on groups of types.
12299
12300 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
12301
12302 @itemize @bullet
12303
12304 @item
12305 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
12306 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
12307
12308 @item
12309 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
12310 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
12311
12312 @item
12313 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
12314
12315 @item
12316 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
12317
12318 @end itemize
12319
12320 @noindent
12321 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
12322 in order of increasing precedence:
12323
12324 @table @code
12325 @item ,
12326 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
12327 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
12328 expression being the last expression evaluated.
12329
12330 @item =
12331 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
12332 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
12333
12334 @item @var{op}=
12335 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
12336 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
12337 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
12338 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
12339 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
12340
12341 @item ?:
12342 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
12343 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
12344 integral type.
12345
12346 @item ||
12347 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12348
12349 @item &&
12350 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12351
12352 @item |
12353 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12354
12355 @item ^
12356 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12357
12358 @item &
12359 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12360
12361 @item ==@r{, }!=
12362 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
12363 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
12364
12365 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
12366 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
12367 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
12368 and non-zero for true.
12369
12370 @item <<@r{, }>>
12371 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
12372
12373 @item @@
12374 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12375
12376 @item +@r{, }-
12377 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
12378 pointer types.
12379
12380 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
12381 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
12382 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
12383 integral types.
12384
12385 @item ++@r{, }--
12386 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
12387 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
12388 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
12389 operation takes place.
12390
12391 @item *
12392 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
12393 @code{++}.
12394
12395 @item &
12396 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
12397
12398 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
12399 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
12400 to examine the address
12401 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
12402 stored.
12403
12404 @item -
12405 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
12406 precedence as @code{++}.
12407
12408 @item !
12409 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12410 @code{++}.
12411
12412 @item ~
12413 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12414 @code{++}.
12415
12416
12417 @item .@r{, }->
12418 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
12419 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
12420 pointer based on the stored type information.
12421 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
12422
12423 @item .*@r{, }->*
12424 Dereferences of pointers to members.
12425
12426 @item []
12427 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
12428 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12429
12430 @item ()
12431 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12432
12433 @item ::
12434 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
12435 and @code{class} types.
12436
12437 @item ::
12438 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
12439 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
12440 above.
12441 @end table
12442
12443 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
12444 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
12445 predefined meaning.
12446
12447 @node C Constants
12448 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
12449
12450 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
12451
12452 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
12453 following ways:
12454
12455 @itemize @bullet
12456 @item
12457 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
12458 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
12459 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
12460 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
12461 @code{long} value.
12462
12463 @item
12464 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
12465 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
12466 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
12467 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
12468 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
12469 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
12470 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
12471 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
12472 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
12473 constant.
12474
12475 @item
12476 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
12477 integral equivalents.
12478
12479 @item
12480 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
12481 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
12482 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
12483 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
12484 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
12485 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
12486 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
12487 @samp{\n} for newline.
12488
12489 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
12490 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
12491 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
12492 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12493
12494 @item
12495 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
12496 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
12497 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
12498 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
12499 characters.
12500
12501 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
12502 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
12503 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12504
12505 @item
12506 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
12507 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
12508
12509 @item
12510 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
12511 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
12512 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
12513 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
12514 @end itemize
12515
12516 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
12517 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
12518
12519 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
12520 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
12521
12522 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
12523 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
12524 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
12525 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
12526 @quotation
12527 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
12528 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
12529 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
12530 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
12531 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
12532 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
12533 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
12534 code. @xref{Compilation}.
12535 @end quotation
12536
12537 @enumerate
12538
12539 @cindex member functions
12540 @item
12541 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
12542
12543 @smallexample
12544 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
12545 @end smallexample
12546
12547 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
12548 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
12549 @item
12550 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
12551 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
12552 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
12553 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
12554 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
12555
12556 @cindex call overloaded functions
12557 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
12558 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
12559 @item
12560 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
12561 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
12562 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
12563 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
12564 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
12565 default arguments.
12566
12567 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
12568 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
12569 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
12570 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
12571 number of function arguments.
12572
12573 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
12574 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
12575 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
12576
12577 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
12578 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
12579 @smallexample
12580 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
12581 @end smallexample
12582
12583 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
12584 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
12585
12586 @cindex reference declarations
12587 @item
12588 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
12589 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
12590 dereferenced.
12591
12592 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
12593 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
12594 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
12595 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
12596 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
12597
12598 @item
12599 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
12600 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
12601 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
12602 necessary, for example in an expression like
12603 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
12604 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
12605 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
12606
12607 @item
12608 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
12609 specification.
12610 @end enumerate
12611
12612 @node C Defaults
12613 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
12614
12615 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
12616
12617 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
12618 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
12619 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12620 selects the working language.
12621
12622 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
12623 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
12624 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
12625 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
12626 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
12627 for further details.
12628
12629 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
12630 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
12631 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
12632
12633 @node C Checks
12634 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
12635
12636 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
12637
12638 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
12639 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
12640 considers two variables type equivalent if:
12641
12642 @itemize @bullet
12643 @item
12644 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
12645 enumerated tag.
12646
12647 @item
12648 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
12649 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
12650
12651 @ignore
12652 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
12653 @c FIXME--beers?
12654 @item
12655 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
12656 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
12657 compilers.)
12658 @end ignore
12659 @end itemize
12660
12661 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
12662 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
12663 that is not itself an array.
12664
12665 @node Debugging C
12666 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
12667
12668 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
12669 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
12670 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
12671 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
12672
12673 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
12674 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
12675 ,Expressions}.
12676
12677 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
12678 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
12679
12680 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
12681
12682 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
12683 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
12684
12685 @table @code
12686 @cindex break in overloaded functions
12687 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
12688 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
12689 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
12690 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
12691 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
12692
12693 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
12694 @item rbreak @var{regex}
12695 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
12696 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
12697 classes.
12698 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12699
12700 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
12701 @item catch throw
12702 @itemx catch catch
12703 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
12704 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
12705
12706 @cindex inheritance
12707 @item ptype @var{typename}
12708 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
12709 @var{typename}.
12710 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
12711
12712 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
12713 @item set print demangle
12714 @itemx show print demangle
12715 @itemx set print asm-demangle
12716 @itemx show print asm-demangle
12717 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
12718 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
12719 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12720
12721 @item set print object
12722 @itemx show print object
12723 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
12724 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12725
12726 @item set print vtbl
12727 @itemx show print vtbl
12728 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
12729 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12730 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
12731 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
12732
12733 @kindex set overload-resolution
12734 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
12735 @item set overload-resolution on
12736 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
12737 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
12738 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
12739 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
12740 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
12741 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
12742
12743 @item set overload-resolution off
12744 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
12745 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12746 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
12747 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
12748 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12749 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
12750 argument types.
12751
12752 @kindex show overload-resolution
12753 @item show overload-resolution
12754 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
12755
12756 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
12757 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
12758 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
12759 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
12760 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
12761 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
12762 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
12763 @end table
12764
12765 @node Decimal Floating Point
12766 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
12767 @cindex decimal floating point format
12768
12769 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
12770 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
12771 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
12772 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
12773
12774 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
12775 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
12776 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
12777 target.
12778
12779 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
12780 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
12781 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
12782
12783 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
12784 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
12785 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
12786
12787 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
12788 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
12789 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
12790
12791 @node D
12792 @subsection D
12793
12794 @cindex D
12795 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
12796 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
12797 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
12798
12799 @node Objective-C
12800 @subsection Objective-C
12801
12802 @cindex Objective-C
12803 This section provides information about some commands and command
12804 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
12805 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
12806 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
12807
12808 @menu
12809 * Method Names in Commands::
12810 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
12811 @end menu
12812
12813 @node Method Names in Commands
12814 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
12815
12816 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
12817 names as line specifications:
12818
12819 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
12820 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
12821 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
12822 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
12823 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
12824 @itemize
12825 @item @code{clear}
12826 @item @code{break}
12827 @item @code{info line}
12828 @item @code{jump}
12829 @item @code{list}
12830 @end itemize
12831
12832 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
12833
12834 @smallexample
12835 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
12836 @end smallexample
12837
12838 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
12839 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
12840 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
12841 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
12842 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
12843 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
12844 debugged, enter:
12845
12846 @smallexample
12847 break -[Fruit create]
12848 @end smallexample
12849
12850 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
12851 enter:
12852
12853 @smallexample
12854 list +[NSText initialize]
12855 @end smallexample
12856
12857 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
12858 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
12859 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
12860 is also possible to specify just a method name:
12861
12862 @smallexample
12863 break create
12864 @end smallexample
12865
12866 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
12867 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
12868 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
12869 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
12870 none apply.
12871
12872 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
12873 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
12874
12875 @smallexample
12876 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
12877 @end smallexample
12878
12879 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
12880 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
12881 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
12882 @kindex print-object
12883 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
12884
12885 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
12886
12887 @smallexample
12888 print -[@var{object} hash]
12889 @end smallexample
12890
12891 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
12892 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
12893 @noindent
12894 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
12895 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
12896 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
12897 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
12898 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
12899 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
12900
12901 @node OpenCL C
12902 @subsection OpenCL C
12903
12904 @cindex OpenCL C
12905 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
12906
12907 @menu
12908 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
12909 * OpenCL C Expressions::
12910 * OpenCL C Operators::
12911 @end menu
12912
12913 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
12914 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
12915
12916 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
12917 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
12918 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
12919 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
12920 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
12921
12922 @node OpenCL C Expressions
12923 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
12924
12925 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
12926 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
12927 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
12928 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
12929
12930 @node OpenCL C Operators
12931 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
12932
12933 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
12934 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
12935 vector data types.
12936
12937 @node Fortran
12938 @subsection Fortran
12939 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
12940
12941 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
12942 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
12943
12944 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
12945 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
12946 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
12947 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
12948 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
12949 underscore.
12950
12951 @menu
12952 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
12953 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
12954 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
12955 @end menu
12956
12957 @node Fortran Operators
12958 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
12959
12960 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
12961
12962 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12963 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
12964 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
12965
12966 @table @code
12967 @item **
12968 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
12969 of the second one.
12970
12971 @item :
12972 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
12973 represent a section of array.
12974
12975 @item %
12976 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
12977 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
12978 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
12979 union type.
12980 @end table
12981
12982 @node Fortran Defaults
12983 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
12984
12985 @cindex Fortran Defaults
12986
12987 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
12988 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
12989 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
12990 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
12991
12992 @node Special Fortran Commands
12993 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
12994
12995 @cindex Special Fortran commands
12996
12997 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
12998 such as displaying common blocks.
12999
13000 @table @code
13001 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13002 @kindex info common
13003 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13004 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13005 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13006 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13007 printed.
13008 @end table
13009
13010 @node Pascal
13011 @subsection Pascal
13012
13013 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13014 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13015 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13016 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13017 syntax.
13018
13019 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13020 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13021 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13022
13023 @node Modula-2
13024 @subsection Modula-2
13025
13026 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13027
13028 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13029 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13030 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13031 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13032 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13033 table.
13034
13035 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13036 @menu
13037 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13038 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13039 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13040 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13041 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13042 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13043 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13044 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13045 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13046 @end menu
13047
13048 @node M2 Operators
13049 @subsubsection Operators
13050 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13051
13052 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13053 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13054 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13055 following definitions hold:
13056
13057 @itemize @bullet
13058
13059 @item
13060 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13061 their subranges.
13062
13063 @item
13064 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13065
13066 @item
13067 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13068
13069 @item
13070 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13071 @var{type}}.
13072
13073 @item
13074 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13075
13076 @item
13077 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13078
13079 @item
13080 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13081 @end itemize
13082
13083 @noindent
13084 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13085 increasing precedence:
13086
13087 @table @code
13088 @item ,
13089 Function argument or array index separator.
13090
13091 @item :=
13092 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13093 @var{value}.
13094
13095 @item <@r{, }>
13096 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13097 types.
13098
13099 @item <=@r{, }>=
13100 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13101 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13102 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13103
13104 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13105 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13106 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13107 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13108 comment character.
13109
13110 @item IN
13111 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13112 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13113
13114 @item OR
13115 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13116
13117 @item AND@r{, }&
13118 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13119
13120 @item @@
13121 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13122
13123 @item +@r{, }-
13124 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13125 and difference on set types.
13126
13127 @item *
13128 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13129 on set types.
13130
13131 @item /
13132 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13133 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13134
13135 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
13136 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13137 precedence as @code{*}.
13138
13139 @item -
13140 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13141
13142 @item ^
13143 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13144
13145 @item NOT
13146 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13147 @code{^}.
13148
13149 @item .
13150 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13151 precedence as @code{^}.
13152
13153 @item []
13154 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
13155
13156 @item ()
13157 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
13158 as @code{^}.
13159
13160 @item ::@r{, }.
13161 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
13162 @end table
13163
13164 @quotation
13165 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
13166 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
13167 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
13168 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
13169 @end quotation
13170
13171
13172 @node Built-In Func/Proc
13173 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
13174 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
13175
13176 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
13177 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
13178
13179 @table @var
13180
13181 @item a
13182 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
13183
13184 @item c
13185 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
13186
13187 @item i
13188 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
13189
13190 @item m
13191 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
13192 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
13193 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
13194
13195 @item n
13196 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
13197
13198 @item r
13199 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
13200
13201 @item t
13202 represents a type.
13203
13204 @item v
13205 represents a variable.
13206
13207 @item x
13208 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
13209 explanation of the function for details.
13210 @end table
13211
13212 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
13213
13214 @table @code
13215 @item ABS(@var{n})
13216 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
13217
13218 @item CAP(@var{c})
13219 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
13220 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
13221
13222 @item CHR(@var{i})
13223 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13224
13225 @item DEC(@var{v})
13226 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13227
13228 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
13229 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13230 new value.
13231
13232 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13233 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
13234 set.
13235
13236 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
13237 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
13238
13239 @item HIGH(@var{a})
13240 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
13241
13242 @item INC(@var{v})
13243 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13244
13245 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
13246 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13247 new value.
13248
13249 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13250 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
13251 there. Returns the new set.
13252
13253 @item MAX(@var{t})
13254 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
13255
13256 @item MIN(@var{t})
13257 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
13258
13259 @item ODD(@var{i})
13260 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
13261
13262 @item ORD(@var{x})
13263 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
13264 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
13265 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
13266 integral, character and enumerated types.
13267
13268 @item SIZE(@var{x})
13269 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13270
13271 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
13272 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
13273
13274 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
13275 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13276
13277 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
13278 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13279 @end table
13280
13281 @quotation
13282 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
13283 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
13284 an error.
13285 @end quotation
13286
13287 @cindex Modula-2 constants
13288 @node M2 Constants
13289 @subsubsection Constants
13290
13291 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
13292 ways:
13293
13294 @itemize @bullet
13295
13296 @item
13297 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
13298 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
13299 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
13300 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
13301
13302 @item
13303 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
13304 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
13305 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
13306 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
13307 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
13308 digits.
13309
13310 @item
13311 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
13312 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
13313 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
13314 followed by a @samp{C}.
13315
13316 @item
13317 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
13318 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
13319 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
13320 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
13321 sequences.
13322
13323 @item
13324 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
13325
13326 @item
13327 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
13328 @code{FALSE}.
13329
13330 @item
13331 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
13332
13333 @item
13334 Set constants are not yet supported.
13335 @end itemize
13336
13337 @node M2 Types
13338 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
13339 @cindex Modula-2 types
13340
13341 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
13342 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
13343 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
13344 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
13345 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
13346 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
13347
13348 The first example contains the following section of code:
13349
13350 @smallexample
13351 VAR
13352 s: SET OF CHAR ;
13353 r: [20..40] ;
13354 @end smallexample
13355
13356 @noindent
13357 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
13358 @code{r} and @code{s}.
13359
13360 @smallexample
13361 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13362 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
13363 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13364 SET OF CHAR
13365 (@value{GDBP}) print r
13366 21
13367 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
13368 [20..40]
13369 @end smallexample
13370
13371 @noindent
13372 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
13373
13374 @smallexample
13375 VAR
13376 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
13377 @end smallexample
13378
13379 @noindent
13380 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
13381
13382 @smallexample
13383 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13384 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
13385 @end smallexample
13386
13387 @noindent
13388 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
13389 expressions using the debugger.
13390
13391 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
13392 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
13393
13394 @smallexample
13395 VAR
13396 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
13397 @end smallexample
13398
13399 @smallexample
13400 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13401 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
13402 @end smallexample
13403
13404 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
13405 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
13406 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
13407 above.
13408
13409 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
13410
13411 @smallexample
13412 TYPE
13413 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
13414 t = [blue..yellow] ;
13415 VAR
13416 s: t ;
13417 BEGIN
13418 s := blue ;
13419 @end smallexample
13420
13421 @noindent
13422 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
13423 and value of a variable.
13424
13425 @smallexample
13426 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13427 $1 = blue
13428 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
13429 type = [blue..yellow]
13430 @end smallexample
13431
13432 @noindent
13433 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
13434 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
13435 their @code{C} counterparts.
13436
13437 @smallexample
13438 VAR
13439 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13440 BEGIN
13441 s[1] := 1 ;
13442 @end smallexample
13443
13444 @smallexample
13445 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13446 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
13447 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13448 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13449 @end smallexample
13450
13451 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
13452 pointer types as shown in this example:
13453
13454 @smallexample
13455 VAR
13456 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13457 BEGIN
13458 NEW(s) ;
13459 s^[1] := 1 ;
13460 @end smallexample
13461
13462 @noindent
13463 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
13464
13465 @smallexample
13466 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13467 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13468 @end smallexample
13469
13470 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
13471 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
13472 types:
13473
13474 @smallexample
13475 TYPE
13476 foo = RECORD
13477 f1: CARDINAL ;
13478 f2: CHAR ;
13479 f3: myarray ;
13480 END ;
13481
13482 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
13483 myrange = [-2..2] ;
13484 VAR
13485 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
13486 @end smallexample
13487
13488 @noindent
13489 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
13490 below.
13491
13492 @smallexample
13493 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13494 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
13495 f1 : CARDINAL;
13496 f2 : CHAR;
13497 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
13498 END
13499 @end smallexample
13500
13501 @node M2 Defaults
13502 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
13503 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
13504
13505 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
13506 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
13507 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13508 selected the working language.
13509
13510 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
13511 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
13512 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
13513 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
13514
13515 @node Deviations
13516 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
13517 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
13518
13519 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
13520 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
13521
13522 @itemize @bullet
13523 @item
13524 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
13525 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
13526 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
13527 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
13528 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
13529 returned a pointer.)
13530
13531 @item
13532 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
13533 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
13534 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
13535 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
13536
13537 @item
13538 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
13539 argument.
13540
13541 @item
13542 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
13543 @end itemize
13544
13545 @node M2 Checks
13546 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
13547 @cindex Modula-2 checks
13548
13549 @quotation
13550 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
13551 range checking.
13552 @end quotation
13553 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
13554
13555 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
13556
13557 @itemize @bullet
13558 @item
13559 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
13560 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
13561
13562 @item
13563 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
13564 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
13565 @end itemize
13566
13567 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
13568 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
13569
13570 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
13571 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
13572
13573 @node M2 Scope
13574 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13575 @cindex scope
13576 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
13577 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
13578 @ifinfo
13579 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
13580 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
13581 @end ifinfo
13582 @ifnotinfo
13583 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
13584 @end ifnotinfo
13585
13586 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
13587 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
13588 similar syntax:
13589
13590 @smallexample
13591
13592 @var{module} . @var{id}
13593 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
13594 @end smallexample
13595
13596 @noindent
13597 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
13598 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
13599 identifier within your program, except another module.
13600
13601 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
13602 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
13603 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
13604 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
13605
13606 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
13607 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
13608 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
13609 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
13610 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
13611 @var{module}.
13612
13613 @node GDB/M2
13614 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13615
13616 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
13617 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
13618 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
13619 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
13620 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
13621 analogue in Modula-2.
13622
13623 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
13624 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
13625 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
13626 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
13627 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
13628 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
13629
13630 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
13631 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
13632 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
13633
13634 @node Ada
13635 @subsection Ada
13636 @cindex Ada
13637
13638 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
13639 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
13640 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
13641 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13642 to be difficult.
13643
13644
13645 @cindex expressions in Ada
13646 @menu
13647 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
13648 and semantics supported by Ada mode
13649 in @value{GDBN}.
13650 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
13651 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
13652 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
13653 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
13654 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13655 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
13656 Profile
13657 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
13658 @end menu
13659
13660 @node Ada Mode Intro
13661 @subsubsection Introduction
13662 @cindex Ada mode, general
13663
13664 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
13665 syntax, with some extensions.
13666 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
13667
13668 @itemize @bullet
13669 @item
13670 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
13671 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
13672 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
13673 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
13674
13675 @item
13676 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
13677 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13678
13679 @item
13680 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13681 @end itemize
13682
13683 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
13684 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
13685 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
13686 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
13687 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
13688
13689 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
13690 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
13691 was translated from an Ada source file.
13692
13693 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
13694 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
13695 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
13696 middle (to allow based literals).
13697
13698 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
13699 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
13700 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
13701 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
13702 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
13703 functions to procedures elsewhere.
13704
13705 @node Omissions from Ada
13706 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
13707 @cindex Ada, omissions from
13708
13709 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
13710
13711 @itemize @bullet
13712 @item
13713 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
13714
13715 @itemize @minus
13716 @item
13717 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
13718 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
13719
13720 @item
13721 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
13722
13723 @item
13724 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
13725
13726 @item
13727 @t{'Tag}.
13728
13729 @item
13730 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
13731 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
13732
13733 @item
13734 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
13735 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
13736
13737 @item
13738 @t{'Address}.
13739 @end itemize
13740
13741 @item
13742 The names in
13743 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
13744 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
13745 not currently available.
13746
13747 @item
13748 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
13749 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
13750 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
13751 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
13752 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
13753 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
13754 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
13755 indeterminate values.
13756
13757 @item
13758 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
13759 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
13760 are not implemented.
13761
13762 @item
13763 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
13764 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
13765 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
13766 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
13767 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
13768
13769 @smallexample
13770 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
13771 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
13772 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
13773 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
13774 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
13775 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
13776 @end smallexample
13777
13778 Changing a
13779 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
13780 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
13781 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
13782 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
13783 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
13784 declared to have a type such as:
13785
13786 @smallexample
13787 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
13788 Id : Integer;
13789 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
13790 end record;
13791 @end smallexample
13792
13793 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
13794 assignments:
13795
13796 @smallexample
13797 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
13798 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
13799 @end smallexample
13800
13801 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
13802 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
13803 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
13804 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
13805 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
13806 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
13807 redundant component associations, although which component values are
13808 assigned in such cases is not defined.
13809
13810 @item
13811 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
13812
13813 @item
13814 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
13815 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
13816 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
13817 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
13818 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
13819 the proper resolution.
13820
13821 @item
13822 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
13823
13824 @item
13825 Entry calls are not implemented.
13826
13827 @item
13828 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
13829 formats are not supported.
13830
13831 @item
13832 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
13833
13834 @item
13835 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
13836 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
13837 context.
13838 Should your program
13839 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
13840 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
13841 @end itemize
13842
13843 @node Additions to Ada
13844 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
13845 @cindex Ada, deviations from
13846
13847 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
13848 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
13849
13850 @itemize @bullet
13851 @item
13852 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
13853 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
13854 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
13855 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
13856 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
13857 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
13858 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
13859 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
13860
13861 @item
13862 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
13863 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
13864 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
13865
13866 @item
13867 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
13868 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
13869
13870 @item
13871 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
13872 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
13873 @end itemize
13874
13875 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
13876 additions specific to Ada:
13877
13878 @itemize @bullet
13879 @item
13880 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
13881 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
13882
13883 @smallexample
13884 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
13885 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
13886 @end smallexample
13887
13888 @item
13889 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
13890 the value of its right-hand operand.
13891 This allows, for example,
13892 complex conditional breaks:
13893
13894 @smallexample
13895 (@value{GDBP}) break f
13896 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
13897 @end smallexample
13898
13899 @item
13900 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
13901 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
13902 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
13903 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
13904 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
13905 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
13906 in strings. For example,
13907 @smallexample
13908 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
13909 @end smallexample
13910 @noindent
13911 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
13912 after each period.
13913
13914 @item
13915 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
13916 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
13917 to write
13918
13919 @smallexample
13920 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
13921 @end smallexample
13922
13923 @item
13924 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
13925 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
13926 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
13927 of 3 might print as
13928
13929 @smallexample
13930 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
13931 @end smallexample
13932
13933 @noindent
13934 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
13935 clause.
13936
13937 @item
13938 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
13939 multi-character subsequence of
13940 their names (an exact match gets preference).
13941 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
13942 in place of @t{a'length}.
13943
13944 @item
13945 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
13946 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
13947 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
13948 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
13949 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
13950 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
13951 For example,
13952 @smallexample
13953 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
13954 @end smallexample
13955
13956 @item
13957 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
13958 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
13959 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
13960 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
13961 object.
13962
13963 @end itemize
13964
13965 @node Stopping Before Main Program
13966 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
13967
13968 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
13969 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
13970 before reaching the main procedure.
13971 As defined in the Ada Reference
13972 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
13973 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
13974 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
13975 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
13976
13977 @node Ada Tasks
13978 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
13979 @cindex Ada, tasking
13980
13981 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
13982 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
13983
13984 @table @code
13985 @kindex info tasks
13986 @item info tasks
13987 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
13988
13989
13990 @smallexample
13991 @iftex
13992 @leftskip=0.5cm
13993 @end iftex
13994 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13995 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13996 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13997 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
13998 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
13999 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14000
14001 @end smallexample
14002
14003 @noindent
14004 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14005 task currently being inspected.
14006
14007 @table @asis
14008 @item ID
14009 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14010
14011 @item TID
14012 The Ada task ID.
14013
14014 @item P-ID
14015 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14016
14017 @item Pri
14018 The base priority of the task.
14019
14020 @item State
14021 Current state of the task.
14022
14023 @table @code
14024 @item Unactivated
14025 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14026 executing.
14027
14028 @item Runnable
14029 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14030 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14031
14032 @item Terminated
14033 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14034 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14035 terminated themselves.
14036
14037 @item Child Activation Wait
14038 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14039
14040 @item Accept Statement
14041 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14042
14043 @item Waiting on entry call
14044 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14045
14046 @item Async Select Wait
14047 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14048 select statement.
14049
14050 @item Delay Sleep
14051 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14052 alternative open.
14053
14054 @item Child Termination Wait
14055 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14056 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14057 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14058
14059 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14060 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14061 finish terminating.
14062
14063 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14064 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14065 @end table
14066
14067 @item Name
14068 Name of the task in the program.
14069
14070 @end table
14071
14072 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14073 @item info task @var{taskno}
14074 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14075 the following example:
14076 @smallexample
14077 @iftex
14078 @leftskip=0.5cm
14079 @end iftex
14080 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14081 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14082 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14083 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14084 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14085 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14086 Name: task_1
14087 Thread: 0x807f378
14088 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14089 Base Priority: 15
14090 State: Runnable
14091 @end smallexample
14092
14093 @item task
14094 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14095 @cindex current Ada task ID
14096 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14097
14098 @smallexample
14099 @iftex
14100 @leftskip=0.5cm
14101 @end iftex
14102 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14103 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14104 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14105 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14106 (@value{GDBP}) task
14107 [Current task is 2]
14108 @end smallexample
14109
14110 @item task @var{taskno}
14111 @cindex Ada task switching
14112 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14113 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14114 from the current task to the given task.
14115
14116 @smallexample
14117 @iftex
14118 @leftskip=0.5cm
14119 @end iftex
14120 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14121 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14122 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14123 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14124 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14125 [Switching to task 1]
14126 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14127 (@value{GDBP}) bt
14128 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14129 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14130 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14131 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14132 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14133 @end smallexample
14134
14135 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14136 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14137 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14138 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14139 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14140 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14141 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14142 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14143 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14144
14145 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14146 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14147 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14148 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14149 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14150
14151 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14152 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
14153 program.
14154
14155 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
14156 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
14157 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
14158
14159 For example,
14160
14161 @smallexample
14162 @iftex
14163 @leftskip=0.5cm
14164 @end iftex
14165 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14166 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14167 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14168 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
14169 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14170 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
14171 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
14172 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
14173 (@value{GDBP}) cont
14174 Continuing.
14175 task # 1 running
14176 task # 2 running
14177
14178 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
14179 15 flush;
14180 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14181 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14182 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14183 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
14184 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14185 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
14186 @end smallexample
14187 @end table
14188
14189 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
14190 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14191 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
14192
14193 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
14194 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
14195 the platform being used.
14196 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
14197 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
14198 as usual.
14199
14200 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
14201 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
14202 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
14203 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
14204 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
14205 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
14206
14207 @node Ravenscar Profile
14208 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
14209 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
14210
14211 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
14212 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
14213 requirements.
14214
14215 @table @code
14216 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
14217 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
14218 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
14219 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14220 Profile. This is the default.
14221
14222 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
14223 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
14224 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14225 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
14226 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
14227 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
14228 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
14229
14230 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
14231 @item show ravenscar task-switching
14232 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
14233 using the Ravenscar Profile.
14234
14235 @end table
14236
14237 @node Ada Glitches
14238 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
14239 @cindex Ada, problems
14240
14241 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
14242 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
14243 @value{GDBN},
14244 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
14245 and the GNU Ada compiler.
14246
14247 @itemize @bullet
14248 @item
14249 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
14250 storage are invisible to the debugger.
14251
14252 @item
14253 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
14254 argument lists are treated as positional).
14255
14256 @item
14257 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
14258
14259 @item
14260 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
14261 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
14262 the host machine.
14263
14264 @item
14265 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
14266 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
14267 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
14268 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
14269 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
14270 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
14271 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
14272 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
14273 you can usually resolve the confusion
14274 by qualifying the problematic names with package
14275 @code{Standard} explicitly.
14276 @end itemize
14277
14278 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
14279 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
14280 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
14281 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
14282 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
14283 enabled.
14284
14285 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14286 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14287 @table @code
14288
14289 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
14290 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
14291 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
14292 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
14293 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
14294 This is the default.
14295
14296 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
14297 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
14298 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
14299 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
14300 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
14301 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
14302 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
14303
14304 @end table
14305
14306 @node Unsupported Languages
14307 @section Unsupported Languages
14308
14309 @cindex unsupported languages
14310 @cindex minimal language
14311 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
14312 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
14313 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
14314 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
14315 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
14316 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
14317
14318 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
14319 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
14320 language.
14321
14322 @node Symbols
14323 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
14324
14325 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
14326 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
14327 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
14328 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
14329 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
14330 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
14331 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14332
14333 @cindex symbol names
14334 @cindex names of symbols
14335 @cindex quoting names
14336 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
14337 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
14338 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
14339 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
14340 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
14341 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
14342 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
14343 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
14344
14345 @smallexample
14346 p 'foo.c'::x
14347 @end smallexample
14348
14349 @noindent
14350 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
14351
14352 @table @code
14353 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
14354 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
14355 @kindex set case-sensitive
14356 @item set case-sensitive on
14357 @itemx set case-sensitive off
14358 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
14359 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
14360 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
14361 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
14362 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
14363 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
14364 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
14365 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
14366 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
14367 case-insensitive matches.
14368
14369 @kindex show case-sensitive
14370 @item show case-sensitive
14371 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
14372 lookups.
14373
14374 @kindex info address
14375 @cindex address of a symbol
14376 @item info address @var{symbol}
14377 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
14378 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
14379 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
14380 is always stored.
14381
14382 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
14383 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
14384 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
14385
14386 @kindex info symbol
14387 @cindex symbol from address
14388 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
14389 @item info symbol @var{addr}
14390 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
14391 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
14392 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
14393
14394 @smallexample
14395 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
14396 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
14397 @end smallexample
14398
14399 @noindent
14400 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
14401 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
14402
14403 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
14404 library containing the symbol is also printed:
14405
14406 @smallexample
14407 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
14408 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
14409 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
14410 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
14411 @end smallexample
14412
14413 @kindex whatis
14414 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
14415 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
14416 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
14417 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14418
14419 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
14420 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
14421 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
14422
14423 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
14424 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
14425 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
14426 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
14427 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
14428 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
14429 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
14430 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
14431 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
14432
14433 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
14434 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
14435 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
14436 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
14437 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
14438 unroll it.
14439
14440 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
14441 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
14442 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
14443
14444 @kindex ptype
14445 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
14446 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
14447 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
14448 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
14449
14450 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
14451 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
14452 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
14453 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
14454 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
14455 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
14456 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
14457 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
14458
14459 For example, for this variable declaration:
14460
14461 @smallexample
14462 typedef double real_t;
14463 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
14464 typedef struct complex complex_t;
14465 complex_t var;
14466 real_t *real_pointer_var;
14467 @end smallexample
14468
14469 @noindent
14470 the two commands give this output:
14471
14472 @smallexample
14473 @group
14474 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
14475 type = complex_t
14476 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
14477 type = struct complex @{
14478 real_t real;
14479 double imag;
14480 @}
14481 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
14482 type = struct complex
14483 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
14484 type = struct complex
14485 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
14486 type = struct complex @{
14487 real_t real;
14488 double imag;
14489 @}
14490 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
14491 type = real_t *
14492 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
14493 type = double *
14494 @end group
14495 @end smallexample
14496
14497 @noindent
14498 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
14499 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14500
14501 @cindex incomplete type
14502 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
14503 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
14504 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
14505 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
14506 given these declarations:
14507
14508 @smallexample
14509 struct foo;
14510 struct foo *fooptr;
14511 @end smallexample
14512
14513 @noindent
14514 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
14515
14516 @smallexample
14517 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
14518 $1 = <incomplete type>
14519 @end smallexample
14520
14521 @noindent
14522 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
14523 completely specified.
14524
14525 @kindex info types
14526 @item info types @var{regexp}
14527 @itemx info types
14528 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
14529 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
14530 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
14531 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
14532 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
14533 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
14534 name is @code{value}.
14535
14536 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
14537 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
14538 lists all source files where a type is defined.
14539
14540 @kindex info scope
14541 @cindex local variables
14542 @item info scope @var{location}
14543 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
14544 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
14545 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
14546 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
14547 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
14548
14549 @smallexample
14550 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
14551 Scope for command_line_handler:
14552 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
14553 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
14554 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
14555 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
14556 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
14557 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
14558 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
14559 @end smallexample
14560
14561 @noindent
14562 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
14563 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
14564 collect}.
14565
14566 @kindex info source
14567 @item info source
14568 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
14569 the function containing the current point of execution:
14570 @itemize @bullet
14571 @item
14572 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
14573 @item
14574 the directory it was compiled in,
14575 @item
14576 its length, in lines,
14577 @item
14578 which programming language it is written in,
14579 @item
14580 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
14581 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
14582 @item
14583 whether the debugging information includes information about
14584 preprocessor macros.
14585 @end itemize
14586
14587
14588 @kindex info sources
14589 @item info sources
14590 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
14591 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
14592 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
14593
14594 @kindex info functions
14595 @item info functions
14596 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
14597
14598 @item info functions @var{regexp}
14599 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
14600 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
14601 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
14602 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
14603 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
14604 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
14605 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
14606
14607 @kindex info variables
14608 @item info variables
14609 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
14610 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
14611
14612 @item info variables @var{regexp}
14613 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
14614 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
14615 @var{regexp}.
14616
14617 @kindex info classes
14618 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
14619 @item info classes
14620 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
14621 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
14622 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14623 expression.
14624
14625 @kindex info selectors
14626 @item info selectors
14627 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
14628 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
14629 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14630 expression.
14631
14632 @ignore
14633 This was never implemented.
14634 @kindex info methods
14635 @item info methods
14636 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
14637 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
14638 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
14639 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
14640 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
14641 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
14642 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
14643 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
14644 @end ignore
14645
14646 @cindex reloading symbols
14647 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
14648 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
14649 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
14650 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
14651 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
14652
14653 @table @code
14654 @kindex set symbol-reloading
14655 @item set symbol-reloading on
14656 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
14657 object file with a particular name is seen again.
14658
14659 @item set symbol-reloading off
14660 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
14661 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
14662 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
14663 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
14664 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
14665 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
14666 name.
14667
14668 @kindex show symbol-reloading
14669 @item show symbol-reloading
14670 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
14671 @end table
14672
14673 @cindex opaque data types
14674 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
14675 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
14676 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
14677 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
14678 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
14679 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
14680 another source file. The default is on.
14681
14682 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
14683 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
14684
14685 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
14686 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
14687 is printed as follows:
14688 @smallexample
14689 @{<no data fields>@}
14690 @end smallexample
14691
14692 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
14693 @item show opaque-type-resolution
14694 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
14695
14696 @kindex maint print symbols
14697 @cindex symbol dump
14698 @kindex maint print psymbols
14699 @cindex partial symbol dump
14700 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
14701 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
14702 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
14703 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
14704 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
14705 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
14706 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
14707 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
14708 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
14709 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
14710 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
14711 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
14712 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
14713 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
14714 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
14715 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
14716 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
14717
14718 @kindex maint info symtabs
14719 @kindex maint info psymtabs
14720 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
14721 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14722 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14723 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14724 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14725 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14726
14727 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
14728 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
14729 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
14730 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
14731 structure in more detail. For example:
14732
14733 @smallexample
14734 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
14735 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14736 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14737 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14738 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
14739 readin no
14740 fullname (null)
14741 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
14742 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
14743 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
14744 dependencies (none)
14745 @}
14746 @}
14747 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14748 (@value{GDBP})
14749 @end smallexample
14750 @noindent
14751 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
14752 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
14753 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
14754 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
14755 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
14756
14757 @smallexample
14758 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
14759 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
14760 line 1574.
14761 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14762 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14763 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14764 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14765 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
14766 dirname (null)
14767 fullname (null)
14768 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
14769 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
14770 debugformat DWARF 2
14771 @}
14772 @}
14773 (@value{GDBP})
14774 @end smallexample
14775 @end table
14776
14777
14778 @node Altering
14779 @chapter Altering Execution
14780
14781 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
14782 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
14783 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
14784 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
14785 program.
14786
14787 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
14788 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
14789 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
14790
14791 @menu
14792 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
14793 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
14794 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
14795 * Returning:: Returning from a function
14796 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
14797 * Patching:: Patching your program
14798 @end menu
14799
14800 @node Assignment
14801 @section Assignment to Variables
14802
14803 @cindex assignment
14804 @cindex setting variables
14805 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
14806 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
14807
14808 @smallexample
14809 print x=4
14810 @end smallexample
14811
14812 @noindent
14813 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
14814 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
14815 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
14816 information on operators in supported languages.
14817
14818 @kindex set variable
14819 @cindex variables, setting
14820 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
14821 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
14822 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
14823 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
14824 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
14825
14826 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
14827 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
14828 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
14829 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
14830 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
14831 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
14832 command @code{set width}:
14833
14834 @smallexample
14835 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
14836 type = double
14837 (@value{GDBP}) p width
14838 $4 = 13
14839 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
14840 Invalid syntax in expression.
14841 @end smallexample
14842
14843 @noindent
14844 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
14845 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
14846
14847 @smallexample
14848 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
14849 @end smallexample
14850
14851 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
14852 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
14853 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
14854 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
14855 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
14856 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
14857
14858 @smallexample
14859 @group
14860 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
14861 type = double
14862 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14863 $1 = 1
14864 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
14865 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14866 $2 = 1
14867 (@value{GDBP}) r
14868 The program being debugged has been started already.
14869 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
14870 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
14871 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
14872 Invalid bfd target.
14873 (@value{GDBP}) show g
14874 The current BFD target is "=4".
14875 @end group
14876 @end smallexample
14877
14878 @noindent
14879 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
14880 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
14881 @code{g}, use
14882
14883 @smallexample
14884 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
14885 @end smallexample
14886
14887 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
14888 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
14889 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
14890 same length or shorter.
14891 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
14892 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
14893
14894 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
14895 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
14896 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
14897 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
14898 and representation in memory), and
14899
14900 @smallexample
14901 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
14902 @end smallexample
14903
14904 @noindent
14905 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
14906
14907 @node Jumping
14908 @section Continuing at a Different Address
14909
14910 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
14911 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
14912 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
14913
14914 @table @code
14915 @kindex jump
14916 @item jump @var{linespec}
14917 @itemx jump @var{location}
14918 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
14919 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
14920 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
14921 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
14922 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
14923 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14924
14925 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
14926 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
14927 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
14928 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
14929 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
14930 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
14931 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
14932 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
14933 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
14934 @end table
14935
14936 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
14937 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
14938 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
14939 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
14940 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
14941 example,
14942
14943 @smallexample
14944 set $pc = 0x485
14945 @end smallexample
14946
14947 @noindent
14948 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
14949 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
14950 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
14951
14952 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
14953 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
14954 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
14955 detail.
14956
14957 @c @group
14958 @node Signaling
14959 @section Giving your Program a Signal
14960 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
14961
14962 @table @code
14963 @kindex signal
14964 @item signal @var{signal}
14965 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
14966 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
14967 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
14968 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
14969
14970 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
14971 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
14972 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
14973 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
14974 signal.
14975
14976 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
14977 after executing the command.
14978 @end table
14979 @c @end group
14980
14981 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
14982 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
14983 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
14984 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
14985 passes the signal directly to your program.
14986
14987
14988 @node Returning
14989 @section Returning from a Function
14990
14991 @table @code
14992 @cindex returning from a function
14993 @kindex return
14994 @item return
14995 @itemx return @var{expression}
14996 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
14997 command. If you give an
14998 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
14999 value.
15000 @end table
15001
15002 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15003 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15004 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15005 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15006
15007 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15008 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15009 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15010 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15011 of functions.
15012
15013 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15014 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15015 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15016 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15017 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15018
15019 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15020 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15021 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15022 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15023 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15024 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15025 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15026 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15027 assignment into the right register(s).
15028
15029 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15030 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15031 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15032 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15033 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15034 into a @code{long long int}:
15035
15036 @smallexample
15037 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15038 29 return 31;
15039 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15040 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15041 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15042 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15043 (@value{GDBP})
15044 @end smallexample
15045
15046 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
15047 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
15048 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
15049 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
15050 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
15051 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
15052 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
15053 an appropriate cast explicitly:
15054
15055 @smallexample
15056 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
15057 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15058 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
15059 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
15060 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
15061 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
15062 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
15063 (@value{GDBP})
15064 @end smallexample
15065
15066 @node Calling
15067 @section Calling Program Functions
15068
15069 @table @code
15070 @cindex calling functions
15071 @cindex inferior functions, calling
15072 @item print @var{expr}
15073 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
15074 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
15075 debugged.
15076
15077 @kindex call
15078 @item call @var{expr}
15079 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15080 returned values.
15081
15082 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15083 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15084 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15085 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15086 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15087 value history.
15088 @end table
15089
15090 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15091 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15092 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15093 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15094
15095 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15096 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15097 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15098 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15099 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15100 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
15101 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
15102 in that case is controlled by the
15103 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
15104
15105 @table @code
15106 @item set unwindonsignal
15107 @kindex set unwindonsignal
15108 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
15109 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
15110 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
15111 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
15112 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
15113 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
15114 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
15115 received.
15116
15117 @item show unwindonsignal
15118 @kindex show unwindonsignal
15119 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15120 @value{GDBN}.
15121
15122 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15123 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15124 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
15125 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
15126 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
15127 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
15128 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
15129 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
15130 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
15131 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
15132
15133 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15134 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15135 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15136 @value{GDBN}.
15137
15138 @end table
15139
15140 @cindex weak alias functions
15141 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
15142 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
15143 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
15144 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
15145 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
15146 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
15147 function instead.
15148
15149 @node Patching
15150 @section Patching Programs
15151
15152 @cindex patching binaries
15153 @cindex writing into executables
15154 @cindex writing into corefiles
15155
15156 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
15157 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
15158 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
15159 patching your program's binary.
15160
15161 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
15162 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
15163 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
15164 repairs.
15165
15166 @table @code
15167 @kindex set write
15168 @item set write on
15169 @itemx set write off
15170 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
15171 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
15172 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
15173
15174 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
15175 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
15176 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
15177
15178 @item show write
15179 @kindex show write
15180 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
15181 as well as reading.
15182 @end table
15183
15184 @node GDB Files
15185 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
15186
15187 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
15188 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
15189 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
15190 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
15191
15192 @menu
15193 * Files:: Commands to specify files
15194 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
15195 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
15196 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
15197 * Data Files:: GDB data files
15198 @end menu
15199
15200 @node Files
15201 @section Commands to Specify Files
15202
15203 @cindex symbol table
15204 @cindex core dump file
15205
15206 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
15207 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
15208 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
15209 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
15210
15211 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
15212 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
15213 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
15214 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
15215 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
15216 new files are useful.
15217
15218 @table @code
15219 @cindex executable file
15220 @kindex file
15221 @item file @var{filename}
15222 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
15223 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
15224 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
15225 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
15226 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
15227 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
15228 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
15229 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
15230
15231 @cindex unlinked object files
15232 @cindex patching object files
15233 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
15234 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
15235 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
15236 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
15237 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
15238 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
15239 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
15240 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
15241
15242 @item file
15243 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
15244 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
15245
15246 @kindex exec-file
15247 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15248 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
15249 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
15250 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
15251 discard information on the executable file.
15252
15253 @kindex symbol-file
15254 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15255 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
15256 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
15257 table and program to run from the same file.
15258
15259 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
15260 program's symbol table.
15261
15262 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
15263 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
15264 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
15265 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
15266 @value{GDBN}.
15267
15268 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
15269 executing it once.
15270
15271 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
15272 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
15273 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
15274 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
15275 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
15276 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
15277 optimized code.
15278
15279 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
15280 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
15281 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
15282 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
15283 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
15284
15285 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
15286 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
15287 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
15288 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
15289 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
15290 Warnings and Messages}.)
15291
15292 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
15293 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
15294 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
15295 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
15296 in stabs format.
15297
15298 @kindex readnow
15299 @cindex reading symbols immediately
15300 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
15301 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15302 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15303 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
15304 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
15305 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
15306 entire symbol table available.
15307
15308 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
15309 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
15310 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
15311 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
15312 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
15313 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
15314 @c files.
15315
15316 @kindex core-file
15317 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
15318 @itemx core
15319 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
15320 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
15321 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
15322 executable file itself for other parts.
15323
15324 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
15325 to be used.
15326
15327 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
15328 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
15329 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
15330 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
15331 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
15332
15333 @kindex add-symbol-file
15334 @cindex dynamic linking
15335 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
15336 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
15337 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
15338 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
15339 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
15340 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
15341 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
15342 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
15343 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
15344 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
15345 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
15346 @var{address} as an expression.
15347
15348 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
15349 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
15350 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
15351 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
15352 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
15353
15354 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
15355 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
15356 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
15357 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
15358 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
15359 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
15360 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
15361 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
15362 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
15363
15364 @itemize @bullet
15365 @item
15366 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
15367 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
15368 @item
15369 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
15370 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
15371 @item
15372 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
15373 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15374 @end itemize
15375
15376 @noindent
15377 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
15378 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
15379 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
15380 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
15381 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
15382 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
15383 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
15384 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
15385 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
15386 way.
15387
15388 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
15389
15390 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
15391 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
15392 @cindex load symbols from memory
15393 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
15394 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
15395 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
15396 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
15397 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
15398 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
15399 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
15400 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
15401 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
15402
15403 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
15404 @kindex assf
15405 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
15406 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
15407 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
15408 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
15409 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
15410 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
15411 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
15412 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
15413 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
15414 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
15415
15416 @kindex section
15417 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
15418 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
15419 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
15420 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
15421 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
15422 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
15423 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
15424 their addresses.
15425
15426 @kindex info files
15427 @kindex info target
15428 @item info files
15429 @itemx info target
15430 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
15431 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
15432 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
15433 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
15434 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
15435 current ones.
15436
15437 @kindex maint info sections
15438 @item maint info sections
15439 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
15440 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
15441 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
15442 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
15443 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
15444 may be arbitrarily combined):
15445
15446 @table @code
15447 @item ALLOBJ
15448 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
15449 @item @var{sections}
15450 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
15451 @item @var{section-flags}
15452 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
15453 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
15454 @table @code
15455 @item ALLOC
15456 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
15457 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
15458 @item LOAD
15459 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
15460 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
15461 @item RELOC
15462 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
15463 @item READONLY
15464 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
15465 @item CODE
15466 Section contains executable code only.
15467 @item DATA
15468 Section contains data only (no executable code).
15469 @item ROM
15470 Section will reside in ROM.
15471 @item CONSTRUCTOR
15472 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
15473 @item HAS_CONTENTS
15474 Section is not empty.
15475 @item NEVER_LOAD
15476 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
15477 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
15478 A notification to the linker that the section contains
15479 COFF shared library information.
15480 @item IS_COMMON
15481 Section contains common symbols.
15482 @end table
15483 @end table
15484 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
15485 @cindex read-only sections
15486 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
15487 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
15488 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
15489 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
15490 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
15491 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
15492 enhancement to debugging performance.
15493
15494 The default is off.
15495
15496 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
15497 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
15498 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
15499 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
15500
15501 @item show trust-readonly-sections
15502 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
15503 @end table
15504
15505 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
15506 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
15507 name and remembers it that way.
15508
15509 @cindex shared libraries
15510 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
15511 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
15512 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
15513
15514 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
15515 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
15516
15517 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
15518 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
15519 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
15520 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
15521 debugging a core file).
15522
15523 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
15524 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
15525
15526 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
15527 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
15528 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
15529
15530 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
15531 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
15532 particularly large or there are many of them.
15533
15534 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
15535 commands:
15536
15537 @table @code
15538 @kindex set auto-solib-add
15539 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
15540 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
15541 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
15542 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
15543 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
15544 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
15545 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
15546
15547 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
15548 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
15549 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
15550 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
15551 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
15552 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
15553 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
15554 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
15555 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
15556
15557 @kindex show auto-solib-add
15558 @item show auto-solib-add
15559 Display the current autoloading mode.
15560 @end table
15561
15562 @cindex load shared library
15563 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
15564 command:
15565
15566 @table @code
15567 @kindex info sharedlibrary
15568 @kindex info share
15569 @item info share @var{regex}
15570 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
15571 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
15572 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
15573 all shared libraries that are loaded.
15574
15575 @kindex sharedlibrary
15576 @kindex share
15577 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
15578 @itemx share @var{regex}
15579 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
15580 Unix regular expression.
15581 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
15582 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
15583 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
15584 loaded.
15585
15586 @item nosharedlibrary
15587 @kindex nosharedlibrary
15588 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
15589 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
15590 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
15591 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
15592 discarded.
15593 @end table
15594
15595 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
15596 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
15597 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
15598
15599 @table @code
15600 @item set stop-on-solib-events
15601 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
15602 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
15603 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
15604 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
15605 shared library.
15606
15607 @item show stop-on-solib-events
15608 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
15609 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
15610 library events happen.
15611 @end table
15612
15613 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
15614 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
15615 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
15616 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
15617 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
15618 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
15619 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
15620 not.
15621
15622 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
15623 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
15624 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
15625 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
15626 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
15627
15628 @table @code
15629 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
15630 @cindex system root, alternate
15631 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
15632 @kindex set sysroot
15633 @item set sysroot @var{path}
15634 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
15635 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
15636 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
15637 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
15638 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
15639 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
15640 under @var{path}.
15641
15642 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
15643 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
15644 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
15645 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
15646 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
15647 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
15648 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
15649 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
15650 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
15651
15652 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
15653 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
15654 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
15655 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
15656 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
15657
15658 @smallexample
15659 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
15660 @end smallexample
15661
15662 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
15663 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
15664 system:
15665
15666 @smallexample
15667 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
15668 @end smallexample
15669
15670 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
15671 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
15672 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
15673 colons:
15674
15675 @smallexample
15676 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
15677 @end smallexample
15678
15679 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
15680 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
15681 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
15682 @samp{z}):
15683
15684 @smallexample
15685 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
15686 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15687 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15688 @end smallexample
15689
15690 @noindent
15691 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
15692 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
15693 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
15694
15695 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
15696 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
15697
15698 @smallexample
15699 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
15700 @end smallexample
15701
15702 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
15703 if you don't want or need to.
15704
15705 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
15706 sysroot}.
15707
15708 @cindex default system root
15709 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
15710 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
15711 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
15712 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15713 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
15714 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15715 location.
15716
15717 @kindex show sysroot
15718 @item show sysroot
15719 Display the current shared library prefix.
15720
15721 @kindex set solib-search-path
15722 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
15723 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15724 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
15725 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
15726 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
15727 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
15728 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
15729 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
15730 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
15731 of shared library symbols.
15732
15733 @kindex show solib-search-path
15734 @item show solib-search-path
15735 Display the current shared library search path.
15736
15737 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
15738 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
15739 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
15740 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
15741 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
15742
15743 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
15744 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
15745 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
15746 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
15747 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
15748 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
15749 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
15750 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
15751 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
15752 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
15753 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
15754 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
15755 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
15756 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
15757 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
15758 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
15759 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
15760 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
15761 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
15762 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
15763 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
15764 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
15765
15766 @table @code
15767 @item unix
15768 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
15769 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
15770 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
15771 the forward slash.
15772
15773 @item dos-based
15774 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
15775 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
15776 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
15777 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
15778 considered directory separators.
15779
15780 @item auto
15781 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
15782 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
15783 This is the default.
15784 @end table
15785 @end table
15786
15787 @cindex file name canonicalization
15788 @cindex base name differences
15789 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
15790 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
15791 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
15792 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
15793 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
15794 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
15795 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
15796 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
15797 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
15798 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
15799 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
15800 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
15801 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
15802 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
15803 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
15804
15805 @table @code
15806 @item set basenames-may-differ
15807 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
15808 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
15809
15810 @item show basenames-may-differ
15811 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
15812 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
15813 @end table
15814
15815 @node Separate Debug Files
15816 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
15817 @cindex separate debugging information files
15818 @cindex debugging information in separate files
15819 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
15820 @cindex debugging information directory, global
15821 @cindex global debugging information directory
15822 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
15823 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
15824
15825 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
15826 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
15827 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
15828 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
15829 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
15830 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
15831 install only when they need to debug a problem.
15832
15833 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
15834 file:
15835
15836 @itemize @bullet
15837 @item
15838 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
15839 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
15840 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
15841 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
15842 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
15843 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
15844 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
15845 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
15846
15847 @item
15848 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
15849 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
15850 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
15851 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
15852 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
15853 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
15854 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
15855 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
15856 below.
15857 @end itemize
15858
15859 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
15860 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
15861
15862 @itemize @bullet
15863 @item
15864 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
15865 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
15866 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
15867 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
15868 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
15869
15870 @item
15871 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
15872 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
15873 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
15874 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
15875 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
15876 hex characters, not 10.)
15877 @end itemize
15878
15879 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
15880 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
15881 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
15882 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
15883 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
15884 debug information files, in the indicated order:
15885
15886 @itemize @minus
15887 @item
15888 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
15889 @item
15890 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
15891 @item
15892 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
15893 @item
15894 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
15895 @end itemize
15896
15897 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
15898 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
15899
15900 @table @code
15901
15902 @kindex set debug-file-directory
15903 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
15904 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15905 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
15906 concatenating them by a directory separator.
15907
15908 @kindex show debug-file-directory
15909 @item show debug-file-directory
15910 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15911 information files.
15912
15913 @end table
15914
15915 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
15916 @cindex debug link sections
15917 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
15918 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
15919
15920 @itemize
15921 @item
15922 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
15923 a zero byte,
15924 @item
15925 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
15926 boundary within the section, and
15927 @item
15928 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
15929 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
15930 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
15931 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
15932 @end itemize
15933
15934 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
15935 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
15936 described above.
15937
15938 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
15939 @cindex build ID sections
15940 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
15941 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
15942 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
15943 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
15944 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
15945 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
15946 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
15947 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
15948 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
15949
15950 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
15951 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
15952 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
15953 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
15954 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
15955 in an ordinary executable.
15956
15957 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
15958 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
15959 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
15960 following commands:
15961
15962 @smallexample
15963 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
15964 @kbd{strip -g foo}
15965 @end smallexample
15966
15967 @noindent
15968 These commands remove the debugging
15969 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
15970 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
15971 two files:
15972
15973 @itemize @bullet
15974 @item
15975 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
15976 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
15977
15978 @smallexample
15979 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
15980 @end smallexample
15981
15982 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
15983 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
15984 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
15985 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
15986
15987 @item
15988 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
15989 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
15990 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
15991 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
15992 @end itemize
15993
15994 @noindent
15995
15996 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
15997 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
15998 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
15999
16000 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16001 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16002 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16003 @c different ways!
16004 @ifhtml
16005 @display
16006 @html
16007 <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>
16008 + <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
16009 @end html
16010 @end display
16011 @end ifhtml
16012 @ifnothtml
16013 @display
16014 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16015 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16016 @end display
16017 @end ifnothtml
16018
16019 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16020 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16021 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16022 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16023 CRC.
16024
16025 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16026 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16027 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16028 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16029 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16030 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16031
16032 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16033 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16034 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
16035 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
16036 @code{0xffffffff}.
16037
16038 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
16039 @smallexample
16040 unsigned long
16041 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
16042 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
16043 @{
16044 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
16045 @{
16046 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
16047 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
16048 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
16049 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
16050 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
16051 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
16052 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
16053 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
16054 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
16055 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
16056 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
16057 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
16058 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
16059 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
16060 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
16061 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
16062 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
16063 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
16064 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
16065 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
16066 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
16067 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
16068 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
16069 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
16070 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
16071 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
16072 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
16073 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
16074 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
16075 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
16076 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
16077 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
16078 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16079 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16080 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16081 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16082 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16083 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16084 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16085 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16086 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16087 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16088 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16089 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16090 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
16091 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
16092 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
16093 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
16094 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
16095 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
16096 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
16097 0x2d02ef8d
16098 @};
16099 unsigned char *end;
16100
16101 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16102 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
16103 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
16104 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16105 @}
16106 @end smallexample
16107
16108 @noindent
16109 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
16110
16111
16112 @node Index Files
16113 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
16114 @cindex index files
16115 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
16116
16117 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
16118 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
16119 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
16120 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
16121 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
16122 startup.
16123
16124 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
16125 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
16126 using @command{objcopy}.
16127
16128 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
16129
16130 @table @code
16131 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
16132 @kindex save gdb-index
16133 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
16134 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
16135 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
16136 @var{directory}.
16137 @end table
16138
16139 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
16140 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
16141
16142 @smallexample
16143 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
16144 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
16145 @end smallexample
16146
16147 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
16148 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
16149 currently work for programs using Ada.
16150
16151 @node Symbol Errors
16152 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
16153
16154 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
16155 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
16156 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
16157 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
16158 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
16159 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
16160 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
16161 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
16162 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
16163 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16164 Messages}).
16165
16166 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
16167
16168 @table @code
16169 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
16170
16171 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
16172 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
16173 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
16174 in its outer scope blocks.
16175
16176 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
16177 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
16178 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
16179 function.
16180
16181 @item block at @var{address} out of order
16182
16183 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
16184 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
16185 do so.
16186
16187 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
16188 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
16189 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
16190 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16191 Messages}.)
16192
16193 @item bad block start address patched
16194
16195 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
16196 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
16197 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
16198
16199 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
16200 starting on the previous source line.
16201
16202 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
16203
16204 @cindex foo
16205 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
16206 larger than the size of the string table.
16207
16208 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
16209 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
16210 with this name.
16211
16212 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
16213
16214 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
16215 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
16216 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
16217
16218 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
16219 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
16220 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
16221 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
16222 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
16223 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
16224
16225 @item stub type has NULL name
16226
16227 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
16228
16229 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
16230 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
16231 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
16232 it.
16233
16234 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
16235
16236 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
16237
16238 @end table
16239
16240 @node Data Files
16241 @section GDB Data Files
16242
16243 @cindex prefix for data files
16244 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
16245 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
16246
16247 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
16248 is currently using.
16249
16250 @table @code
16251 @kindex set data-directory
16252 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
16253 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
16254 to @var{directory}.
16255
16256 @kindex show data-directory
16257 @item show data-directory
16258 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
16259 @end table
16260
16261 @cindex default data directory
16262 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
16263 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
16264 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
16265 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16266 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
16267 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16268 location.
16269
16270 The data directory may also be specified with the
16271 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
16272 @xref{Mode Options}.
16273
16274 @node Targets
16275 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
16276
16277 @cindex debugging target
16278 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
16279
16280 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
16281 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
16282 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
16283 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
16284 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
16285 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
16286 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
16287 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
16288
16289 @cindex target architecture
16290 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
16291 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
16292 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
16293 command.
16294
16295 @table @code
16296 @kindex set architecture
16297 @kindex show architecture
16298 @item set architecture @var{arch}
16299 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
16300 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
16301 supported architectures.
16302
16303 @item show architecture
16304 Show the current target architecture.
16305
16306 @item set processor
16307 @itemx processor
16308 @kindex set processor
16309 @kindex show processor
16310 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
16311 and @code{show architecture}.
16312 @end table
16313
16314 @menu
16315 * Active Targets:: Active targets
16316 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
16317 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
16318 @end menu
16319
16320 @node Active Targets
16321 @section Active Targets
16322
16323 @cindex stacking targets
16324 @cindex active targets
16325 @cindex multiple targets
16326
16327 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
16328 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
16329 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
16330 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
16331 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
16332 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
16333 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
16334 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
16335 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
16336
16337 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
16338 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
16339 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
16340 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
16341
16342 @node Target Commands
16343 @section Commands for Managing Targets
16344
16345 @table @code
16346 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
16347 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
16348 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
16349 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
16350 protocol of the target machine.
16351
16352 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
16353 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
16354 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
16355
16356 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
16357 after executing the command.
16358
16359 @kindex help target
16360 @item help target
16361 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
16362 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
16363 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16364
16365 @item help target @var{name}
16366 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
16367 select it.
16368
16369 @kindex set gnutarget
16370 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
16371 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
16372 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
16373 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
16374 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
16375 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
16376
16377 @quotation
16378 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
16379 you must know the actual BFD name.
16380 @end quotation
16381
16382 @noindent
16383 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
16384
16385 @kindex show gnutarget
16386 @item show gnutarget
16387 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
16388 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
16389 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
16390 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
16391 @end table
16392
16393 @cindex common targets
16394 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
16395 configuration):
16396
16397 @table @code
16398 @kindex target
16399 @item target exec @var{program}
16400 @cindex executable file target
16401 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
16402 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
16403
16404 @item target core @var{filename}
16405 @cindex core dump file target
16406 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
16407 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
16408
16409 @item target remote @var{medium}
16410 @cindex remote target
16411 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
16412 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
16413 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
16414
16415 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
16416 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
16417
16418 @smallexample
16419 target remote /dev/ttya
16420 @end smallexample
16421
16422 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
16423 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
16424 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
16425 clobbered by the download.
16426
16427 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
16428 @cindex built-in simulator target
16429 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
16430 In general,
16431 @smallexample
16432 target sim
16433 load
16434 run
16435 @end smallexample
16436 @noindent
16437 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
16438 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
16439 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
16440 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
16441 Processors}.
16442
16443 @end table
16444
16445 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
16446
16447 @table @code
16448
16449 @item target nrom @var{dev}
16450 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
16451 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
16452
16453 @end table
16454
16455 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
16456 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
16457
16458 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
16459 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
16460 various aspects of this process.
16461
16462 @table @code
16463
16464 @item set hash
16465 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16466 @cindex hash mark while downloading
16467 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
16468 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
16469 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
16470 monitor.
16471
16472 @item show hash
16473 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16474 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
16475
16476 @item set debug monitor
16477 @kindex set debug monitor
16478 @cindex display remote monitor communications
16479 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
16480 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16481
16482 @item show debug monitor
16483 @kindex show debug monitor
16484 Show the current status of displaying communications between
16485 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16486 @end table
16487
16488 @table @code
16489
16490 @kindex load @var{filename}
16491 @item load @var{filename}
16492 @anchor{load}
16493 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
16494 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
16495 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
16496 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
16497 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
16498 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16499
16500 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
16501 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
16502 target is @dots{}}''
16503
16504 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
16505 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
16506 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
16507 specifies a fixed address.
16508 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
16509
16510 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
16511 load programs into flash memory.
16512
16513 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
16514 @end table
16515
16516 @node Byte Order
16517 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
16518
16519 @cindex choosing target byte order
16520 @cindex target byte order
16521
16522 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
16523 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
16524 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
16525 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
16526 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
16527 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
16528
16529 @table @code
16530 @kindex set endian
16531 @item set endian big
16532 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
16533
16534 @item set endian little
16535 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
16536
16537 @item set endian auto
16538 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
16539 executable.
16540
16541 @item show endian
16542 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
16543
16544 @end table
16545
16546 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
16547 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
16548 target system.
16549
16550
16551 @node Remote Debugging
16552 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
16553 @cindex remote debugging
16554
16555 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
16556 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
16557 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
16558 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
16559 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
16560
16561 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
16562 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
16563 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
16564 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
16565 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
16566 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
16567
16568 Other remote targets may be available in your
16569 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
16570
16571 @menu
16572 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
16573 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
16574 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
16575 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
16576 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
16577 @end menu
16578
16579 @node Connecting
16580 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
16581
16582 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
16583 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
16584 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
16585 program as the first argument.
16586
16587 @cindex @code{target remote}
16588 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
16589 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
16590 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
16591 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
16592 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
16593 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
16594
16595 @table @code
16596
16597 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
16598 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
16599 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
16600 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
16601
16602 @smallexample
16603 target remote /dev/ttyb
16604 @end smallexample
16605
16606 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
16607 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
16608 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
16609 @code{target} command.
16610
16611 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
16612 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
16613 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
16614 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
16615 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
16616 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
16617 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
16618 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
16619 target.
16620
16621 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
16622 @code{manyfarms}:
16623
16624 @smallexample
16625 target remote manyfarms:2828
16626 @end smallexample
16627
16628 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
16629 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
16630 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
16631 port 1234 on your local machine:
16632
16633 @smallexample
16634 target remote :1234
16635 @end smallexample
16636 @noindent
16637
16638 Note that the colon is still required here.
16639
16640 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
16641 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
16642 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
16643 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
16644
16645 @smallexample
16646 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
16647 @end smallexample
16648
16649 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
16650 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
16651 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
16652 cause havoc with your debugging session.
16653
16654 @item target remote | @var{command}
16655 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
16656 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
16657 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
16658 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
16659 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
16660 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
16661 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
16662 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
16663
16664 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
16665 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
16666 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
16667
16668 @end table
16669
16670 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
16671 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
16672 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
16673 need to use @kbd{run}.
16674
16675 @cindex interrupting remote programs
16676 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
16677 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
16678 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
16679 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
16680 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
16681 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
16682
16683 @smallexample
16684 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
16685 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
16686 @end smallexample
16687
16688 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
16689 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
16690 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
16691 goes back to waiting.
16692
16693 @table @code
16694 @kindex detach (remote)
16695 @item detach
16696 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
16697 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
16698 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
16699 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
16700 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
16701
16702 @kindex disconnect
16703 @item disconnect
16704 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
16705 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
16706 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
16707 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
16708 another target.
16709
16710 @cindex send command to remote monitor
16711 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
16712 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
16713 @kindex monitor
16714 @item monitor @var{cmd}
16715 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
16716 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
16717 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
16718 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
16719 and implement.
16720 @end table
16721
16722 @node File Transfer
16723 @section Sending files to a remote system
16724 @cindex remote target, file transfer
16725 @cindex file transfer
16726 @cindex sending files to remote systems
16727
16728 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
16729 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
16730 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
16731 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
16732 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
16733 the only way to upload or download files.
16734
16735 Not all remote targets support these commands.
16736
16737 @table @code
16738 @kindex remote put
16739 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
16740 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
16741 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
16742
16743 @kindex remote get
16744 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
16745 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
16746 on the host system.
16747
16748 @kindex remote delete
16749 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
16750 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
16751
16752 @end table
16753
16754 @node Server
16755 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
16756
16757 @kindex gdbserver
16758 @cindex remote connection without stubs
16759 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
16760 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
16761 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
16762
16763 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
16764 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
16765 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
16766 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
16767 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
16768 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
16769 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
16770 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
16771 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
16772 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
16773 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
16774 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
16775 choice for debugging.
16776
16777 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
16778 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
16779 protocol.
16780
16781 @quotation
16782 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
16783 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
16784 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
16785 target system with the same privileges as the user running
16786 @code{gdbserver}.
16787 @end quotation
16788
16789 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
16790 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
16791 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
16792
16793 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
16794 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
16795 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
16796 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
16797 system does all the symbol handling.
16798
16799 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
16800 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
16801 syntax is:
16802
16803 @smallexample
16804 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
16805 @end smallexample
16806
16807 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
16808 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
16809 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
16810 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
16811 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
16812 @file{/dev/com1}:
16813
16814 @smallexample
16815 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
16816 @end smallexample
16817
16818 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
16819 with it.
16820
16821 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
16822
16823 @smallexample
16824 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
16825 @end smallexample
16826
16827 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
16828 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
16829 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
16830 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
16831 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
16832 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
16833 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
16834 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
16835 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
16836 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
16837 @code{target remote} command.
16838
16839 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
16840 with ssh:
16841
16842 @smallexample
16843 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
16844 @end smallexample
16845
16846 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
16847 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
16848 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
16849 You could elide it if you want to.
16850
16851 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
16852 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
16853 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
16854 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
16855
16856 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
16857 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
16858 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
16859
16860 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
16861 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
16862
16863 @smallexample
16864 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
16865 @end smallexample
16866
16867 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
16868 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
16869
16870 @pindex pidof
16871 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
16872 @code{pidof} utility:
16873
16874 @smallexample
16875 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
16876 @end smallexample
16877
16878 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
16879 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
16880 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
16881
16882 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
16883 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
16884 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
16885
16886 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
16887 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
16888 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
16889 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
16890
16891 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
16892 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
16893 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
16894 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
16895 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
16896 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
16897 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
16898 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
16899 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
16900
16901 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
16902 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
16903 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
16904 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
16905 the program you want to debug.
16906
16907 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
16908 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
16909 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
16910 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
16911 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
16912 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
16913
16914 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
16915
16916 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
16917
16918 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
16919 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
16920 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
16921 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
16922 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
16923 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
16924 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
16925 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
16926
16927 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
16928 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
16929 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
16930
16931 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
16932 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
16933 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
16934 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
16935 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
16936 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
16937 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
16938 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
16939 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
16940 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
16941 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
16942 instance closes its port after the first connection.
16943
16944 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
16945
16946 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
16947 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
16948 status information about the debugging process.
16949 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
16950 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
16951 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
16952 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
16953
16954 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
16955 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
16956 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
16957 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
16958 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
16959
16960 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
16961 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
16962 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
16963 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
16964
16965 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
16966 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
16967 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
16968 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
16969
16970 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
16971 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
16972 environment:
16973
16974 @smallexample
16975 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
16976 @end smallexample
16977
16978 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
16979
16980 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
16981
16982 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
16983 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
16984 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
16985 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
16986
16987 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
16988 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
16989 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
16990 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
16991 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
16992 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
16993 programs.
16994
16995 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16996 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
16997 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
16998 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
16999 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
17000 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
17001 already on the target.
17002
17003 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
17004 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
17005 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
17006
17007 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
17008 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
17009 Here are the available commands.
17010
17011 @table @code
17012 @item monitor help
17013 List the available monitor commands.
17014
17015 @item monitor set debug 0
17016 @itemx monitor set debug 1
17017 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
17018
17019 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
17020 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
17021 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
17022 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
17023
17024 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
17025 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
17026 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17027 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
17028 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
17029 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
17030
17031 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
17032 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
17033
17034 @item monitor exit
17035 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
17036 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
17037 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
17038 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
17039 of a multi-process mode debug session.
17040
17041 @end table
17042
17043 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17044 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17045
17046 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
17047 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
17048
17049 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
17050 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
17051 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
17052 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
17053 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
17054 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
17055 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
17056 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
17057 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
17058 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
17059 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
17060 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
17061
17062 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
17063
17064 @table @code
17065 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
17066
17067 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
17068 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
17069 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
17070
17071 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
17072
17073 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
17074 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
17075 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
17076 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
17077 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
17078 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
17079
17080 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
17081
17082 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
17083 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
17084 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
17085 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
17086 command for that. For example:
17087
17088 @smallexample
17089 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
17090 @end smallexample
17091
17092 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
17093 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
17094 @end table
17095
17096 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
17097 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
17098 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
17099 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
17100 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
17101 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
17102 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
17103 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
17104 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
17105 @code{gdbserver} like so:
17106
17107 @smallexample
17108 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
17109 @end smallexample
17110
17111 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
17112
17113 @smallexample
17114 $ gdb myprogram
17115 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
17116 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
17117 (@value{GDBP}) b main
17118 (@value{GDBP}) continue
17119 @end smallexample
17120
17121 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
17122 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
17123 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
17124 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
17125 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
17126 tracing.
17127
17128 @node Remote Configuration
17129 @section Remote Configuration
17130
17131 @kindex set remote
17132 @kindex show remote
17133 This section documents the configuration options available when
17134 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
17135 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
17136 system-call-allowed}.
17137
17138 @table @code
17139 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
17140 @cindex address size for remote targets
17141 @cindex bits in remote address
17142 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
17143 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
17144 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
17145 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
17146
17147 @item show remoteaddresssize
17148 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
17149
17150 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
17151 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
17152 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
17153 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
17154 remote targets.
17155
17156 @item show remotebaud
17157 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
17158
17159 @item set remotebreak
17160 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17161 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
17162 @anchor{set remotebreak}
17163 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
17164 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
17165 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
17166 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
17167 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
17168
17169 @item show remotebreak
17170 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
17171 interrupt the remote program.
17172
17173 @item set remoteflow on
17174 @itemx set remoteflow off
17175 @kindex set remoteflow
17176 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
17177 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
17178
17179 @item show remoteflow
17180 @kindex show remoteflow
17181 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
17182
17183 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
17184 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
17185 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
17186 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
17187 @code{ascii}.
17188
17189 @item show remotelogbase
17190 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
17191 protocol.
17192
17193 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
17194 @cindex record serial communications on file
17195 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
17196 default is not to record at all.
17197
17198 @item show remotelogfile.
17199 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
17200 serial communications.
17201
17202 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
17203 @cindex timeout for serial communications
17204 @cindex remote timeout
17205 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
17206 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
17207
17208 @item show remotetimeout
17209 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
17210 responses.
17211
17212 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
17213 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
17214 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
17215 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
17216 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
17217 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
17218 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
17219 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
17220
17221 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
17222 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
17223 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
17224 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
17225 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
17226 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
17227 as unlimited.
17228
17229 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
17230 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
17231 a remote hardware watchpoint.
17232
17233 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
17234 @itemx show remote exec-file
17235 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
17236 @cindex executable file, for remote target
17237 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
17238 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
17239 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
17240 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
17241
17242 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
17243 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17244 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
17245 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
17246 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
17247 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
17248 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
17249 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
17250 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
17251 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
17252
17253 @item show interrupt-sequence
17254 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
17255 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
17256 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
17257 also known as Magic SysRq g.
17258
17259 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
17260 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
17261 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
17262 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
17263 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
17264 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
17265
17266 @item show interrupt-on-connect
17267 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
17268 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
17269
17270 @kindex set tcp
17271 @kindex show tcp
17272 @item set tcp auto-retry on
17273 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
17274 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
17275 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
17276 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
17277 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
17278 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
17279 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
17280 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
17281
17282 @item set tcp auto-retry off
17283 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
17284
17285 @item show tcp auto-retry
17286 Show the current auto-retry setting.
17287
17288 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
17289 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
17290 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
17291 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
17292 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
17293 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
17294 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
17295 value.
17296
17297 @item show tcp connect-timeout
17298 Show the current connection timeout setting.
17299 @end table
17300
17301 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
17302 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
17303 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
17304 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
17305 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
17306 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
17307 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
17308 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
17309 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
17310
17311 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
17312 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
17313 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
17314 @value{GDBN} developers.
17315
17316 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
17317 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
17318 are:
17319
17320 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
17321 @item Command Name
17322 @tab Remote Packet
17323 @tab Related Features
17324
17325 @item @code{fetch-register}
17326 @tab @code{p}
17327 @tab @code{info registers}
17328
17329 @item @code{set-register}
17330 @tab @code{P}
17331 @tab @code{set}
17332
17333 @item @code{binary-download}
17334 @tab @code{X}
17335 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
17336
17337 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
17338 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
17339 @tab @code{info auxv}
17340
17341 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
17342 @tab @code{qSymbol}
17343 @tab Detecting multiple threads
17344
17345 @item @code{attach}
17346 @tab @code{vAttach}
17347 @tab @code{attach}
17348
17349 @item @code{verbose-resume}
17350 @tab @code{vCont}
17351 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
17352
17353 @item @code{run}
17354 @tab @code{vRun}
17355 @tab @code{run}
17356
17357 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
17358 @tab @code{Z0}
17359 @tab @code{break}
17360
17361 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
17362 @tab @code{Z1}
17363 @tab @code{hbreak}
17364
17365 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
17366 @tab @code{Z2}
17367 @tab @code{watch}
17368
17369 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
17370 @tab @code{Z3}
17371 @tab @code{rwatch}
17372
17373 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
17374 @tab @code{Z4}
17375 @tab @code{awatch}
17376
17377 @item @code{target-features}
17378 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
17379 @tab @code{set architecture}
17380
17381 @item @code{library-info}
17382 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
17383 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
17384
17385 @item @code{memory-map}
17386 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
17387 @tab @code{info mem}
17388
17389 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
17390 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
17391 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
17392
17393 @item @code{read-spu-object}
17394 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
17395 @tab @code{info spu}
17396
17397 @item @code{write-spu-object}
17398 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
17399 @tab @code{info spu}
17400
17401 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
17402 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
17403 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
17404
17405 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
17406 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
17407 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
17408
17409 @item @code{threads}
17410 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
17411 @tab @code{info threads}
17412
17413 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
17414 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
17415 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
17416
17417 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
17418 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
17419 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
17420
17421 @item @code{search-memory}
17422 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
17423 @tab @code{find}
17424
17425 @item @code{supported-packets}
17426 @tab @code{qSupported}
17427 @tab Remote communications parameters
17428
17429 @item @code{pass-signals}
17430 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
17431 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
17432
17433 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
17434 @tab @code{vFile:close}
17435 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17436
17437 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
17438 @tab @code{vFile:open}
17439 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17440
17441 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
17442 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
17443 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17444
17445 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
17446 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
17447 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17448
17449 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
17450 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
17451 @tab @code{remote delete}
17452
17453 @item @code{noack-packet}
17454 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
17455 @tab Packet acknowledgment
17456
17457 @item @code{osdata}
17458 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
17459 @tab @code{info os}
17460
17461 @item @code{query-attached}
17462 @tab @code{qAttached}
17463 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
17464
17465 @item @code{traceframe-info}
17466 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
17467 @tab Traceframe info
17468
17469 @item @code{install-in-trace}
17470 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
17471 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
17472
17473 @item @code{disable-randomization}
17474 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
17475 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
17476 @end multitable
17477
17478 @node Remote Stub
17479 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
17480
17481 @cindex debugging stub, example
17482 @cindex remote stub, example
17483 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
17484 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
17485 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
17486 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
17487 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
17488 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
17489 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
17490 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
17491
17492 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
17493 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
17494 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
17495 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
17496 program, you need:
17497
17498 @enumerate
17499 @item
17500 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
17501 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
17502 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
17503
17504 @item
17505 A C subroutine library to support your program's
17506 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
17507
17508 @item
17509 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
17510 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
17511 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
17512 documentation.
17513 @end enumerate
17514
17515 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
17516 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
17517 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
17518
17519 @table @emph
17520 @item On the host,
17521 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
17522 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
17523 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
17524
17525 @item On the target,
17526 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
17527 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
17528 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
17529
17530 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
17531 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
17532 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
17533 @end table
17534
17535 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
17536 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
17537 @sc{sparc} boards.
17538
17539 @cindex remote serial stub list
17540 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
17541
17542 @table @code
17543
17544 @item i386-stub.c
17545 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
17546 @cindex Intel
17547 @cindex i386
17548 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
17549
17550 @item m68k-stub.c
17551 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
17552 @cindex Motorola 680x0
17553 @cindex m680x0
17554 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
17555
17556 @item sh-stub.c
17557 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
17558 @cindex Renesas
17559 @cindex SH
17560 For Renesas SH architectures.
17561
17562 @item sparc-stub.c
17563 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
17564 @cindex Sparc
17565 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
17566
17567 @item sparcl-stub.c
17568 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
17569 @cindex Fujitsu
17570 @cindex SparcLite
17571 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
17572
17573 @end table
17574
17575 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
17576 recently added stubs.
17577
17578 @menu
17579 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
17580 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
17581 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
17582 @end menu
17583
17584 @node Stub Contents
17585 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
17586
17587 @cindex remote serial stub
17588 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
17589 subroutines:
17590
17591 @table @code
17592 @item set_debug_traps
17593 @findex set_debug_traps
17594 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
17595 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
17596 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
17597 program's startup code.
17598
17599 @item handle_exception
17600 @findex handle_exception
17601 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
17602 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
17603 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
17604 run when a trap is triggered.
17605
17606 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
17607 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
17608 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
17609 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
17610 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
17611 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
17612 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
17613 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
17614 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
17615 machine.
17616
17617 @item breakpoint
17618 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
17619 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
17620 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
17621 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
17622 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
17623 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
17624 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
17625 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
17626 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
17627 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
17628 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
17629
17630 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
17631 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
17632 start of your debugging session.
17633 @end table
17634
17635 @node Bootstrapping
17636 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
17637
17638 @cindex remote stub, support routines
17639 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
17640 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
17641 debugging target machine.
17642
17643 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
17644 serial port.
17645
17646 @table @code
17647 @item int getDebugChar()
17648 @findex getDebugChar
17649 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
17650 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
17651 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
17652
17653 @item void putDebugChar(int)
17654 @findex putDebugChar
17655 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
17656 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
17657 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
17658 @end table
17659
17660 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
17661 @cindex interrupting remote targets
17662 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
17663 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
17664 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
17665 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
17666 remote system to stop.
17667
17668 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
17669 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
17670 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
17671 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
17672
17673 Other routines you need to supply are:
17674
17675 @table @code
17676 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
17677 @findex exceptionHandler
17678 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
17679 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
17680 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
17681 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
17682 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
17683 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
17684 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
17685 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
17686 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
17687 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
17688 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
17689 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
17690 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
17691
17692 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
17693 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
17694 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
17695 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
17696 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
17697
17698 @item void flush_i_cache()
17699 @findex flush_i_cache
17700 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
17701 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
17702 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
17703
17704 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
17705 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
17706 @end table
17707
17708 @noindent
17709 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
17710
17711 @table @code
17712 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
17713 @findex memset
17714 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
17715 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
17716 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
17717 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
17718 @end table
17719
17720 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
17721 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
17722 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
17723 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
17724
17725
17726 @node Debug Session
17727 @subsection Putting it All Together
17728
17729 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
17730 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
17731 steps.
17732
17733 @enumerate
17734 @item
17735 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
17736 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
17737 @display
17738 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
17739 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
17740 @end display
17741
17742 @item
17743 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
17744 procedure is called:
17745
17746 @smallexample
17747 set_debug_traps();
17748 breakpoint();
17749 @end smallexample
17750
17751 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
17752 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
17753 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
17754 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
17755 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
17756 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
17757 progress.
17758
17759 @item
17760 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
17761 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
17762
17763 @smallexample
17764 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
17765 @end smallexample
17766
17767 @noindent
17768 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
17769 function in your program, that function is called when
17770 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
17771 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
17772 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
17773
17774 @item
17775 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
17776 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
17777
17778 @item
17779 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
17780 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
17781
17782 @item
17783 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
17784 @c document that. FIXME.
17785 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
17786 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
17787
17788 @item
17789 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
17790 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17791
17792 @end enumerate
17793
17794 @node Configurations
17795 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
17796
17797 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
17798 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
17799 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
17800
17801 There are three major categories of configurations: native
17802 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
17803 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
17804 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
17805 are quite different from each other.
17806
17807 @menu
17808 * Native::
17809 * Embedded OS::
17810 * Embedded Processors::
17811 * Architectures::
17812 @end menu
17813
17814 @node Native
17815 @section Native
17816
17817 This section describes details specific to particular native
17818 configurations.
17819
17820 @menu
17821 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
17822 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
17823 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
17824 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
17825 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
17826 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
17827 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
17828 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
17829 @end menu
17830
17831 @node HP-UX
17832 @subsection HP-UX
17833
17834 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
17835 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
17836 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
17837
17838
17839 @node BSD libkvm Interface
17840 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
17841
17842 @cindex libkvm
17843 @cindex kernel memory image
17844 @cindex kernel crash dump
17845
17846 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
17847 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
17848 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
17849 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
17850 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
17851 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
17852 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
17853 @code{kvm} target:
17854
17855 @smallexample
17856 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
17857 @end smallexample
17858
17859 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
17860 argument:
17861
17862 @smallexample
17863 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
17864 @end smallexample
17865
17866 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
17867 available:
17868
17869 @table @code
17870 @kindex kvm
17871 @item kvm pcb
17872 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
17873
17874 @item kvm proc
17875 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
17876 modern FreeBSD systems.
17877 @end table
17878
17879 @node SVR4 Process Information
17880 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
17881 @cindex /proc
17882 @cindex examine process image
17883 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
17884
17885 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
17886 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
17887 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
17888 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
17889 proc} is available to report information about the process running
17890 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
17891 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
17892 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
17893 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
17894
17895 @table @code
17896 @kindex info proc
17897 @cindex process ID
17898 @item info proc
17899 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
17900 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
17901 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
17902 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
17903 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
17904 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
17905 executable file's absolute file name.
17906
17907 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
17908 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
17909 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
17910 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
17911 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
17912 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
17913
17914 @item info proc mappings
17915 @cindex memory address space mappings
17916 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
17917 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
17918 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
17919 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
17920 memory access rights to that range.
17921
17922 @item info proc stat
17923 @itemx info proc status
17924 @cindex process detailed status information
17925 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
17926 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
17927 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
17928 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
17929 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
17930 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
17931 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
17932
17933 @item info proc all
17934 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
17935 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
17936
17937 @ignore
17938 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
17939 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
17940 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
17941 @kindex info proc times
17942 @item info proc times
17943 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
17944 its children.
17945
17946 @kindex info proc id
17947 @item info proc id
17948 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
17949 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
17950 @end ignore
17951
17952 @item set procfs-trace
17953 @kindex set procfs-trace
17954 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
17955 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
17956
17957 @item show procfs-trace
17958 @kindex show procfs-trace
17959 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
17960
17961 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
17962 @kindex set procfs-file
17963 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
17964 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
17965 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
17966 standard output.
17967
17968 @item show procfs-file
17969 @kindex show procfs-file
17970 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
17971
17972 @item proc-trace-entry
17973 @itemx proc-trace-exit
17974 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
17975 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
17976 @kindex proc-trace-entry
17977 @kindex proc-trace-exit
17978 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
17979 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
17980 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
17981 from the @code{syscall} interface.
17982
17983 @item info pidlist
17984 @kindex info pidlist
17985 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
17986 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
17987 processes and all the threads within each process.
17988
17989 @item info meminfo
17990 @kindex info meminfo
17991 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
17992 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
17993 @end table
17994
17995 @node DJGPP Native
17996 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
17997 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
17998 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
17999 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
18000
18001 @cindex DPMI
18002 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
18003 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
18004 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
18005 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
18006
18007 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
18008 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
18009 subsection describes those commands.
18010
18011 @table @code
18012 @kindex info dos
18013 @item info dos
18014 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
18015 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18016
18017 @kindex sysinfo
18018 @cindex MS-DOS system info
18019 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
18020 @item info dos sysinfo
18021 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
18022 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
18023 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
18024
18025 @cindex GDT
18026 @cindex LDT
18027 @cindex IDT
18028 @cindex segment descriptor tables
18029 @cindex descriptor tables display
18030 @item info dos gdt
18031 @itemx info dos ldt
18032 @itemx info dos idt
18033 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
18034 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
18035 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
18036 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
18037 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
18038 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
18039 rights.
18040
18041 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
18042 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
18043 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
18044 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
18045 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
18046
18047 @cindex garbled pointers
18048 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
18049 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
18050 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
18051 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
18052 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
18053 debugged program's data segment:
18054
18055 @smallexample
18056 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
18057 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
18058 @end smallexample
18059
18060 @noindent
18061 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
18062 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
18063
18064 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
18065 @item info dos pde
18066 @itemx info dos pte
18067 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
18068 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
18069 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
18070 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
18071 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
18072 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
18073 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
18074 that is currently in use.
18075
18076 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
18077 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
18078 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
18079 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
18080 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
18081 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
18082 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
18083
18084 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
18085 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
18086 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
18087 controller.
18088
18089 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
18090
18091 @cindex physical address from linear address
18092 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
18093 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
18094 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
18095 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
18096 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
18097 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
18098 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
18099
18100 @smallexample
18101 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
18102 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
18103 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
18104 @end smallexample
18105
18106 @noindent
18107 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
18108 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
18109 attributes of that page.
18110
18111 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
18112 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
18113 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
18114 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
18115 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
18116 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
18117
18118 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
18119 transfer buffer:
18120
18121 @smallexample
18122 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
18123 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
18124 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
18125 @end smallexample
18126
18127 @noindent
18128 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
18129 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
18130 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
18131 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
18132 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
18133
18134 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
18135 @end table
18136
18137 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
18138 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
18139 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
18140 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
18141
18142 @table @code
18143 @kindex set com1base
18144 @kindex set com1irq
18145 @kindex set com2base
18146 @kindex set com2irq
18147 @kindex set com3base
18148 @kindex set com3irq
18149 @kindex set com4base
18150 @kindex set com4irq
18151 @item set com1base @var{addr}
18152 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
18153 port.
18154
18155 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
18156 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
18157 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
18158
18159 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
18160 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
18161 other 3 COM ports.
18162
18163 @kindex show com1base
18164 @kindex show com1irq
18165 @kindex show com2base
18166 @kindex show com2irq
18167 @kindex show com3base
18168 @kindex show com3irq
18169 @kindex show com4base
18170 @kindex show com4irq
18171 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
18172 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
18173 lines used by the COM ports.
18174
18175 @item info serial
18176 @kindex info serial
18177 @cindex DOS serial port status
18178 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
18179 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
18180 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
18181 counts of various errors encountered so far.
18182 @end table
18183
18184
18185 @node Cygwin Native
18186 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
18187 @cindex MS Windows debugging
18188 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
18189 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
18190
18191 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
18192 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
18193
18194 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
18195 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
18196 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
18197 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
18198 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
18199 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
18200 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
18201 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
18202
18203 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
18204 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
18205 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
18206
18207 @table @code
18208 @kindex info w32
18209 @item info w32
18210 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
18211 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18212
18213 @item info w32 selector
18214 This command displays information returned by
18215 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
18216 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
18217 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
18218 Without argument, this command displays information
18219 about the six segment registers.
18220
18221 @item info w32 thread-information-block
18222 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
18223 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
18224 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
18225
18226 @kindex info dll
18227 @item info dll
18228 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
18229
18230 @kindex dll-symbols
18231 @item dll-symbols
18232 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
18233 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
18234
18235 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
18236 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
18237 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
18238 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
18239 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
18240 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
18241 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
18242 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
18243 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
18244 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
18245 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
18246
18247 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
18248 @item show cygwin-exceptions
18249 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
18250 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
18251
18252 @kindex set new-console
18253 @item set new-console @var{mode}
18254 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
18255 be started in a new console on next start.
18256 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
18257 be started in the same console as the debugger.
18258
18259 @kindex show new-console
18260 @item show new-console
18261 Displays whether a new console is used
18262 when the debuggee is started.
18263
18264 @kindex set new-group
18265 @item set new-group @var{mode}
18266 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
18267 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
18268 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
18269 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
18270
18271 @kindex show new-group
18272 @item show new-group
18273 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
18274
18275 @kindex set debugevents
18276 @item set debugevents
18277 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
18278 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
18279 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
18280 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
18281 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
18282
18283 @kindex set debugexec
18284 @item set debugexec
18285 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
18286 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
18287
18288 @kindex set debugexceptions
18289 @item set debugexceptions
18290 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
18291 debuggee seen by the debugger.
18292
18293 @kindex set debugmemory
18294 @item set debugmemory
18295 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
18296 and writes by the debugger.
18297
18298 @kindex set shell
18299 @item set shell
18300 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
18301 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
18302
18303 @kindex show shell
18304 @item show shell
18305 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
18306
18307 @end table
18308
18309 @menu
18310 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
18311 @end menu
18312
18313 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
18314 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
18315 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
18316 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
18317
18318 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
18319 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
18320 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
18321 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
18322 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
18323 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
18324 ``minimal symbols''.
18325
18326 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
18327 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
18328 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
18329 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
18330 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
18331 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
18332 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
18333 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
18334 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
18335 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
18336
18337 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
18338
18339 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
18340 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
18341 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
18342 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
18343 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
18344 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
18345 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
18346 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
18347 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
18348
18349 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
18350 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
18351 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
18352 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
18353 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
18354 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
18355
18356 @smallexample
18357 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
18358 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
18359
18360 Non-debugging symbols:
18361 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
18362 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
18363 @end smallexample
18364
18365 @smallexample
18366 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
18367 All functions matching regular expression "!":
18368
18369 Non-debugging symbols:
18370 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
18371 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
18372 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
18373 [etc...]
18374 @end smallexample
18375
18376 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
18377
18378 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
18379 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
18380 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
18381 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
18382 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
18383 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
18384 a function within a DLL without a running program.
18385
18386 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
18387 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
18388 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
18389 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
18390 problem:
18391
18392 @smallexample
18393 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
18394 $1 = 268572168
18395 @end smallexample
18396
18397 @smallexample
18398 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
18399 0x10021610: "\230y\""
18400 @end smallexample
18401
18402 And two possible solutions:
18403
18404 @smallexample
18405 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
18406 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18407 @end smallexample
18408
18409 @smallexample
18410 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
18411 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
18412 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
18413 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
18414 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
18415 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18416 @end smallexample
18417
18418 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
18419 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
18420 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
18421 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
18422 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
18423
18424 @smallexample
18425 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
18426 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
18427 @end smallexample
18428
18429 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
18430 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
18431 safe.
18432
18433 @node Hurd Native
18434 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
18435 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
18436
18437 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
18438 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
18439
18440 @table @code
18441 @item set signals
18442 @itemx set sigs
18443 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
18444 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18445 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
18446 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
18447 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
18448 @code{signals}.
18449
18450 @item show signals
18451 @itemx show sigs
18452 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
18453 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18454 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
18455
18456 @item set signal-thread
18457 @itemx set sigthread
18458 @kindex set signal-thread
18459 @kindex set sigthread
18460 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
18461 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
18462 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
18463 signal-thread}.
18464
18465 @item show signal-thread
18466 @itemx show sigthread
18467 @kindex show signal-thread
18468 @kindex show sigthread
18469 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
18470 delivered a signal.
18471
18472 @item set stopped
18473 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18474 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
18475 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
18476 continued by delivering a signal to it.
18477
18478 @item show stopped
18479 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18480 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
18481 stopped.
18482
18483 @item set exceptions
18484 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18485 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
18486 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
18487 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
18488 trapping on.
18489
18490 @item show exceptions
18491 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18492 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
18493
18494 @item set task pause
18495 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
18496 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18497 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18498 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
18499 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
18500 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
18501 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
18502 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
18503 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
18504
18505 @item show task pause
18506 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
18507 Show the current state of task suspension.
18508
18509 @item set task detach-suspend-count
18510 @cindex task suspend count
18511 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18512 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
18513 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
18514
18515 @item show task detach-suspend-count
18516 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
18517
18518 @item set task exception-port
18519 @itemx set task excp
18520 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18521 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
18522 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
18523 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
18524
18525 @item set noninvasive
18526 @cindex noninvasive task options
18527 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
18528 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
18529 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
18530 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
18531
18532 @item info send-rights
18533 @itemx info receive-rights
18534 @itemx info port-rights
18535 @itemx info port-sets
18536 @itemx info dead-names
18537 @itemx info ports
18538 @itemx info psets
18539 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18540 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18541 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18542 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18543 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18544 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
18545 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
18546 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
18547 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
18548
18549 @item set thread pause
18550 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
18551 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18552 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18553 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
18554 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
18555 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
18556 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
18557 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
18558 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
18559 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
18560 only the current thread.
18561
18562 @item show thread pause
18563 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
18564 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
18565
18566 @item set thread run
18567 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
18568
18569 @item show thread run
18570 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
18571
18572 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
18573 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18574 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18575 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
18576 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
18577 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
18578 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
18579
18580 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
18581 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
18582 detaching.
18583
18584 @item set thread exception-port
18585 @itemx set thread excp
18586 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
18587 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
18588 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
18589
18590 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
18591 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
18592 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
18593 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
18594
18595 @item set thread default
18596 @itemx show thread default
18597 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18598 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
18599 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
18600 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
18601 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
18602 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
18603 the non-default commands.
18604 @end table
18605
18606
18607 @node Neutrino
18608 @subsection QNX Neutrino
18609 @cindex QNX Neutrino
18610
18611 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
18612 Neutrino target:
18613
18614 @table @code
18615 @item set debug nto-debug
18616 @kindex set debug nto-debug
18617 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
18618 Neutrino support.
18619
18620 @item show debug nto-debug
18621 @kindex show debug nto-debug
18622 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
18623 @end table
18624
18625 @node Darwin
18626 @subsection Darwin
18627 @cindex Darwin
18628
18629 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
18630
18631 @table @code
18632 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
18633 @kindex set debug darwin
18634 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
18635 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
18636
18637 @item show debug darwin
18638 @kindex show debug darwin
18639 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
18640
18641 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
18642 @kindex set debug mach-o
18643 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
18644 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
18645 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
18646 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
18647 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
18648 usage.
18649
18650 @item show debug mach-o
18651 @kindex show debug mach-o
18652 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
18653
18654 @item set mach-exceptions on
18655 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
18656 @kindex set mach-exceptions
18657 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
18658 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
18659 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
18660 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
18661
18662 @item show mach-exceptions
18663 @kindex show mach-exceptions
18664 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
18665 @end table
18666
18667
18668 @node Embedded OS
18669 @section Embedded Operating Systems
18670
18671 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
18672 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
18673 architectures.
18674
18675 @menu
18676 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
18677 @end menu
18678
18679 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
18680 various real-time operating systems.
18681
18682 @node VxWorks
18683 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
18684
18685 @cindex VxWorks
18686
18687 @table @code
18688
18689 @kindex target vxworks
18690 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
18691 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
18692 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
18693
18694 @end table
18695
18696 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
18697 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
18698
18699 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
18700 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
18701 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18702 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
18703 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
18704 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
18705 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
18706
18707 @table @code
18708 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
18709 @kindex vxworks-timeout
18710 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
18711 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18712 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
18713 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
18714 of a thin network line.
18715 @end table
18716
18717 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
18718 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
18719 procedures.
18720
18721 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
18722 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
18723 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
18724 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
18725 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
18726 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
18727 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
18728 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
18729 manual.
18730 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
18731
18732 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
18733 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18734 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
18735 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
18736
18737 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18738
18739 @smallexample
18740 (vxgdb)
18741 @end smallexample
18742
18743 @menu
18744 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
18745 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
18746 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
18747 @end menu
18748
18749 @node VxWorks Connection
18750 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
18751
18752 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
18753 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
18754
18755 @smallexample
18756 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
18757 @end smallexample
18758
18759 @need 750
18760 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18761
18762 @smallexample
18763 Attaching remote machine across net...
18764 Connected to tt.
18765 @end smallexample
18766
18767 @need 1000
18768 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
18769 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
18770 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
18771 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
18772 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
18773
18774 @smallexample
18775 prog.o: No such file or directory.
18776 @end smallexample
18777
18778 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
18779 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
18780 command again.
18781
18782 @node VxWorks Download
18783 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
18784
18785 @cindex download to VxWorks
18786 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
18787 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
18788 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
18789 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
18790 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
18791 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
18792 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
18793 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
18794 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
18795 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
18796 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
18797 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
18798 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
18799 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
18800 program, type this on VxWorks:
18801
18802 @smallexample
18803 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
18804 @end smallexample
18805
18806 @noindent
18807 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18808
18809 @smallexample
18810 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
18811 (vxgdb) load prog.o
18812 @end smallexample
18813
18814 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
18815
18816 @smallexample
18817 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
18818 @end smallexample
18819
18820 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
18821 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
18822 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
18823 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
18824 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
18825 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
18826 table.)
18827
18828 @node VxWorks Attach
18829 @subsubsection Running Tasks
18830
18831 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
18832 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
18833 follows:
18834
18835 @smallexample
18836 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
18837 @end smallexample
18838
18839 @noindent
18840 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
18841 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
18842 the time of attachment.
18843
18844 @node Embedded Processors
18845 @section Embedded Processors
18846
18847 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
18848 configurations.
18849
18850 @cindex send command to simulator
18851 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
18852 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
18853
18854 @table @code
18855 @item sim @var{command}
18856 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
18857 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
18858 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
18859 acceptable commands.
18860 @end table
18861
18862
18863 @menu
18864 * ARM:: ARM RDI
18865 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
18866 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
18867 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
18868 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
18869 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
18870 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
18871 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
18872 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
18873 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
18874 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
18875 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
18876 * CRIS:: CRIS
18877 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
18878 @end menu
18879
18880 @node ARM
18881 @subsection ARM
18882 @cindex ARM RDI
18883
18884 @table @code
18885 @kindex target rdi
18886 @item target rdi @var{dev}
18887 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
18888 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
18889 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
18890
18891 @kindex target rdp
18892 @item target rdp @var{dev}
18893 ARM Demon monitor.
18894
18895 @end table
18896
18897 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
18898
18899 @table @code
18900 @item set arm disassembler
18901 @kindex set arm
18902 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
18903 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
18904
18905 @item show arm disassembler
18906 @kindex show arm
18907 Show the current disassembly style.
18908
18909 @item set arm apcs32
18910 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
18911 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
18912
18913 @item show arm apcs32
18914 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
18915
18916 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
18917 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
18918 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
18919
18920 @table @code
18921 @item auto
18922 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
18923 @item softfpa
18924 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
18925 processors.
18926 @item fpa
18927 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
18928 @item softvfp
18929 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
18930 @item vfp
18931 VFP co-processor.
18932 @end table
18933
18934 @item show arm fpu
18935 Show the current type of the FPU.
18936
18937 @item set arm abi
18938 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
18939
18940 @item show arm abi
18941 Show the currently used ABI.
18942
18943 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18944 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
18945 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
18946 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
18947 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
18948 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
18949 register).
18950
18951 @item show arm fallback-mode
18952 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
18953
18954 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
18955 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
18956 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
18957 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
18958 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
18959
18960 @item show arm force-mode
18961 Show the current forced instruction mode.
18962
18963 @item set debug arm
18964 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
18965 target support subsystem.
18966
18967 @item show debug arm
18968 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
18969 @end table
18970
18971 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
18972 using the RDI interface:
18973
18974 @table @code
18975 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
18976 @kindex rdilogfile
18977 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
18978 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
18979 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
18980 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
18981 @file{rdi.log}.
18982
18983 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
18984 @kindex rdilogenable
18985 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
18986 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
18987 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
18988 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
18989 are logged to a file.
18990
18991 @item set rdiromatzero
18992 @kindex set rdiromatzero
18993 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
18994 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
18995 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
18996 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
18997 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
18998
18999 @item show rdiromatzero
19000 @kindex show rdiromatzero
19001 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
19002
19003 @item set rdiheartbeat
19004 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
19005 @cindex RDI heartbeat
19006 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
19007 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
19008 well as the Angel monitor.
19009
19010 @item show rdiheartbeat
19011 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
19012 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
19013 @end table
19014
19015 @table @code
19016 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19017 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
19018
19019 @table @code
19020 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
19021 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
19022 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
19023 The default value is @code{all}.
19024
19025 @table @code
19026 @item none
19027 @item demon
19028 @item angel
19029 @item redboot
19030 @item all
19031 @end table
19032 @end table
19033 @end table
19034
19035 @node M32R/D
19036 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
19037
19038 @table @code
19039 @kindex target m32r
19040 @item target m32r @var{dev}
19041 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
19042
19043 @kindex target m32rsdi
19044 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
19045 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
19046 @end table
19047
19048 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
19049
19050 @table @code
19051 @item set download-path @var{path}
19052 @kindex set download-path
19053 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
19054 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19055
19056 @item show download-path
19057 @kindex show download-path
19058 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19059
19060 @item set board-address @var{addr}
19061 @kindex set board-address
19062 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
19063 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
19064
19065 @item show board-address
19066 @kindex show board-address
19067 Show the current IP address of the target board.
19068
19069 @item set server-address @var{addr}
19070 @kindex set server-address
19071 @cindex download server address (M32R)
19072 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
19073 host machine.
19074
19075 @item show server-address
19076 @kindex show server-address
19077 Display the IP address of the download server.
19078
19079 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19080 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
19081 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
19082 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
19083 executable file is uploaded.
19084
19085 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19086 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
19087 Test the @code{upload} command.
19088 @end table
19089
19090 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
19091
19092 @table @code
19093 @item sdireset
19094 @kindex sdireset
19095 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
19096 This command resets the SDI connection.
19097
19098 @item sdistatus
19099 @kindex sdistatus
19100 This command shows the SDI connection status.
19101
19102 @item debug_chaos
19103 @kindex debug_chaos
19104 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
19105 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
19106
19107 @item use_debug_dma
19108 @kindex use_debug_dma
19109 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
19110
19111 @item use_mon_code
19112 @kindex use_mon_code
19113 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
19114
19115 @item use_ib_break
19116 @kindex use_ib_break
19117 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
19118
19119 @item use_dbt_break
19120 @kindex use_dbt_break
19121 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
19122 @end table
19123
19124 @node M68K
19125 @subsection M68k
19126
19127 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
19128 target command for the following ROM monitor.
19129
19130 @table @code
19131
19132 @kindex target dbug
19133 @item target dbug @var{dev}
19134 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
19135
19136 @end table
19137
19138 @node MicroBlaze
19139 @subsection MicroBlaze
19140 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
19141 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
19142
19143 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
19144 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
19145 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
19146 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
19147 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
19148 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
19149 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
19150 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
19151 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
19152 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
19153 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
19154
19155 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
19156
19157 @table @code
19158 @item target remote :1234
19159 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
19160 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
19161
19162 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
19163 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
19164 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
19165
19166 @item load
19167 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
19168
19169 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
19170 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
19171
19172 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
19173 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
19174 @end table
19175
19176 @node MIPS Embedded
19177 @subsection MIPS Embedded
19178
19179 @cindex MIPS boards
19180 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
19181 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
19182 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
19183
19184 @need 1000
19185 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
19186
19187 @table @code
19188 @item target mips @var{port}
19189 @kindex target mips @var{port}
19190 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
19191 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
19192 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
19193 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
19194 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
19195 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
19196
19197 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
19198 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
19199 debugger:
19200
19201 @smallexample
19202 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
19203 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
19204 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
19205 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
19206 (@value{GDBP}) run
19207 @end smallexample
19208
19209 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
19210 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
19211 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
19212 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
19213 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
19214
19215 @item target pmon @var{port}
19216 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
19217 PMON ROM monitor.
19218
19219 @item target ddb @var{port}
19220 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
19221 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
19222
19223 @item target lsi @var{port}
19224 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
19225 LSI variant of PMON.
19226
19227 @kindex target r3900
19228 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
19229 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
19230
19231 @kindex target array
19232 @item target array @var{dev}
19233 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
19234
19235 @end table
19236
19237
19238 @noindent
19239 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
19240
19241 @table @code
19242 @item set mipsfpu double
19243 @itemx set mipsfpu single
19244 @itemx set mipsfpu none
19245 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
19246 @itemx show mipsfpu
19247 @kindex set mipsfpu
19248 @kindex show mipsfpu
19249 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
19250 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
19251 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
19252 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
19253 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
19254 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
19255 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
19256 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
19257 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
19258 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
19259 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
19260 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
19261 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
19262
19263 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
19264 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
19265 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
19266
19267 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
19268 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
19269
19270 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
19271 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
19272 @itemx show timeout
19273 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
19274 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
19275 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
19276 @kindex set timeout
19277 @kindex show timeout
19278 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
19279 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
19280 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
19281 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
19282 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
19283 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
19284 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
19285 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
19286 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
19287 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
19288
19289 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
19290 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
19291 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
19292 to run before stopping.
19293
19294 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
19295 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19296 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
19297 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
19298 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
19299 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
19300
19301 @item show syn-garbage-limit
19302 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19303 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
19304 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
19305
19306 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
19307 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19308 @cindex remote monitor prompt
19309 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
19310 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
19311 @table @asis
19312 @item pmon target
19313 @samp{PMON}
19314 @item ddb target
19315 @samp{NEC010}
19316 @item lsi target
19317 @samp{PMON>}
19318 @end table
19319
19320 @item show monitor-prompt
19321 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19322 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
19323 remote monitor.
19324
19325 @item set monitor-warnings
19326 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19327 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
19328 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
19329 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
19330 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
19331
19332 @item show monitor-warnings
19333 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19334 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
19335
19336 @item pmon @var{command}
19337 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
19338 @cindex send PMON command
19339 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
19340 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
19341 @end table
19342
19343 @node OpenRISC 1000
19344 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
19345 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
19346
19347 @cindex or1k boards
19348 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
19349 about platform and commands.
19350
19351 @table @code
19352
19353 @kindex target jtag
19354 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
19355
19356 Connects to remote JTAG server.
19357 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
19358 connected via parallel port to the board.
19359
19360 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
19361
19362 @kindex or1ksim
19363 @item or1ksim @var{command}
19364 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
19365 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
19366
19367 @kindex info or1k spr
19368 @item info or1k spr
19369 Displays spr groups.
19370
19371 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
19372 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
19373 Displays register names in selected group.
19374
19375 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
19376 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
19377 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
19378 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
19379 Shows information about specified spr register.
19380
19381 @kindex spr
19382 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
19383 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
19384 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
19385 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
19386 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
19387 @end table
19388
19389 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
19390 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
19391 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
19392 triggers can be set using:
19393 @table @code
19394 @item $LEA/$LDATA
19395 Load effective address/data
19396 @item $SEA/$SDATA
19397 Store effective address/data
19398 @item $AEA/$ADATA
19399 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
19400 @item $FETCH
19401 Fetch data
19402 @end table
19403
19404 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
19405 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
19406
19407 @code{htrace} commands:
19408 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
19409 @table @code
19410 @kindex hwatch
19411 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
19412 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
19413 or Data. For example:
19414
19415 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19416
19417 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19418
19419 @kindex htrace
19420 @item htrace info
19421 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
19422
19423 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
19424 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
19425
19426 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
19427 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
19428
19429 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
19430 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
19431
19432 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
19433 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
19434 triggered.
19435
19436 @item htrace enable
19437 @itemx htrace disable
19438 Enables/disables the HW trace.
19439
19440 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
19441 Clears currently recorded trace data.
19442
19443 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
19444 will be written there.
19445
19446 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
19447 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
19448
19449 @item htrace mode continuous
19450 Set continuous trace mode.
19451
19452 @item htrace mode suspend
19453 Set suspend trace mode.
19454
19455 @end table
19456
19457 @node PowerPC Embedded
19458 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
19459
19460 @cindex DVC register
19461 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
19462 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
19463
19464 @smallexample
19465 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
19466 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
19467 @end smallexample
19468
19469 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
19470 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
19471 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
19472 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
19473 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
19474 or newer.
19475
19476 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
19477 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
19478 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
19479 watching variables of scalar types.
19480
19481 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
19482 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
19483
19484 @smallexample
19485 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
19486 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
19487 @end smallexample
19488
19489 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
19490 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
19491
19492 @cindex ranged breakpoint
19493 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
19494 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
19495 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
19496 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
19497 use the @code{break-range} command.
19498
19499 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
19500
19501 @table @code
19502 @kindex break-range
19503 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
19504 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
19505 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
19506 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
19507 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
19508 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
19509 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
19510 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
19511 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
19512
19513 @kindex set powerpc
19514 @item set powerpc soft-float
19515 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
19516 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
19517 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
19518 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
19519
19520 @item set powerpc vector-abi
19521 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
19522 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
19523 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
19524 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
19525 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
19526 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
19527 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
19528
19529 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
19530 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
19531 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
19532 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
19533 address of its first byte.
19534
19535 @kindex target dink32
19536 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
19537 DINK32 ROM monitor.
19538
19539 @kindex target ppcbug
19540 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
19541 @kindex target ppcbug1
19542 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
19543 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
19544
19545 @kindex target sds
19546 @item target sds @var{dev}
19547 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
19548 @end table
19549
19550 @cindex SDS protocol
19551 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
19552 by @value{GDBN}:
19553
19554 @table @code
19555 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
19556 @kindex set sdstimeout
19557 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
19558 default is 2 seconds.
19559
19560 @item show sdstimeout
19561 @kindex show sdstimeout
19562 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
19563
19564 @item sds @var{command}
19565 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
19566 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
19567 @end table
19568
19569
19570 @node PA
19571 @subsection HP PA Embedded
19572
19573 @table @code
19574
19575 @kindex target op50n
19576 @item target op50n @var{dev}
19577 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
19578
19579 @kindex target w89k
19580 @item target w89k @var{dev}
19581 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
19582
19583 @end table
19584
19585 @node Sparclet
19586 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
19587
19588 @cindex Sparclet
19589
19590 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
19591 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
19592 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19593 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
19594 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
19595
19596 @table @code
19597 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
19598 @kindex remotetimeout
19599 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
19600 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19601 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
19602 @end table
19603
19604 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
19605 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
19606 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
19607 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
19608 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
19609
19610 @smallexample
19611 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
19612 @end smallexample
19613
19614 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
19615
19616 @smallexample
19617 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
19618 @end smallexample
19619
19620 @cindex running, on Sparclet
19621 Once you have set
19622 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19623 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
19624 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
19625
19626 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19627
19628 @smallexample
19629 (gdbslet)
19630 @end smallexample
19631
19632 @menu
19633 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
19634 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
19635 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
19636 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
19637 @end menu
19638
19639 @node Sparclet File
19640 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
19641
19642 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
19643
19644 @smallexample
19645 (gdbslet) file prog
19646 @end smallexample
19647
19648 @need 1000
19649 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
19650 @value{GDBN} locates
19651 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
19652 path.
19653 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
19654 files will be searched as well.
19655 @value{GDBN} locates
19656 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
19657 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
19658 If it fails
19659 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
19660
19661 @smallexample
19662 prog: No such file or directory.
19663 @end smallexample
19664
19665 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
19666 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
19667 @code{target} command again.
19668
19669 @node Sparclet Connection
19670 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
19671
19672 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
19673 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
19674
19675 @smallexample
19676 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
19677 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
19678 main () at ../prog.c:3
19679 @end smallexample
19680
19681 @need 750
19682 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19683
19684 @smallexample
19685 Connected to ttya.
19686 @end smallexample
19687
19688 @node Sparclet Download
19689 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
19690
19691 @cindex download to Sparclet
19692 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
19693 you can use the @value{GDBN}
19694 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
19695 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
19696 command.
19697 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
19698 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
19699 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
19700 of each of the file's sections.
19701 For instance, if the program
19702 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
19703 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19704
19705 @smallexample
19706 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
19707 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
19708 @end smallexample
19709
19710 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
19711 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
19712 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
19713
19714 @node Sparclet Execution
19715 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
19716
19717 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
19718 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
19719 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
19720 manual for the list of commands.
19721
19722 @smallexample
19723 (gdbslet) b main
19724 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
19725 (gdbslet) run
19726 Starting program: prog
19727 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
19728 3 char *symarg = 0;
19729 (gdbslet) step
19730 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
19731 (gdbslet)
19732 @end smallexample
19733
19734 @node Sparclite
19735 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
19736
19737 @table @code
19738
19739 @kindex target sparclite
19740 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
19741 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
19742 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
19743 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
19744 remote protocol.
19745
19746 @end table
19747
19748 @node Z8000
19749 @subsection Zilog Z8000
19750
19751 @cindex Z8000
19752 @cindex simulator, Z8000
19753 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
19754
19755 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
19756 a Z8000 simulator.
19757
19758 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
19759 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
19760 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
19761 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
19762
19763 @table @code
19764 @item target sim @var{args}
19765 @kindex sim
19766 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
19767 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
19768 options, specify them via @var{args}.
19769 @end table
19770
19771 @noindent
19772 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
19773 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
19774 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
19775 to run your program, and so on.
19776
19777 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
19778 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
19779 additional items of information as specially named registers:
19780
19781 @table @code
19782
19783 @item cycles
19784 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
19785
19786 @item insts
19787 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
19788
19789 @item time
19790 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
19791
19792 @end table
19793
19794 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
19795 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
19796 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
19797 simulated clock ticks.
19798
19799 @node AVR
19800 @subsection Atmel AVR
19801 @cindex AVR
19802
19803 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
19804 following AVR-specific commands:
19805
19806 @table @code
19807 @item info io_registers
19808 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
19809 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
19810 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
19811 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
19812 @end table
19813
19814 @node CRIS
19815 @subsection CRIS
19816 @cindex CRIS
19817
19818 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
19819 following CRIS-specific commands:
19820
19821 @table @code
19822 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
19823 @cindex CRIS version
19824 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
19825 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
19826 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
19827
19828 @item show cris-version
19829 Show the current CRIS version.
19830
19831 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
19832 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
19833 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
19834 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
19835 @code{R59}.
19836
19837 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
19838 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
19839
19840 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
19841 @cindex CRIS mode
19842 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
19843 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
19844 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
19845
19846 @item show cris-mode
19847 Show the current CRIS mode.
19848 @end table
19849
19850 @node Super-H
19851 @subsection Renesas Super-H
19852 @cindex Super-H
19853
19854 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
19855 commands:
19856
19857 @table @code
19858 @item regs
19859 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
19860 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
19861
19862 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
19863 @kindex set sh calling-convention
19864 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
19865 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
19866 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
19867 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
19868 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
19869 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
19870 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
19871 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
19872 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
19873 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
19874
19875 @item show sh calling-convention
19876 @kindex show sh calling-convention
19877 Show the current calling convention setting.
19878
19879 @end table
19880
19881
19882 @node Architectures
19883 @section Architectures
19884
19885 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
19886 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
19887
19888 @menu
19889 * i386::
19890 * A29K::
19891 * Alpha::
19892 * MIPS::
19893 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
19894 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19895 * PowerPC::
19896 @end menu
19897
19898 @node i386
19899 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
19900
19901 @table @code
19902 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
19903 @kindex set struct-convention
19904 @cindex struct return convention
19905 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
19906 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
19907 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
19908 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
19909 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
19910 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
19911 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
19912 be returned in a register.
19913
19914 @item show struct-convention
19915 @kindex show struct-convention
19916 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
19917 from functions.
19918 @end table
19919
19920 @node A29K
19921 @subsection A29K
19922
19923 @table @code
19924
19925 @kindex set rstack_high_address
19926 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
19927 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
19928 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
19929 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
19930 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
19931 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
19932 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
19933 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
19934 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
19935 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
19936 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
19937 hexadecimal.
19938
19939 @kindex show rstack_high_address
19940 @item show rstack_high_address
19941 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
19942 processors.
19943
19944 @end table
19945
19946 @node Alpha
19947 @subsection Alpha
19948
19949 See the following section.
19950
19951 @node MIPS
19952 @subsection MIPS
19953
19954 @cindex stack on Alpha
19955 @cindex stack on MIPS
19956 @cindex Alpha stack
19957 @cindex MIPS stack
19958 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
19959 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
19960 find the beginning of a function.
19961
19962 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
19963 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
19964 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
19965 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
19966 commands:
19967
19968 @table @code
19969 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
19970 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
19971 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
19972 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
19973 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
19974 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
19975 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
19976 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
19977
19978 @item show heuristic-fence-post
19979 Display the current limit.
19980 @end table
19981
19982 @noindent
19983 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
19984 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
19985
19986 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
19987 programs:
19988
19989 @table @code
19990 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
19991 @kindex set mips abi
19992 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
19993 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
19994 values of @var{arg} are:
19995
19996 @table @samp
19997 @item auto
19998 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
19999 default).
20000 @item o32
20001 @item o64
20002 @item n32
20003 @item n64
20004 @item eabi32
20005 @item eabi64
20006 @end table
20007
20008 @item show mips abi
20009 @kindex show mips abi
20010 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20011
20012 @item set mipsfpu
20013 @itemx show mipsfpu
20014 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20015
20016 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20017 @kindex set mips mask-address
20018 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
20019 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20020 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20021 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20022 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20023
20024 @item show mips mask-address
20025 @kindex show mips mask-address
20026 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
20027 not.
20028
20029 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20030 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20031 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
20032 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
20033 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20034 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20035
20036 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20037 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20038 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
20039
20040 @item set debug mips
20041 @kindex set debug mips
20042 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
20043 target code in @value{GDBN}.
20044
20045 @item show debug mips
20046 @kindex show debug mips
20047 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
20048 @end table
20049
20050
20051 @node HPPA
20052 @subsection HPPA
20053 @cindex HPPA support
20054
20055 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
20056 following special commands:
20057
20058 @table @code
20059 @item set debug hppa
20060 @kindex set debug hppa
20061 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
20062 messages are to be displayed.
20063
20064 @item show debug hppa
20065 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
20066
20067 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
20068 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
20069 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
20070 given @var{address}.
20071
20072 @end table
20073
20074
20075 @node SPU
20076 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20077 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
20078 @cindex SPU
20079
20080 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
20081 it provides the following special commands:
20082
20083 @table @code
20084 @item info spu event
20085 @kindex info spu
20086 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
20087 and pending event status.
20088
20089 @item info spu signal
20090 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
20091 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
20092 notification channels.
20093
20094 @item info spu mailbox
20095 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
20096 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
20097 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
20098
20099 @item info spu dma
20100 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20101 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20102 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20103
20104 @item info spu proxydma
20105 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20106 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20107 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20108
20109 @end table
20110
20111 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
20112 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
20113 special commands:
20114
20115 @table @code
20116 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
20117 @kindex set spu
20118 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
20119 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
20120 function. The default is @code{off}.
20121
20122 @item show spu stop-on-load
20123 @kindex show spu
20124 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
20125
20126 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
20127 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
20128 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
20129 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
20130 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
20131 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
20132
20133 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
20134 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
20135
20136 @end table
20137
20138 @node PowerPC
20139 @subsection PowerPC
20140 @cindex PowerPC architecture
20141
20142 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
20143 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
20144 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
20145 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
20146 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
20147
20148 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
20149 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
20150 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
20151
20152 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
20153 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
20154
20155
20156 @node Controlling GDB
20157 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
20158
20159 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
20160 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
20161 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
20162 described here.
20163
20164 @menu
20165 * Prompt:: Prompt
20166 * Editing:: Command editing
20167 * Command History:: Command history
20168 * Screen Size:: Screen size
20169 * Numbers:: Numbers
20170 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
20171 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
20172 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
20173 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
20174 @end menu
20175
20176 @node Prompt
20177 @section Prompt
20178
20179 @cindex prompt
20180
20181 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
20182 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
20183 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
20184 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
20185 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
20186 which one you are talking to.
20187
20188 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
20189 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
20190 or a prompt that does not.
20191
20192 @table @code
20193 @kindex set prompt
20194 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
20195 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
20196
20197 @kindex show prompt
20198 @item show prompt
20199 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
20200 @end table
20201
20202 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
20203 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
20204 are:
20205
20206 @table @code
20207 @kindex set extended-prompt
20208 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
20209 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
20210 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
20211 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
20212 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
20213 is displayed.
20214
20215 For example:
20216
20217 @smallexample
20218 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
20219 @end smallexample
20220
20221 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
20222 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
20223
20224 @kindex show extended-prompt
20225 @item show extended-prompt
20226 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
20227 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
20228 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
20229 @end table
20230
20231 @node Editing
20232 @section Command Editing
20233 @cindex readline
20234 @cindex command line editing
20235
20236 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
20237 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
20238 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
20239 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
20240 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
20241 debugging sessions.
20242
20243 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
20244 command @code{set}.
20245
20246 @table @code
20247 @kindex set editing
20248 @cindex editing
20249 @item set editing
20250 @itemx set editing on
20251 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
20252
20253 @item set editing off
20254 Disable command line editing.
20255
20256 @kindex show editing
20257 @item show editing
20258 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
20259 @end table
20260
20261 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20262 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
20263 @end ifset
20264 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20265 @xref{Command Line Editing},
20266 @end ifclear
20267 for more details about the Readline
20268 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
20269 encouraged to read that chapter.
20270
20271 @node Command History
20272 @section Command History
20273 @cindex command history
20274
20275 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
20276 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
20277 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
20278 history facility.
20279
20280 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
20281 package, to provide the history facility.
20282 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20283 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
20284 @end ifset
20285 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20286 @xref{Using History Interactively},
20287 @end ifclear
20288 for the detailed description of the History library.
20289
20290 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
20291 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
20292 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
20293 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
20294 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
20295 pressed on a line by itself.
20296
20297 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
20298 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
20299 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
20300 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
20301
20302 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
20303 history.
20304
20305 @table @code
20306 @cindex history substitution
20307 @cindex history file
20308 @kindex set history filename
20309 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
20310 @item set history filename @var{fname}
20311 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
20312 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
20313 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
20314 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
20315 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
20316 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
20317 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
20318 is not set.
20319
20320 @cindex save command history
20321 @kindex set history save
20322 @item set history save
20323 @itemx set history save on
20324 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
20325 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
20326
20327 @item set history save off
20328 Stop recording command history in a file.
20329
20330 @cindex history size
20331 @kindex set history size
20332 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
20333 @item set history size @var{size}
20334 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
20335 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
20336 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
20337 @end table
20338
20339 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
20340 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20341 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
20342 @end ifset
20343 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20344 @xref{Event Designators},
20345 @end ifclear
20346 for more details.
20347
20348 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
20349 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
20350 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
20351 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
20352 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
20353 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
20354 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
20355 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
20356
20357 The commands to control history expansion are:
20358
20359 @table @code
20360 @item set history expansion on
20361 @itemx set history expansion
20362 @kindex set history expansion
20363 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
20364
20365 @item set history expansion off
20366 Disable history expansion.
20367
20368 @c @group
20369 @kindex show history
20370 @item show history
20371 @itemx show history filename
20372 @itemx show history save
20373 @itemx show history size
20374 @itemx show history expansion
20375 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
20376 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
20377 @c @end group
20378 @end table
20379
20380 @table @code
20381 @kindex show commands
20382 @cindex show last commands
20383 @cindex display command history
20384 @item show commands
20385 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
20386
20387 @item show commands @var{n}
20388 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
20389
20390 @item show commands +
20391 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
20392 @end table
20393
20394 @node Screen Size
20395 @section Screen Size
20396 @cindex size of screen
20397 @cindex pauses in output
20398
20399 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
20400 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
20401 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
20402 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
20403 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
20404 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
20405 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
20406 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
20407
20408 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
20409 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
20410 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
20411 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
20412 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
20413 width} commands:
20414
20415 @table @code
20416 @kindex set height
20417 @kindex set width
20418 @kindex show width
20419 @kindex show height
20420 @item set height @var{lpp}
20421 @itemx show height
20422 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
20423 @itemx show width
20424 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
20425 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
20426 commands display the current settings.
20427
20428 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
20429 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
20430 file or to an editor buffer.
20431
20432 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
20433 from wrapping its output.
20434
20435 @item set pagination on
20436 @itemx set pagination off
20437 @kindex set pagination
20438 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
20439 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
20440 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
20441 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
20442
20443 @item show pagination
20444 @kindex show pagination
20445 Show the current pagination mode.
20446 @end table
20447
20448 @node Numbers
20449 @section Numbers
20450 @cindex number representation
20451 @cindex entering numbers
20452
20453 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
20454 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
20455 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
20456 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
20457 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
20458 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
20459 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
20460 both input and output with the commands described below.
20461
20462 @table @code
20463 @kindex set input-radix
20464 @item set input-radix @var{base}
20465 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
20466 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20467 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
20468 example, any of
20469
20470 @smallexample
20471 set input-radix 012
20472 set input-radix 10.
20473 set input-radix 0xa
20474 @end smallexample
20475
20476 @noindent
20477 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
20478 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
20479 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
20480 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
20481 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
20482 change the radix.
20483
20484 @kindex set output-radix
20485 @item set output-radix @var{base}
20486 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
20487 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20488 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
20489
20490 @kindex show input-radix
20491 @item show input-radix
20492 Display the current default base for numeric input.
20493
20494 @kindex show output-radix
20495 @item show output-radix
20496 Display the current default base for numeric display.
20497
20498 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
20499 @itemx show radix
20500 @kindex set radix
20501 @kindex show radix
20502 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
20503 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
20504 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
20505 default value of 10.
20506
20507 @end table
20508
20509 @node ABI
20510 @section Configuring the Current ABI
20511
20512 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
20513 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
20514 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
20515 current ABI.
20516
20517 @cindex OS ABI
20518 @kindex set osabi
20519 @kindex show osabi
20520
20521 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
20522 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
20523 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
20524 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
20525 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
20526 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
20527 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
20528 platform provides.
20529
20530 @table @code
20531 @item show osabi
20532 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
20533
20534 @item set osabi
20535 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
20536
20537 @item set osabi @var{abi}
20538 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
20539 @end table
20540
20541 @cindex float promotion
20542
20543 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
20544 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
20545 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
20546 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
20547 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
20548 @code{double} and then passed.
20549
20550 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
20551 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
20552 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
20553
20554 @table @code
20555 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
20556 @item set coerce-float-to-double
20557 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
20558 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
20559 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
20560
20561 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
20562 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
20563 functions.
20564
20565 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
20566 @item show coerce-float-to-double
20567 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
20568 @end table
20569
20570 @kindex set cp-abi
20571 @kindex show cp-abi
20572 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
20573 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
20574 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
20575 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
20576 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
20577 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
20578 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
20579 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
20580 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
20581 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
20582 ``auto''.
20583
20584 @table @code
20585 @item show cp-abi
20586 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
20587
20588 @item set cp-abi
20589 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
20590
20591 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
20592 @itemx set cp-abi auto
20593 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
20594 @end table
20595
20596 @node Messages/Warnings
20597 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
20598
20599 @cindex verbose operation
20600 @cindex optional warnings
20601 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
20602 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
20603 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
20604 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
20605
20606 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
20607 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
20608 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
20609
20610 @table @code
20611 @kindex set verbose
20612 @item set verbose on
20613 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
20614
20615 @item set verbose off
20616 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
20617
20618 @kindex show verbose
20619 @item show verbose
20620 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
20621 @end table
20622
20623 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
20624 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
20625 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
20626 Symbol Files}).
20627
20628 @table @code
20629
20630 @kindex set complaints
20631 @item set complaints @var{limit}
20632 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
20633 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
20634 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
20635 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
20636
20637 @kindex show complaints
20638 @item show complaints
20639 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
20640
20641 @end table
20642
20643 @anchor{confirmation requests}
20644 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
20645 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
20646 you try to run a program which is already running:
20647
20648 @smallexample
20649 (@value{GDBP}) run
20650 The program being debugged has been started already.
20651 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
20652 @end smallexample
20653
20654 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
20655 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
20656
20657 @table @code
20658
20659 @kindex set confirm
20660 @cindex flinching
20661 @cindex confirmation
20662 @cindex stupid questions
20663 @item set confirm off
20664 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
20665 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
20666 automatically disables confirmation requests.
20667
20668 @item set confirm on
20669 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
20670
20671 @kindex show confirm
20672 @item show confirm
20673 Displays state of confirmation requests.
20674
20675 @end table
20676
20677 @cindex command tracing
20678 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
20679 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
20680 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
20681 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
20682
20683 @table @code
20684 @kindex set trace-commands
20685 @cindex command scripts, debugging
20686 @item set trace-commands on
20687 Enable command tracing.
20688 @item set trace-commands off
20689 Disable command tracing.
20690 @item show trace-commands
20691 Display the current state of command tracing.
20692 @end table
20693
20694 @node Debugging Output
20695 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
20696 @cindex optional debugging messages
20697
20698 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
20699 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
20700 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
20701 section documents those commands.
20702
20703 @table @code
20704 @kindex set exec-done-display
20705 @item set exec-done-display
20706 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
20707 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
20708 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
20709 @kindex show exec-done-display
20710 @item show exec-done-display
20711 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
20712 notification.
20713 @kindex set debug
20714 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
20715 @cindex architecture debugging info
20716 @item set debug arch
20717 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
20718 @kindex show debug
20719 @item show debug arch
20720 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
20721 @item set debug aix-thread
20722 @cindex AIX threads
20723 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
20724 module.
20725 @item show debug aix-thread
20726 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
20727 @item set debug check-physname
20728 @cindex physname
20729 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
20730 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
20731 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
20732 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
20733 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
20734 both ways and display any discrepancies.
20735 @item show debug check-physname
20736 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
20737 @item set debug dwarf2-die
20738 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
20739 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
20740 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
20741 A value of zero turns off the display.
20742 @item show debug dwarf2-die
20743 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
20744 @item set debug displaced
20745 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
20746 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
20747 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
20748 @item show debug displaced
20749 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
20750 related to displaced stepping.
20751 @item set debug event
20752 @cindex event debugging info
20753 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
20754 default is off.
20755 @item show debug event
20756 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
20757 info.
20758 @item set debug expression
20759 @cindex expression debugging info
20760 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
20761 expression parsing. The default is off.
20762 @item show debug expression
20763 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
20764 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
20765 @item set debug frame
20766 @cindex frame debugging info
20767 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
20768 default is off.
20769 @item show debug frame
20770 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
20771 info.
20772 @item set debug gnu-nat
20773 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
20774 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
20775 @item show debug gnu-nat
20776 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
20777 @item set debug infrun
20778 @cindex inferior debugging info
20779 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
20780 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
20781 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
20782 @item show debug infrun
20783 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
20784 @item set debug jit
20785 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
20786 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
20787 @item show debug jit
20788 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
20789 @item set debug lin-lwp
20790 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
20791 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
20792 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
20793 @item show debug lin-lwp
20794 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
20795 @item set debug observer
20796 @cindex observer debugging info
20797 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
20798 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
20799 @item show debug observer
20800 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
20801 @item set debug overload
20802 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
20803 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
20804 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
20805 is off.
20806 @item show debug overload
20807 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
20808 debugging info.
20809 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
20810 @cindex debug expression parser
20811 @item set debug parser
20812 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
20813 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
20814 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
20815 details. The default is off.
20816 @item show debug parser
20817 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
20818 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
20819 @cindex serial connections, debugging
20820 @cindex debug remote protocol
20821 @cindex remote protocol debugging
20822 @cindex display remote packets
20823 @item set debug remote
20824 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
20825 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
20826 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
20827 @item show debug remote
20828 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
20829 @item set debug serial
20830 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
20831 default is off.
20832 @item show debug serial
20833 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
20834 info.
20835 @item set debug solib-frv
20836 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
20837 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
20838 @item show debug solib-frv
20839 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
20840 messages.
20841 @item set debug target
20842 @cindex target debugging info
20843 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
20844 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
20845 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
20846 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
20847 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
20848 @item show debug target
20849 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
20850 info.
20851 @item set debug timestamp
20852 @cindex timestampping debugging info
20853 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
20854 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
20855 message.
20856 @item show debug timestamp
20857 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
20858 debugging info.
20859 @item set debugvarobj
20860 @cindex variable object debugging info
20861 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
20862 info. The default is off.
20863 @item show debugvarobj
20864 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
20865 debugging info.
20866 @item set debug xml
20867 @cindex XML parser debugging
20868 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
20869 @item show debug xml
20870 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
20871 @end table
20872
20873 @node Other Misc Settings
20874 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
20875 @cindex miscellaneous settings
20876
20877 @table @code
20878 @kindex set interactive-mode
20879 @item set interactive-mode
20880 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
20881 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
20882 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
20883 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
20884 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
20885 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
20886 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
20887 is, non-interactively otherwise.
20888
20889 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
20890 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
20891 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
20892 inside a cygwin window.
20893
20894 @kindex show interactive-mode
20895 @item show interactive-mode
20896 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
20897 @end table
20898
20899 @node Extending GDB
20900 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
20901 @cindex extending GDB
20902
20903 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
20904 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
20905 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
20906 existing commands.
20907
20908 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
20909 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
20910 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
20911 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
20912 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20913 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
20914
20915 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
20916 setting:
20917
20918 @table @code
20919 @kindex set script-extension
20920 @kindex show script-extension
20921 @item set script-extension off
20922 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
20923
20924 @item set script-extension soft
20925 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20926 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
20927 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
20928 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
20929
20930 @item set script-extension strict
20931 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
20932 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
20933 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
20934
20935 @item show script-extension
20936 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
20937
20938 @end table
20939
20940 @menu
20941 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
20942 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20943 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
20944 @end menu
20945
20946 @node Sequences
20947 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
20948
20949 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
20950 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
20951 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
20952 files.
20953
20954 @menu
20955 * Define:: How to define your own commands
20956 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
20957 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
20958 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
20959 @end menu
20960
20961 @node Define
20962 @subsection User-defined Commands
20963
20964 @cindex user-defined command
20965 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
20966 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
20967 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
20968 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
20969 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
20970 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
20971
20972 @smallexample
20973 define adder
20974 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
20975 end
20976 @end smallexample
20977
20978 @noindent
20979 To execute the command use:
20980
20981 @smallexample
20982 adder 1 2 3
20983 @end smallexample
20984
20985 @noindent
20986 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
20987 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
20988 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
20989 functions calls.
20990
20991 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
20992 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
20993 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
20994 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
20995
20996 @smallexample
20997 define adder
20998 if $argc == 2
20999 print $arg0 + $arg1
21000 end
21001 if $argc == 3
21002 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21003 end
21004 end
21005 @end smallexample
21006
21007 @table @code
21008
21009 @kindex define
21010 @item define @var{commandname}
21011 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
21012 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
21013 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
21014 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
21015 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
21016 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
21017
21018 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
21019 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
21020 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21021
21022 @kindex document
21023 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
21024 @item document @var{commandname}
21025 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
21026 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
21027 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
21028 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
21029 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
21030 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
21031
21032 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
21033 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
21034 does not change the documentation.
21035
21036 @kindex dont-repeat
21037 @cindex don't repeat command
21038 @item dont-repeat
21039 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
21040 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
21041 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
21042
21043 @kindex help user-defined
21044 @item help user-defined
21045 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
21046 (if any) for each.
21047
21048 @kindex show user
21049 @item show user
21050 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
21051 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
21052 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
21053 definitions for all user-defined commands.
21054
21055 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
21056 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
21057 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
21058 @item show max-user-call-depth
21059 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
21060 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
21061 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
21062 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
21063 @end table
21064
21065 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
21066 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
21067
21068 When user-defined commands are executed, the
21069 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
21070 stops execution of the user-defined command.
21071
21072 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
21073 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
21074 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
21075 messages when used in a user-defined command.
21076
21077 @node Hooks
21078 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
21079 @cindex command hooks
21080 @cindex hooks, for commands
21081 @cindex hooks, pre-command
21082
21083 @kindex hook
21084 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
21085 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
21086 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
21087 before that command.
21088
21089 @cindex hooks, post-command
21090 @kindex hookpost
21091 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
21092 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
21093 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
21094 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
21095 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
21096
21097 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
21098 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
21099
21100 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
21101 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
21102
21103 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
21104 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
21105 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
21106 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
21107 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
21108
21109 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
21110 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
21111 you could define:
21112
21113 @smallexample
21114 define hook-stop
21115 handle SIGALRM nopass
21116 end
21117
21118 define hook-run
21119 handle SIGALRM pass
21120 end
21121
21122 define hook-continue
21123 handle SIGALRM pass
21124 end
21125 @end smallexample
21126
21127 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
21128 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
21129 you could define:
21130
21131 @smallexample
21132 define hook-echo
21133 echo <<<---
21134 end
21135
21136 define hookpost-echo
21137 echo --->>>\n
21138 end
21139
21140 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
21141 <<<---Hello World--->>>
21142 (@value{GDBP})
21143
21144 @end smallexample
21145
21146 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
21147 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
21148 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
21149 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
21150 @c or not?
21151 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
21152 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
21153 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
21154
21155 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
21156 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
21157 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
21158
21159 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
21160 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
21161
21162 @node Command Files
21163 @subsection Command Files
21164
21165 @cindex command files
21166 @cindex scripting commands
21167 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
21168 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
21169 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
21170 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
21171 terminal.
21172
21173 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
21174 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
21175 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
21176 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
21177 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
21178
21179 @table @code
21180 @kindex source
21181 @cindex execute commands from a file
21182 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
21183 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
21184 @end table
21185
21186 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
21187 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
21188 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
21189 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
21190 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
21191
21192 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
21193 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
21194 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
21195 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
21196 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
21197 is not relevant to scripts.
21198
21199 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
21200 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
21201 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
21202 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
21203 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
21204 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
21205 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
21206 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
21207 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
21208 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
21209 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
21210 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
21211 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
21212 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
21213
21214 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
21215 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
21216 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
21217
21218 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
21219 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
21220 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
21221 when called from command files.
21222
21223 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
21224 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
21225 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
21226 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
21227 the next command.
21228
21229 @smallexample
21230 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
21231 @end smallexample
21232
21233 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
21234 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
21235 would be directed to @file{log}.
21236
21237 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
21238 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
21239 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
21240 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
21241 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
21242 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
21243 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
21244 conditionally, etc.
21245
21246 @table @code
21247 @kindex if
21248 @kindex else
21249 @item if
21250 @itemx else
21251 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
21252 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
21253 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
21254 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
21255 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
21256 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
21257 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21258
21259 @kindex while
21260 @item while
21261 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
21262 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
21263 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
21264 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
21265 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
21266 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
21267
21268 @kindex loop_break
21269 @item loop_break
21270 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
21271 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
21272 line.
21273
21274 @kindex loop_continue
21275 @item loop_continue
21276 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
21277 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
21278 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
21279 the controlling expression.
21280
21281 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
21282 @item end
21283 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
21284 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
21285 @end table
21286
21287
21288 @node Output
21289 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
21290
21291 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
21292 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
21293 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
21294 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
21295 want.
21296
21297 @table @code
21298 @kindex echo
21299 @item echo @var{text}
21300 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
21301 @c because it is not in ANSI.
21302 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
21303 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
21304 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
21305 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
21306 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
21307 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
21308 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
21309 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
21310 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
21311
21312 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
21313 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
21314
21315 @smallexample
21316 echo This is some text\n\
21317 which is continued\n\
21318 onto several lines.\n
21319 @end smallexample
21320
21321 produces the same output as
21322
21323 @smallexample
21324 echo This is some text\n
21325 echo which is continued\n
21326 echo onto several lines.\n
21327 @end smallexample
21328
21329 @kindex output
21330 @item output @var{expression}
21331 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
21332 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
21333 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
21334 on expressions.
21335
21336 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
21337 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
21338 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
21339 Formats}, for more information.
21340
21341 @kindex printf
21342 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
21343 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
21344 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
21345 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
21346 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
21347 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
21348 executing the code below:
21349
21350 @smallexample
21351 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
21352 @end smallexample
21353
21354 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
21355 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
21356 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
21357 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
21358 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
21359 printed.
21360
21361 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
21362
21363 @smallexample
21364 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
21365 @end smallexample
21366
21367 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
21368 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
21369 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
21370
21371 @itemize @bullet
21372 @item
21373 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
21374
21375 @item
21376 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
21377 width.
21378
21379 @item
21380 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
21381 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
21382
21383 @item
21384 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
21385 supported.
21386
21387 @item
21388 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
21389
21390 @item
21391 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
21392 @end itemize
21393
21394 @noindent
21395 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
21396 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
21397 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
21398 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
21399
21400 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
21401 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
21402 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
21403 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
21404 supported.
21405
21406 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
21407 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
21408 together with a floating point specifier.
21409 letters:
21410
21411 @itemize @bullet
21412 @item
21413 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
21414
21415 @item
21416 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
21417
21418 @item
21419 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
21420 @end itemize
21421
21422 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
21423 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
21424 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
21425
21426 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
21427 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
21428
21429 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
21430 @smallexample
21431 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
21432 @end smallexample
21433
21434 @kindex eval
21435 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
21436 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
21437 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
21438
21439 @end table
21440
21441 @node Python
21442 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21443 @cindex python scripting
21444 @cindex scripting with python
21445
21446 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
21447 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
21448 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
21449
21450 @cindex python directory
21451 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
21452 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
21453 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
21454 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
21455 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
21456 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
21457
21458 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
21459 are written in Python and are located in the
21460 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
21461 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
21462 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
21463
21464 @menu
21465 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
21466 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
21467 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
21468 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
21469 @end menu
21470
21471 @node Python Commands
21472 @subsection Python Commands
21473 @cindex python commands
21474 @cindex commands to access python
21475
21476 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
21477 and one related setting:
21478
21479 @table @code
21480 @kindex python
21481 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
21482 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
21483
21484 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
21485 argument as a Python command. For example:
21486
21487 @smallexample
21488 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
21489 23
21490 @end smallexample
21491
21492 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
21493 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
21494 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
21495 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
21496 containing @code{end}. For example:
21497
21498 @smallexample
21499 (@value{GDBP}) python
21500 Type python script
21501 End with a line saying just "end".
21502 >print 23
21503 >end
21504 23
21505 @end smallexample
21506
21507 @kindex set python print-stack
21508 @item set python print-stack
21509 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
21510 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
21511 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
21512 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
21513 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
21514 the message component of the error is printed.
21515 @end table
21516
21517 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
21518 interpreter:
21519
21520 @table @code
21521 @item source @file{script-name}
21522 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
21523 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
21524 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
21525
21526 @item python execfile ("script-name")
21527 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
21528 and thus is always available.
21529 @end table
21530
21531 @node Python API
21532 @subsection Python API
21533 @cindex python api
21534 @cindex programming in python
21535
21536 @cindex python stdout
21537 @cindex python pagination
21538 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
21539 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
21540 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
21541 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
21542 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
21543
21544 @menu
21545 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
21546 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
21547 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
21548 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
21549 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
21550 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
21551 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
21552 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
21553 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
21554 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
21555 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
21556 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
21557 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
21558 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
21559 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
21560 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
21561 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
21562 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
21563 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
21564 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
21565 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
21566 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
21567 using Python.
21568 @end menu
21569
21570 @node Basic Python
21571 @subsubsection Basic Python
21572
21573 @cindex python functions
21574 @cindex python module
21575 @cindex gdb module
21576 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
21577 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
21578 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
21579 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
21580
21581 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
21582 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
21583 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
21584 @end defvar
21585
21586 @findex gdb.execute
21587 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
21588 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
21589 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
21590 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
21591
21592 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
21593 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
21594 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
21595
21596 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
21597 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
21598 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
21599 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
21600 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
21601 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
21602 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
21603 @end defun
21604
21605 @findex gdb.breakpoints
21606 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
21607 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
21608 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
21609 @end defun
21610
21611 @findex gdb.parameter
21612 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
21613 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
21614 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
21615 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
21616 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
21617
21618 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
21619 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
21620 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
21621 type, and returned.
21622 @end defun
21623
21624 @findex gdb.history
21625 @defun gdb.history (number)
21626 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
21627 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
21628 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
21629 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
21630 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
21631 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
21632 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
21633 raised.
21634
21635 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
21636 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
21637 @end defun
21638
21639 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
21640 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
21641 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
21642 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
21643 @var{expression} must be a string.
21644
21645 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
21646 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
21647 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
21648 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
21649 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
21650 @end defun
21651
21652 @findex gdb.post_event
21653 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
21654 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
21655 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
21656 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
21657 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
21658 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
21659 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
21660
21661 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
21662 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
21663 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
21664 this. For example:
21665
21666 @smallexample
21667 (@value{GDBP}) python
21668 >import threading
21669 >
21670 >class Writer():
21671 > def __init__(self, message):
21672 > self.message = message;
21673 > def __call__(self):
21674 > gdb.write(self.message)
21675 >
21676 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
21677 > def run (self):
21678 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
21679 >
21680 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
21681 > def run (self):
21682 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
21683 >
21684 >MyThread1().start()
21685 >MyThread2().start()
21686 >end
21687 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
21688 @end smallexample
21689 @end defun
21690
21691 @findex gdb.write
21692 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
21693 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
21694 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
21695 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
21696 values are:
21697
21698 @table @code
21699 @findex STDOUT
21700 @findex gdb.STDOUT
21701 @item gdb.STDOUT
21702 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
21703
21704 @findex STDERR
21705 @findex gdb.STDERR
21706 @item gdb.STDERR
21707 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
21708
21709 @findex STDLOG
21710 @findex gdb.STDLOG
21711 @item gdb.STDLOG
21712 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
21713 @end table
21714
21715 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
21716 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
21717 relevant stream.
21718 @end defun
21719
21720 @findex gdb.flush
21721 @defun gdb.flush ()
21722 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
21723 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
21724 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
21725 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
21726 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
21727 stream values are:
21728
21729 @table @code
21730 @findex STDOUT
21731 @findex gdb.STDOUT
21732 @item gdb.STDOUT
21733 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
21734
21735 @findex STDERR
21736 @findex gdb.STDERR
21737 @item gdb.STDERR
21738 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
21739
21740 @findex STDLOG
21741 @findex gdb.STDLOG
21742 @item gdb.STDLOG
21743 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
21744
21745 @end table
21746
21747 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
21748 call this function for the relevant stream.
21749 @end defun
21750
21751 @findex gdb.target_charset
21752 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
21753 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
21754 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
21755 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
21756 @end defun
21757
21758 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
21759 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
21760 Return the name of the current target wide character set
21761 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
21762 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
21763 never returned.
21764 @end defun
21765
21766 @findex gdb.solib_name
21767 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
21768 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
21769 as a string, or @code{None}.
21770 @end defun
21771
21772 @findex gdb.decode_line
21773 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
21774 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
21775 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
21776 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
21777 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
21778 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
21779 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
21780 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
21781 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
21782 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
21783 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
21784 @end defun
21785
21786 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
21787 @anchor{prompt_hook}
21788
21789 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
21790 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
21791 @value{GDBN}.
21792
21793 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
21794 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
21795 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
21796 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
21797 the current prompt.
21798
21799 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
21800 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
21801 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
21802 @end defun
21803
21804 @node Exception Handling
21805 @subsubsection Exception Handling
21806 @cindex python exceptions
21807 @cindex exceptions, python
21808
21809 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
21810 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
21811 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
21812 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
21813 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
21814 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
21815 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
21816
21817 @smallexample
21818 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
21819 Traceback (most recent call last):
21820 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
21821 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
21822 @end smallexample
21823
21824 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
21825 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
21826 Python exception depends on the error.
21827
21828 @ftable @code
21829 @item gdb.error
21830 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
21831 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
21832 versions of @value{GDBN}.
21833
21834 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
21835 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
21836
21837 @item gdb.MemoryError
21838 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
21839 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
21840
21841 @item KeyboardInterrupt
21842 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
21843 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
21844 @end ftable
21845
21846 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
21847 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
21848 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
21849 traceback.
21850
21851 @findex gdb.GdbError
21852 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
21853 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
21854 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
21855 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
21856 to handle this case. Example:
21857
21858 @smallexample
21859 (gdb) python
21860 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21861 > """Greet the whole world."""
21862 > def __init__ (self):
21863 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21864 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
21865 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
21866 > if len (argv) != 0:
21867 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
21868 > print "Hello, World!"
21869 >HelloWorld ()
21870 >end
21871 (gdb) hello-world 42
21872 hello-world takes no arguments
21873 @end smallexample
21874
21875 @node Values From Inferior
21876 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
21877 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
21878 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
21879
21880 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
21881 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
21882 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
21883 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
21884 fetching values when necessary.
21885
21886 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
21887 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
21888 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
21889
21890 @smallexample
21891 bar = some_val + 2
21892 @end smallexample
21893
21894 @noindent
21895 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
21896 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
21897
21898 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
21899 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
21900 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
21901 can access its @code{foo} element with:
21902
21903 @smallexample
21904 bar = some_val['foo']
21905 @end smallexample
21906
21907 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
21908
21909 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
21910 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
21911 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
21912 by that prototype.
21913
21914 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
21915 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
21916 execute this function, call it like so:
21917
21918 @smallexample
21919 result = some_val (10,20)
21920 @end smallexample
21921
21922 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
21923 @code{gdb.Value}.
21924
21925 The following attributes are provided:
21926
21927 @table @code
21928 @defvar Value.address
21929 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
21930 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
21931 this attribute holds @code{None}.
21932 @end defvar
21933
21934 @cindex optimized out value in Python
21935 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
21936 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
21937 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
21938 @end defvar
21939
21940 @defvar Value.type
21941 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
21942 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
21943 @end defvar
21944
21945 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
21946 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
21947 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
21948 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
21949 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
21950 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
21951 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
21952 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
21953 type.
21954
21955 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
21956 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
21957 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
21958 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
21959 @end defvar
21960
21961 @defvar Value.is_lazy
21962 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
21963 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
21964 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
21965 For example:
21966
21967 @smallexample
21968 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
21969 @end smallexample
21970
21971 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
21972 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
21973 method is invoked.
21974 @end defvar
21975 @end table
21976
21977 The following methods are provided:
21978
21979 @table @code
21980 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
21981 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
21982 this object initializer. Specifically:
21983
21984 @table @asis
21985 @item Python boolean
21986 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
21987 language.
21988
21989 @item Python integer
21990 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
21991 current architecture.
21992
21993 @item Python long
21994 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
21995 current architecture.
21996
21997 @item Python float
21998 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
21999 current architecture.
22000
22001 @item Python string
22002 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
22003 target encoding.
22004
22005 @item @code{gdb.Value}
22006 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
22007
22008 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
22009 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
22010 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
22011 its result is used.
22012 @end table
22013 @end defun
22014
22015 @defun Value.cast (type)
22016 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
22017 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
22018 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
22019 reason, this method throws an exception.
22020 @end defun
22021
22022 @defun Value.dereference ()
22023 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
22024 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
22025 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
22026
22027 @smallexample
22028 int *foo;
22029 @end smallexample
22030
22031 @noindent
22032 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
22033 @code{foo} points to like this:
22034
22035 @smallexample
22036 bar = foo.dereference ()
22037 @end smallexample
22038
22039 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
22040 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
22041 @end defun
22042
22043 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
22044 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
22045 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
22046 @end defun
22047
22048 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
22049 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
22050 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
22051 @end defun
22052
22053 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
22054 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
22055 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
22056 throw an exception.
22057
22058 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
22059 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
22060 language.
22061
22062 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
22063 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
22064 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
22065 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
22066 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
22067
22068 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
22069 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
22070 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
22071 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
22072 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
22073 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
22074 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
22075 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
22076 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
22077
22078 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
22079 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
22080
22081 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
22082 fetched and converted to the given length.
22083 @end defun
22084
22085 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
22086 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
22087 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
22088 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
22089
22090 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
22091 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
22092 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
22093 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
22094 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
22095
22096 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
22097 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
22098 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
22099 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
22100 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
22101 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
22102
22103 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
22104 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
22105 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
22106 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
22107 @end defun
22108
22109 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
22110 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
22111 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
22112 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
22113 will produce a Python exception.
22114
22115 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
22116 has no effect.
22117
22118 This method does not return a value.
22119 @end defun
22120
22121 @end table
22122
22123 @node Types In Python
22124 @subsubsection Types In Python
22125 @cindex types in Python
22126 @cindex Python, working with types
22127
22128 @tindex gdb.Type
22129 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
22130 @code{gdb.Type}.
22131
22132 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22133 module:
22134
22135 @findex gdb.lookup_type
22136 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
22137 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
22138 type to look up. It must be a string.
22139
22140 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
22141 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
22142
22143 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
22144 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
22145 @end defun
22146
22147 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
22148 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
22149 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
22150 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
22151
22152 @smallexample
22153 bar = some_type['foo']
22154 @end smallexample
22155
22156 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
22157 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
22158 @code{gdb.Field} class.
22159
22160 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
22161
22162 @table @code
22163 @defvar Type.code
22164 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
22165 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
22166 @end defvar
22167
22168 @defvar Type.sizeof
22169 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
22170 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
22171 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
22172 @end defvar
22173
22174 @defvar Type.tag
22175 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
22176 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
22177 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
22178 @code{None} is returned.
22179 @end defvar
22180 @end table
22181
22182 The following methods are provided:
22183
22184 @table @code
22185 @defun Type.fields ()
22186 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
22187 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
22188 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
22189 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
22190 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
22191 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
22192
22193 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
22194 @table @code
22195 @item bitpos
22196 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
22197 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
22198 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
22199 enumeration member's integer representation.
22200
22201 @item name
22202 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
22203
22204 @item artificial
22205 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
22206 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
22207 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
22208
22209 @item is_base_class
22210 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
22211 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
22212 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
22213 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
22214
22215 @item bitsize
22216 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
22217 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
22218 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
22219
22220 @item type
22221 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
22222 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
22223 @end table
22224 @end defun
22225
22226 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
22227 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
22228 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
22229 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
22230 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
22231 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
22232 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
22233 @end defun
22234
22235 @defun Type.const ()
22236 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
22237 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
22238 @end defun
22239
22240 @defun Type.volatile ()
22241 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
22242 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
22243 @end defun
22244
22245 @defun Type.unqualified ()
22246 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
22247 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
22248 @code{volatile}.
22249 @end defun
22250
22251 @defun Type.range ()
22252 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
22253 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
22254 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
22255 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
22256 @end defun
22257
22258 @defun Type.reference ()
22259 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
22260 type.
22261 @end defun
22262
22263 @defun Type.pointer ()
22264 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
22265 type.
22266 @end defun
22267
22268 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
22269 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
22270 after removing all layers of typedefs.
22271 @end defun
22272
22273 @defun Type.target ()
22274 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
22275 of this type.
22276
22277 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
22278 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
22279 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
22280 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
22281 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
22282 target type is the aliased type.
22283
22284 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
22285 exception.
22286 @end defun
22287
22288 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
22289 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
22290 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
22291 @var{n}th template argument.
22292
22293 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
22294 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
22295
22296 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
22297 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
22298 @end defun
22299 @end table
22300
22301
22302 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
22303 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
22304 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22305
22306 @table @code
22307 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
22308 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
22309 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
22310 The type is a pointer.
22311
22312 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22313 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22314 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22315 The type is an array.
22316
22317 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22318 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22319 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22320 The type is a structure.
22321
22322 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
22323 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
22324 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
22325 The type is a union.
22326
22327 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22328 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22329 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22330 The type is an enum.
22331
22332 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22333 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22334 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22335 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
22336
22337 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22338 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22339 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22340 The type is a function.
22341
22342 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
22343 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
22344 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
22345 The type is an integer type.
22346
22347 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
22348 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
22349 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
22350 A floating point type.
22351
22352 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
22353 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
22354 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
22355 The special type @code{void}.
22356
22357 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
22358 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
22359 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
22360 A Pascal set type.
22361
22362 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22363 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22364 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22365 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
22366
22367 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
22368 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
22369 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
22370 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
22371 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
22372
22373 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22374 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22375 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22376 A string of bits.
22377
22378 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22379 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22380 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22381 An unknown or erroneous type.
22382
22383 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22384 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22385 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22386 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
22387
22388 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22389 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22390 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22391 A pointer-to-member-function.
22392
22393 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22394 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22395 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22396 A pointer-to-member.
22397
22398 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
22399 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
22400 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
22401 A reference type.
22402
22403 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22404 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22405 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22406 A character type.
22407
22408 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22409 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22410 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22411 A boolean type.
22412
22413 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22414 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22415 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22416 A complex float type.
22417
22418 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22419 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22420 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22421 A typedef to some other type.
22422
22423 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22424 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22425 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22426 A C@t{++} namespace.
22427
22428 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22429 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22430 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22431 A decimal floating point type.
22432
22433 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22434 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22435 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22436 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
22437 convenience functions.
22438 @end table
22439
22440 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
22441 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
22442
22443 @node Pretty Printing API
22444 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
22445
22446 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
22447
22448 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
22449 specific interface, defined here.
22450
22451 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
22452 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
22453 children of the pretty-printer's value.
22454
22455 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
22456 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
22457 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
22458 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
22459 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
22460
22461 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
22462 as though the value has no children.
22463 @end defun
22464
22465 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
22466 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
22467 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
22468 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
22469 printed.
22470
22471 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
22472 string.
22473
22474 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
22475
22476 @table @samp
22477 @item array
22478 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
22479 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
22480 @code{set print array}.
22481
22482 @item map
22483 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
22484 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
22485 values.
22486
22487 @item string
22488 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
22489 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
22490 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
22491 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
22492 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
22493 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
22494 @end table
22495 @end defun
22496
22497 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
22498 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
22499 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
22500
22501 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
22502 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
22503 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
22504 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
22505 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
22506 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
22507 the result of @code{children}.
22508
22509 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
22510
22511 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
22512 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
22513 another pretty-printer.
22514
22515 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
22516 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
22517 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
22518 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
22519 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
22520
22521 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
22522 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
22523
22524 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
22525 @end defun
22526
22527 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
22528 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
22529
22530 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
22531 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
22532 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
22533 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
22534 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
22535 @end defun
22536
22537 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
22538 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
22539
22540 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
22541 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
22542 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
22543 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
22544 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
22545 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
22546 attribute.
22547
22548 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
22549 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
22550 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
22551 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
22552 @code{None}.
22553
22554 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
22555 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
22556 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
22557 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
22558 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
22559 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
22560 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
22561 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
22562 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
22563 object is returned.
22564
22565 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
22566 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
22567 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
22568 object is returned.
22569
22570 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
22571 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
22572 the pretty-printer is out of date.
22573
22574 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
22575 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
22576 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
22577 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
22578 with a broken printer.
22579
22580 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
22581 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
22582 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
22583 the printer is enabled.
22584
22585 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
22586 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
22587 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
22588
22589 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
22590 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
22591
22592 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
22593 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
22594 must provide.
22595
22596 @smallexample
22597 class StdStringPrinter(object):
22598 "Print a std::string"
22599
22600 def __init__(self, val):
22601 self.val = val
22602
22603 def to_string(self):
22604 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
22605
22606 def display_hint(self):
22607 return 'string'
22608 @end smallexample
22609
22610 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
22611 example above might be written.
22612
22613 @smallexample
22614 def str_lookup_function(val):
22615 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
22616 if lookup_tag == None:
22617 return None
22618 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
22619 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
22620 return StdStringPrinter(val)
22621 return None
22622 @end smallexample
22623
22624 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
22625 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
22626 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
22627 returns @code{None}.
22628
22629 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
22630 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
22631 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
22632 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
22633 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
22634 different names.
22635
22636 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
22637 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
22638 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
22639 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
22640 the current objfile.
22641
22642 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
22643 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
22644 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
22645 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
22646 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
22647 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
22648 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
22649 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
22650 inferior.
22651
22652 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
22653 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
22654
22655 @smallexample
22656 def register_printers(objfile):
22657 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
22658 @end smallexample
22659
22660 @noindent
22661 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
22662
22663 @smallexample
22664 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
22665 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
22666 @end smallexample
22667
22668 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
22669 There are a few things that can be improved on.
22670 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
22671 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
22672 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
22673
22674 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
22675 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
22676 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
22677 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
22678 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
22679 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
22680
22681 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
22682 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
22683 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
22684
22685 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
22686
22687 @smallexample
22688 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
22689 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
22690 @end smallexample
22691
22692 Here are the printers:
22693
22694 @smallexample
22695 class fooPrinter:
22696 """Print a foo object."""
22697
22698 def __init__(self, val):
22699 self.val = val
22700
22701 def to_string(self):
22702 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
22703 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
22704
22705 class barPrinter:
22706 """Print a bar object."""
22707
22708 def __init__(self, val):
22709 self.val = val
22710
22711 def to_string(self):
22712 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
22713 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
22714 @end smallexample
22715
22716 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
22717 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
22718 the object that handles the lookup.
22719
22720 @smallexample
22721 import gdb.printing
22722
22723 def build_pretty_printer():
22724 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
22725 "my_library")
22726 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
22727 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
22728 return pp
22729 @end smallexample
22730
22731 And here is the autoload support:
22732
22733 @smallexample
22734 import gdb.printing
22735 import my_library
22736 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
22737 gdb.current_objfile(),
22738 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
22739 @end smallexample
22740
22741 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
22742 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
22743
22744 @smallexample
22745 (gdb) info pretty-printer
22746 my_library.so:
22747 my_library
22748 foo
22749 bar
22750 @end smallexample
22751
22752 @node Inferiors In Python
22753 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
22754 @cindex inferiors in Python
22755
22756 @findex gdb.Inferior
22757 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
22758 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
22759 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
22760 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
22761
22762 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22763 module:
22764
22765 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
22766 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
22767 @end defun
22768
22769 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
22770 Return an object representing the current inferior.
22771 @end defun
22772
22773 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
22774
22775 @table @code
22776 @defvar Inferior.num
22777 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
22778 @end defvar
22779
22780 @defvar Inferior.pid
22781 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
22782 system.
22783 @end defvar
22784
22785 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
22786 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
22787 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
22788 @end defvar
22789 @end table
22790
22791 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
22792
22793 @table @code
22794 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
22795 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
22796 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
22797 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
22798 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
22799 at the time the method is called.
22800 @end defun
22801
22802 @defun Inferior.threads ()
22803 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
22804 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
22805 return an empty tuple.
22806 @end defun
22807
22808 @findex gdb.read_memory
22809 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
22810 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
22811 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
22812 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
22813 function.
22814 @end defun
22815
22816 @findex gdb.write_memory
22817 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
22818 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
22819 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
22820 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
22821 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
22822 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
22823 @end defun
22824
22825 @findex gdb.search_memory
22826 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
22827 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
22828 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
22829 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
22830 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
22831 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
22832 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
22833 the pattern could not be found.
22834 @end defun
22835 @end table
22836
22837 @node Events In Python
22838 @subsubsection Events In Python
22839 @cindex inferior events in Python
22840
22841 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
22842 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
22843 the inferior.
22844
22845 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
22846 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
22847 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
22848
22849 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
22850 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
22851 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
22852 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
22853
22854 @table @code
22855 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
22856 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
22857 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
22858 @end defun
22859
22860 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
22861 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
22862 will no longer receive notifications of events.
22863 @end defun
22864 @end table
22865
22866 Here is an example:
22867
22868 @smallexample
22869 def exit_handler (event):
22870 print "event type: exit"
22871 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
22872
22873 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
22874 @end smallexample
22875
22876 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
22877 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
22878 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
22879 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
22880 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
22881 the inferior.
22882
22883 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
22884 details of the events they emit:
22885
22886 @table @code
22887
22888 @item events.cont
22889 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22890
22891 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22892 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
22893 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
22894 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
22895 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
22896 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
22897
22898 @table @code
22899 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
22900 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
22901 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
22902 @end defvar
22903 @end table
22904
22905 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22906
22907 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
22908 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
22909
22910 @item events.exited
22911 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
22912 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
22913 @table @code
22914 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
22915 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
22916 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
22917 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
22918 the attribute does not exist.
22919 @end defvar
22920 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
22921 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
22922 @end defvar
22923 @end table
22924
22925 @item events.stop
22926 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22927
22928 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
22929 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
22930 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22931 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
22932
22933 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
22934
22935 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
22936 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
22937
22938 @table @code
22939 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
22940 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
22941 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
22942 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
22943 @end defvar
22944 @end table
22945
22946 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
22947
22948 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
22949 been hit, and has the following attributes:
22950
22951 @table @code
22952 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
22953 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
22954 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
22955 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
22956 @end defvar
22957 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
22958 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
22959 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
22960 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
22961 @end defvar
22962 @end table
22963
22964 @item events.new_objfile
22965 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
22966 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
22967
22968 @table @code
22969 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
22970 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
22971 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
22972 @end defvar
22973 @end table
22974
22975 @end table
22976
22977 @node Threads In Python
22978 @subsubsection Threads In Python
22979 @cindex threads in python
22980
22981 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
22982 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
22983 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
22984
22985 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22986 module:
22987
22988 @findex gdb.selected_thread
22989 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
22990 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
22991 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
22992 @end defun
22993
22994 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
22995
22996 @table @code
22997 @defvar InferiorThread.name
22998 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
22999 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
23000 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
23001 returns @code{None}.
23002
23003 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
23004 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
23005 user-specified thread name.
23006 @end defvar
23007
23008 @defvar InferiorThread.num
23009 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
23010 @end defvar
23011
23012 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
23013 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
23014 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
23015 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
23016 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
23017 does not use that identifier.
23018 @end defvar
23019 @end table
23020
23021 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
23022
23023 @table @code
23024 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
23025 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
23026 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
23027 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
23028 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
23029 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23030 @end defun
23031
23032 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
23033 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
23034 by this object.
23035 @end defun
23036
23037 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
23038 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
23039 @end defun
23040
23041 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
23042 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
23043 @end defun
23044
23045 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
23046 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
23047 @end defun
23048 @end table
23049
23050 @node Commands In Python
23051 @subsubsection Commands In Python
23052
23053 @cindex commands in python
23054 @cindex python commands
23055 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
23056 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
23057 class, most commonly using a subclass.
23058
23059 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
23060 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
23061 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
23062 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
23063
23064 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
23065 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
23066 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
23067 an exception is raised.
23068
23069 There is no support for multi-line commands.
23070
23071 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
23072 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
23073 new command in the help system.
23074
23075 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
23076 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
23077 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
23078 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
23079 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
23080 error will occur when completion is attempted.
23081
23082 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
23083 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
23084 registered.
23085
23086 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
23087 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
23088 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
23089 not documented.'' is used.
23090 @end defun
23091
23092 @cindex don't repeat Python command
23093 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
23094 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
23095 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
23096 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
23097 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
23098 @end defun
23099
23100 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
23101 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
23102
23103 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
23104 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
23105
23106 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
23107 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
23108 that the command came from elsewhere.
23109
23110 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
23111 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
23112
23113 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
23114 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
23115 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
23116 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
23117 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
23118 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
23119 Example:
23120
23121 @smallexample
23122 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
23123 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
23124 @end smallexample
23125
23126 @end defun
23127
23128 @cindex completion of Python commands
23129 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
23130 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
23131 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
23132 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
23133 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
23134 complete}).
23135
23136 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
23137 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
23138 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
23139 using a word-breaking heuristic.
23140
23141 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
23142 @itemize @bullet
23143 @item
23144 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
23145 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
23146 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
23147 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
23148 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
23149 sequence are ignored.
23150
23151 @item
23152 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
23153 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
23154 function is invoked, and its result is used.
23155
23156 @item
23157 All other results are treated as though there were no available
23158 completions.
23159 @end itemize
23160 @end defun
23161
23162 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
23163 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
23164 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
23165 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
23166 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
23167 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23168
23169 @table @code
23170 @findex COMMAND_NONE
23171 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
23172 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
23173 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
23174 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
23175
23176 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
23177 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
23178 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
23179 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
23180 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
23181 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23182 commands in this category.
23183
23184 @findex COMMAND_DATA
23185 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
23186 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
23187 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
23188 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
23189 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
23190 in this category.
23191
23192 @findex COMMAND_STACK
23193 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
23194 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
23195 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
23196 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
23197 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
23198 list of commands in this category.
23199
23200 @findex COMMAND_FILES
23201 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
23202 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
23203 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
23204 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
23205 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23206 commands in this category.
23207
23208 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
23209 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
23210 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
23211 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
23212 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
23213 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
23214 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
23215 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23216 commands in this category.
23217
23218 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
23219 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
23220 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
23221 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
23222 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
23223 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
23224 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
23225
23226 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23227 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23228 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23229 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
23230 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
23231 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
23232 this category.
23233
23234 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23235 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23236 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23237 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
23238 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
23239 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23240 commands in this category.
23241
23242 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
23243 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
23244 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
23245 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
23246 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
23247 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
23248 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
23249 category.
23250
23251 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23252 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23253 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23254 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
23255 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
23256 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23257 commands in this category.
23258 @end table
23259
23260 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
23261 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
23262 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
23263 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23264
23265 @table @code
23266 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
23267 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
23268 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
23269 This constant means that no completion should be done.
23270
23271 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
23272 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
23273 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
23274 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
23275
23276 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
23277 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
23278 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
23279 This constant means that location completion should be done.
23280 @xref{Specify Location}.
23281
23282 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
23283 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
23284 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
23285 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
23286 command names.
23287
23288 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23289 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23290 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23291 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
23292 as the source.
23293 @end table
23294
23295 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
23296 implemented in Python:
23297
23298 @smallexample
23299 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23300 """Greet the whole world."""
23301
23302 def __init__ (self):
23303 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
23304
23305 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
23306 print "Hello, World!"
23307
23308 HelloWorld ()
23309 @end smallexample
23310
23311 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
23312 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
23313 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
23314 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
23315
23316 @node Parameters In Python
23317 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
23318
23319 @cindex parameters in python
23320 @cindex python parameters
23321 @tindex gdb.Parameter
23322 @tindex Parameter
23323 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
23324 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
23325 class.
23326
23327 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
23328 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
23329
23330 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
23331 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
23332 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
23333 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
23334 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
23335
23336 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
23337 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
23338 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
23339 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
23340
23341 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
23342 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
23343 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
23344 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
23345 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
23346 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
23347 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
23348
23349 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
23350 can be found, an exception is raised.
23351
23352 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
23353 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
23354 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
23355
23356 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
23357 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
23358 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
23359 completion.
23360
23361 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
23362 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
23363 represent the possible values for the parameter.
23364
23365 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
23366 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
23367
23368 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
23369 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
23370 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
23371 @end defun
23372
23373 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
23374 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
23375 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
23376 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
23377 have no effect.
23378 @end defvar
23379
23380 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
23381 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
23382 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
23383 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
23384 have no effect.
23385 @end defvar
23386
23387 @defvar Parameter.value
23388 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
23389 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
23390 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
23391 @end defvar
23392
23393 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
23394 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
23395
23396 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
23397 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
23398 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
23399 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
23400 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
23401 @end defun
23402
23403 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
23404 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
23405 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
23406 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
23407 current value. This method must return a string.
23408 @end defun
23409
23410 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
23411 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
23412 module:
23413
23414 @table @code
23415 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
23416 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
23417 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
23418 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
23419 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
23420
23421 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23422 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23423 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23424 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
23425 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
23426 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
23427
23428 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
23429 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
23430 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
23431 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
23432 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
23433
23434 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
23435 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
23436 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
23437 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
23438 to mean ``unlimited''.
23439
23440 @findex PARAM_STRING
23441 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
23442 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
23443 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
23444 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
23445 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
23446 host charset.
23447
23448 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23449 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23450 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23451 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
23452 passed through untranslated.
23453
23454 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23455 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23456 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23457 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
23458
23459 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
23460 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
23461 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
23462 The value is a filename. This is just like
23463 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
23464
23465 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
23466 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
23467 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
23468 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
23469 is interpreted as itself.
23470
23471 @findex PARAM_ENUM
23472 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
23473 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
23474 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
23475 constants provided when the parameter is created.
23476 @end table
23477
23478 @node Functions In Python
23479 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
23480
23481 @cindex writing convenience functions
23482 @cindex convenience functions in python
23483 @cindex python convenience functions
23484 @tindex gdb.Function
23485 @tindex Function
23486 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
23487 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
23488 class @code{gdb.Function}.
23489
23490 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
23491 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
23492 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
23493 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
23494 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
23495 the given @var{name}.
23496
23497 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
23498 string for the new class.
23499 @end defun
23500
23501 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
23502 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
23503 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
23504 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
23505 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
23506 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
23507 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
23508 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
23509
23510 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
23511 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
23512 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
23513 @end defun
23514
23515 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
23516 be implemented in Python:
23517
23518 @smallexample
23519 class Greet (gdb.Function):
23520 """Return string to greet someone.
23521 Takes a name as argument."""
23522
23523 def __init__ (self):
23524 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
23525
23526 def invoke (self, name):
23527 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
23528
23529 Greet ()
23530 @end smallexample
23531
23532 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
23533 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
23534 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
23535 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
23536
23537 @node Progspaces In Python
23538 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
23539
23540 @cindex progspaces in python
23541 @tindex gdb.Progspace
23542 @tindex Progspace
23543 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
23544 of an address space.
23545 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
23546 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23547 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
23548 about program spaces.
23549
23550 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
23551 @code{gdb} module:
23552
23553 @findex gdb.current_progspace
23554 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
23555 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
23556 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
23557 @end defun
23558
23559 @findex gdb.progspaces
23560 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
23561 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
23562 @end defun
23563
23564 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
23565 class.
23566
23567 @defvar Progspace.filename
23568 The file name of the progspace as a string.
23569 @end defvar
23570
23571 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
23572 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
23573 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
23574 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
23575 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
23576 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
23577 information.
23578 @end defvar
23579
23580 @node Objfiles In Python
23581 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
23582
23583 @cindex objfiles in python
23584 @tindex gdb.Objfile
23585 @tindex Objfile
23586 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
23587 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
23588 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
23589 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
23590 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
23591
23592 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
23593 @code{gdb} module:
23594
23595 @findex gdb.current_objfile
23596 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
23597 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
23598 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
23599 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
23600 this function returns @code{None}.
23601 @end defun
23602
23603 @findex gdb.objfiles
23604 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
23605 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
23606 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23607 @end defun
23608
23609 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
23610 class.
23611
23612 @defvar Objfile.filename
23613 The file name of the objfile as a string.
23614 @end defvar
23615
23616 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
23617 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
23618 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
23619 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
23620 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
23621 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
23622 information.
23623 @end defvar
23624
23625 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
23626
23627 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
23628 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
23629 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
23630 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
23631 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
23632 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23633 @end defun
23634
23635 @node Frames In Python
23636 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23637
23638 @cindex frames in python
23639 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
23640 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
23641 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
23642 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
23643 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
23644 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23645
23646 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
23647 operator, like:
23648
23649 @smallexample
23650 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
23651 True
23652 @end smallexample
23653
23654 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
23655
23656 @findex gdb.selected_frame
23657 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
23658 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
23659 @end defun
23660
23661 @findex gdb.newest_frame
23662 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
23663 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
23664 @end defun
23665
23666 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
23667 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
23668 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
23669 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
23670 @end defun
23671
23672 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
23673
23674 @table @code
23675 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
23676 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
23677 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
23678 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
23679 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23680 @end defun
23681
23682 @defun Frame.name ()
23683 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
23684 obtained.
23685 @end defun
23686
23687 @defun Frame.type ()
23688 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
23689 @table @code
23690 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
23691 An ordinary stack frame.
23692
23693 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
23694 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
23695 inferior function call.
23696
23697 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
23698 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
23699 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
23700
23701 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
23702 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
23703
23704 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
23705 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
23706 it calls into a signal handler.
23707
23708 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
23709 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
23710
23711 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
23712 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
23713 newest frame.
23714 @end table
23715 @end defun
23716
23717 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
23718 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
23719 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
23720 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
23721 function to a string. The value can be one of:
23722
23723 @table @code
23724 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
23725 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
23726
23727 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
23728 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
23729
23730 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
23731 This frame is the outermost.
23732
23733 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
23734 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
23735 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
23736
23737 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
23738 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
23739 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
23740 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
23741
23742 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
23743 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
23744 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
23745 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
23746 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
23747 stack corruption.
23748
23749 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
23750 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
23751 one to unwind further.
23752
23753 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
23754 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
23755 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
23756 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
23757 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
23758 versions. Using it, you could write:
23759 @smallexample
23760 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
23761 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
23762 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
23763 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
23764 @end smallexample
23765 @end table
23766
23767 @end defun
23768
23769 @defun Frame.pc ()
23770 Returns the frame's resume address.
23771 @end defun
23772
23773 @defun Frame.block ()
23774 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
23775 @end defun
23776
23777 @defun Frame.function ()
23778 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
23779 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
23780 @end defun
23781
23782 @defun Frame.older ()
23783 Return the frame that called this frame.
23784 @end defun
23785
23786 @defun Frame.newer ()
23787 Return the frame called by this frame.
23788 @end defun
23789
23790 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
23791 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
23792 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
23793 @end defun
23794
23795 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
23796 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
23797 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
23798 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
23799 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
23800 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
23801 @code{gdb.Block} object.
23802 @end defun
23803
23804 @defun Frame.select ()
23805 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
23806 Stack}.
23807 @end defun
23808 @end table
23809
23810 @node Blocks In Python
23811 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
23812
23813 @cindex blocks in python
23814 @tindex gdb.Block
23815
23816 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
23817 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
23818 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
23819 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
23820 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
23821 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
23822 stack.
23823
23824 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23825 module:
23826
23827 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
23828 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
23829 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
23830 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
23831 will return @code{None}.
23832 @end defun
23833
23834 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
23835
23836 @table @code
23837 @defun Block.is_valid ()
23838 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
23839 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
23840 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
23841 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
23842 the time the method is called. This method is also made available to
23843 the Python iterator object that @code{gdb.Block} provides in an iteration
23844 context and via the Python @code{iter} built-in function.
23845 @end defun
23846 @end table
23847
23848 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
23849
23850 @table @code
23851 @defvar Block.start
23852 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
23853 @end defvar
23854
23855 @defvar Block.end
23856 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
23857 @end defvar
23858
23859 @defvar Block.function
23860 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
23861 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
23862 attribute is not writable.
23863 @end defvar
23864
23865 @defvar Block.superblock
23866 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
23867 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23868 @end defvar
23869
23870 @defvar Block.global_block
23871 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
23872 writable.
23873 @end defvar
23874
23875 @defvar Block.static_block
23876 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
23877 writable.
23878 @end defvar
23879
23880 @defvar Block.is_global
23881 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
23882 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
23883 writable.
23884 @end defvar
23885
23886 @defvar Block.is_static
23887 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
23888 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
23889 @end defvar
23890 @end table
23891
23892 @node Symbols In Python
23893 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
23894
23895 @cindex symbols in python
23896 @tindex gdb.Symbol
23897
23898 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
23899 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
23900 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
23901 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
23902
23903 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23904 module:
23905
23906 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
23907 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
23908 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
23909 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
23910 arguments.
23911
23912 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
23913 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
23914 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
23915 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
23916 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
23917 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
23918 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
23919 in this chapter.
23920
23921 The result is a tuple of two elements.
23922 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
23923 is not found.
23924 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
23925 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
23926 otherwise it is @code{False}.
23927 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
23928 @end defun
23929
23930 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
23931 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
23932 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
23933 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
23934
23935 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
23936 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
23937 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
23938 module and described later in this chapter.
23939
23940 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
23941 is not found.
23942 @end defun
23943
23944 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
23945
23946 @table @code
23947 @defvar Symbol.type
23948 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
23949 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
23950 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
23951 @end defvar
23952
23953 @defvar Symbol.symtab
23954 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
23955 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
23956 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
23957 @end defvar
23958
23959 @defvar Symbol.name
23960 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
23961 @end defvar
23962
23963 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
23964 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
23965 This attribute is not writable.
23966 @end defvar
23967
23968 @defvar Symbol.print_name
23969 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
23970 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
23971 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
23972 @end defvar
23973
23974 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
23975 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
23976 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
23977 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
23978 @end defvar
23979
23980 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
23981 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
23982 @end defvar
23983
23984 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
23985 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
23986 @end defvar
23987
23988 @defvar Symbol.is_function
23989 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
23990 @end defvar
23991
23992 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
23993 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
23994 @end defvar
23995 @end table
23996
23997 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
23998
23999 @table @code
24000 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
24001 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
24002 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
24003 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
24004 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
24005 invalid at the time the method is called.
24006 @end defun
24007 @end table
24008
24009 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
24010 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
24011
24012 @table @code
24013 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24014 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24015 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24016 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
24017 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
24018 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
24019 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24020 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24021 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24022 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
24023 type values.
24024 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24025 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24026 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24027 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
24028 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24029 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24030 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24031 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
24032 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24033 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24034 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24035 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
24036 contains everything minus functions and types.
24037 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
24038 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
24039 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
24040 This domain contains all functions.
24041 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24042 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24043 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24044 This domain contains all types.
24045 @end table
24046
24047 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
24048 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
24049
24050 @table @code
24051 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24052 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24053 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24054 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
24055 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
24056 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24057 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24058 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24059 Value is constant int.
24060 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24061 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24062 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24063 Value is at a fixed address.
24064 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24065 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24066 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24067 Value is in a register.
24068 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24069 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24070 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24071 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
24072 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
24073 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24074 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24075 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24076 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
24077 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
24078 offset, not the value itself.
24079 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24080 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24081 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24082 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
24083 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
24084 itself.
24085 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24086 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24087 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24088 Value is a local variable.
24089 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24090 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24091 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24092 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
24093 have this class.
24094 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24095 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24096 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24097 Value is a block.
24098 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24099 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24100 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24101 Value is a byte-sequence.
24102 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24103 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24104 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24105 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
24106 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
24107 referenced.
24108 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24109 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24110 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24111 The value does not actually exist in the program.
24112 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24113 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24114 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24115 The value's address is a computed location.
24116 @end table
24117
24118 @node Symbol Tables In Python
24119 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
24120
24121 @cindex symbol tables in python
24122 @tindex gdb.Symtab
24123 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
24124
24125 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
24126 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
24127 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
24128 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
24129 @xref{Frames In Python}.
24130
24131 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
24132 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
24133
24134 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
24135
24136 @table @code
24137 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
24138 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
24139 This attribute is not writable.
24140 @end defvar
24141
24142 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
24143 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
24144 writable.
24145 @end defvar
24146
24147 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
24148 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
24149 attribute is not writable.
24150 @end defvar
24151 @end table
24152
24153 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
24154
24155 @table @code
24156 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
24157 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
24158 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
24159 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
24160 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
24161 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
24162 invalid at the time the method is called.
24163 @end defun
24164 @end table
24165
24166 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
24167
24168 @table @code
24169 @defvar Symtab.filename
24170 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
24171 @end defvar
24172
24173 @defvar Symtab.objfile
24174 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24175 This attribute is not writable.
24176 @end defvar
24177 @end table
24178
24179 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
24180
24181 @table @code
24182 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
24183 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
24184 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
24185 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
24186 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
24187 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24188 @end defun
24189
24190 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
24191 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
24192 @end defun
24193 @end table
24194
24195 @node Breakpoints In Python
24196 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
24197
24198 @cindex breakpoints in python
24199 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
24200
24201 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
24202 class.
24203
24204 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
24205 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
24206 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
24207 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
24208 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
24209 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
24210 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
24211 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
24212 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
24213 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
24214 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
24215 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
24216 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
24217 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
24218 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
24219 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
24220 @end defun
24221
24222 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
24223 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
24224 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
24225 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
24226 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
24227 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
24228 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
24229 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
24230
24231 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
24232 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
24233 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
24234 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
24235 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
24236 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
24237
24238 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
24239 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
24240 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
24241 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
24242 at this time.
24243
24244 Example @code{stop} implementation:
24245
24246 @smallexample
24247 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
24248 def stop (self):
24249 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
24250 if inf_val == 3:
24251 return True
24252 return False
24253 @end smallexample
24254 @end defun
24255
24256 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
24257 @code{gdb} module:
24258
24259 @table @code
24260 @findex WP_READ
24261 @findex gdb.WP_READ
24262 @item gdb.WP_READ
24263 Read only watchpoint.
24264
24265 @findex WP_WRITE
24266 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
24267 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
24268 Write only watchpoint.
24269
24270 @findex WP_ACCESS
24271 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
24272 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
24273 Read/Write watchpoint.
24274 @end table
24275
24276 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
24277 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
24278 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
24279 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
24280 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
24281 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
24282 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
24283 @end defun
24284
24285 @defun Breakpoint.delete
24286 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
24287 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
24288 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
24289 @end defun
24290
24291 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
24292 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
24293 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
24294 @end defvar
24295
24296 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
24297 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
24298 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
24299
24300 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
24301 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
24302 @code{silent} attribute.
24303 @end defvar
24304
24305 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
24306 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
24307 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
24308 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
24309 @end defvar
24310
24311 @defvar Breakpoint.task
24312 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
24313 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
24314 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
24315 is writable.
24316 @end defvar
24317
24318 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
24319 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
24320 This attribute is writable.
24321 @end defvar
24322
24323 @defvar Breakpoint.number
24324 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
24325 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
24326 @end defvar
24327
24328 @defvar Breakpoint.type
24329 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
24330 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
24331 writable.
24332 @end defvar
24333
24334 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
24335 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
24336 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
24337 attribute is not writable.
24338 @end defvar
24339
24340 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24341 module:
24342
24343 @table @code
24344 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
24345 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
24346 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
24347 Normal code breakpoint.
24348
24349 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
24350 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
24351 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
24352 Watchpoint breakpoint.
24353
24354 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24355 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24356 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24357 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
24358
24359 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24360 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24361 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24362 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
24363
24364 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24365 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24366 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24367 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
24368 @end table
24369
24370 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
24371 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
24372 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
24373 @end defvar
24374
24375 @defvar Breakpoint.location
24376 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
24377 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
24378 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
24379 attribute is not writable.
24380 @end defvar
24381
24382 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
24383 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
24384 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
24385 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
24386 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24387 @end defvar
24388
24389 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
24390 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
24391 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
24392 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
24393 @end defvar
24394
24395 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
24396 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
24397 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
24398 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
24399 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24400 @end defvar
24401
24402 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
24403 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
24404
24405 @cindex python finish breakpoints
24406 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
24407
24408 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
24409 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
24410 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
24411 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
24412 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
24413 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
24414 thread selected.
24415
24416 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
24417 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
24418 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
24419 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
24420 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
24421 details about this argument.
24422 @end defun
24423
24424 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
24425 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
24426 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
24427 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
24428 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
24429
24430 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
24431 method:
24432
24433 @smallexample
24434 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
24435 def stop (self):
24436 print "normal finish"
24437 return True
24438
24439 def out_of_scope ():
24440 print "abnormal finish"
24441 @end smallexample
24442 @end defun
24443
24444 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
24445 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
24446 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
24447 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
24448 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
24449 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
24450 is not writable.
24451 @end defvar
24452
24453 @node Lazy Strings In Python
24454 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
24455
24456 @cindex lazy strings in python
24457 @tindex gdb.LazyString
24458
24459 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
24460 encoded until it is needed.
24461
24462 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
24463 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
24464 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
24465 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
24466 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
24467 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
24468 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
24469 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
24470 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
24471
24472 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
24473
24474 @defun LazyString.value ()
24475 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
24476 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
24477 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
24478 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
24479 @end defun
24480
24481 @defvar LazyString.address
24482 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
24483 writable.
24484 @end defvar
24485
24486 @defvar LazyString.length
24487 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
24488 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
24489 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
24490 @end defvar
24491
24492 @defvar LazyString.encoding
24493 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
24494 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
24495 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
24496 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
24497 is not writable.
24498 @end defvar
24499
24500 @defvar LazyString.type
24501 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
24502 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
24503 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
24504 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
24505 writable.
24506 @end defvar
24507
24508 @node Auto-loading
24509 @subsection Auto-loading
24510 @cindex auto-loading, Python
24511
24512 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
24513 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
24514 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
24515 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
24516
24517 @menu
24518 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
24519 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24520 * Which flavor to choose?::
24521 @end menu
24522
24523 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
24524 debugging commands and scripts.
24525
24526 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
24527 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
24528
24529 @table @code
24530 @kindex set auto-load-scripts
24531 @item set auto-load-scripts [yes|no]
24532 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
24533
24534 @kindex show auto-load-scripts
24535 @item show auto-load-scripts
24536 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
24537
24538 @kindex info auto-load-scripts
24539 @cindex print list of auto-loaded scripts
24540 @item info auto-load-scripts [@var{regexp}]
24541 Print the list of all scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
24542
24543 Also printed is the list of scripts that were mentioned in
24544 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
24545 (@pxref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}).
24546 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
24547 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
24548 an error message for each one is problematic.
24549
24550 If @var{regexp} is supplied only scripts with matching names are printed.
24551
24552 Example:
24553
24554 @smallexample
24555 (gdb) info auto-load-scripts
24556 Loaded Script
24557 Yes py-section-script.py
24558 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
24559 Missing my-foo-pretty-printers.py
24560 @end smallexample
24561 @end table
24562
24563 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
24564 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
24565 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
24566 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
24567
24568 @node objfile-gdb.py file
24569 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
24570 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
24571
24572 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
24573 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
24574 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
24575 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
24576 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
24577 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
24578
24579 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
24580 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
24581 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
24582 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
24583
24584 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
24585 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
24586 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
24587 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
24588 is the object file's real name, as described above.
24589
24590 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
24591 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
24592 @var{objfile} is opened.
24593 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
24594 is evaluated more than once.
24595
24596 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
24597 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24598 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24599
24600 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
24601 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
24602 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24603 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
24604
24605 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
24606 current directory and then along the source search path
24607 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
24608 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
24609 directory is not relevant to scripts.
24610
24611 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
24612 for example, this GCC macro:
24613
24614 @example
24615 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
24616 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
24617 asm("\
24618 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
24619 .byte 1\n\
24620 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
24621 .popsection \n\
24622 ");
24623 @end example
24624
24625 @noindent
24626 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
24627
24628 @example
24629 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
24630 @end example
24631
24632 The script name may include directories if desired.
24633
24634 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
24635 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
24636
24637 @node Which flavor to choose?
24638 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
24639
24640 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
24641 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
24642
24643 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
24644
24645 @itemize @bullet
24646 @item
24647 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
24648
24649 @item
24650 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
24651
24652 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
24653 in the source search path.
24654 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
24655 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
24656
24657 @item
24658 Doesn't require source code additions.
24659 @end itemize
24660
24661 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
24662
24663 @itemize @bullet
24664 @item
24665 Works with static linking.
24666
24667 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
24668 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
24669 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
24670 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
24671
24672 @item
24673 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
24674
24675 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
24676 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
24677
24678 @item
24679 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
24680
24681 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
24682 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
24683 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
24684 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
24685 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
24686 top of the source tree to the source search path.
24687 @end itemize
24688
24689 @node Python modules
24690 @subsection Python modules
24691 @cindex python modules
24692
24693 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
24694
24695 @menu
24696 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
24697 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
24698 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
24699 @end menu
24700
24701 @node gdb.printing
24702 @subsubsection gdb.printing
24703 @cindex gdb.printing
24704
24705 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
24706 pretty-printers.
24707
24708 @table @code
24709 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
24710 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
24711 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
24712 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
24713
24714 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
24715 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
24716 corresponding API for the subprinters.
24717
24718 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
24719 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
24720 regular expressions.
24721 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
24722
24723 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
24724 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
24725 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
24726 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
24727 if a printer with the same name already exists.
24728 @end table
24729
24730 @node gdb.types
24731 @subsubsection gdb.types
24732 @cindex gdb.types
24733
24734 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
24735 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
24736
24737 @table @code
24738 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
24739 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
24740 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
24741
24742 C@t{++} example:
24743
24744 @smallexample
24745 typedef const int const_int;
24746 const_int foo (3);
24747 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
24748 int main () @{ return 0; @}
24749 @end smallexample
24750
24751 Then in gdb:
24752
24753 @smallexample
24754 (gdb) start
24755 (gdb) python import gdb.types
24756 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
24757 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
24758 int
24759 @end smallexample
24760
24761 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
24762 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
24763 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
24764
24765 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
24766 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
24767
24768 @item deep_items (@var{type})
24769 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
24770 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
24771 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
24772 union fields. For example:
24773
24774 @smallexample
24775 struct A
24776 @{
24777 int a;
24778 union @{
24779 int b0;
24780 int b1;
24781 @};
24782 @};
24783 @end smallexample
24784
24785 @noindent
24786 Then in @value{GDBN}:
24787 @smallexample
24788 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
24789 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
24790 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
24791 @{['a', '']@}
24792 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
24793 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
24794 @end smallexample
24795
24796 @end table
24797
24798 @node gdb.prompt
24799 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
24800 @cindex gdb.prompt
24801
24802 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
24803
24804 @table @code
24805 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
24806 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
24807 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
24808 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
24809
24810 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
24811
24812 @table @code
24813 @item \\
24814 Substitute a backslash.
24815 @item \e
24816 Substitute an ESC character.
24817 @item \f
24818 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
24819 @item \n
24820 Substitute a newline.
24821 @item \p
24822 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
24823 @item \r
24824 Substitute a carriage return.
24825 @item \t
24826 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
24827 @item \v
24828 Substitute the version of GDB.
24829 @item \w
24830 Substitute the current working directory.
24831 @item \[
24832 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
24833 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
24834 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
24835 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
24836 @item \]
24837 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
24838 @end table
24839
24840 For example:
24841
24842 @smallexample
24843 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
24844 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
24845 @end smallexample
24846
24847 @exdent will return the string:
24848
24849 @smallexample
24850 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
24851 @end smallexample
24852 @end table
24853
24854 @node Aliases
24855 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
24856 @cindex aliases for commands
24857
24858 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
24859 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
24860 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
24861 that involves less typing.
24862
24863 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
24864 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
24865 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
24866
24867 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
24868 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
24869 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
24870
24871 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
24872
24873 @table @code
24874
24875 @kindex alias
24876 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
24877
24878 @end table
24879
24880 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
24881 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
24882 underscores.
24883
24884 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
24885 that is being aliased.
24886
24887 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
24888 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
24889 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
24890
24891 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
24892 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
24893
24894 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
24895 of a command so that there is less to type.
24896 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
24897 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
24898 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
24899 The following will accomplish this.
24900
24901 @smallexample
24902 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
24903 @end smallexample
24904
24905 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
24906 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
24907 for it with the @samp{document} command.
24908 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
24909
24910 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
24911 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
24912 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
24913 of a command.
24914
24915 @smallexample
24916 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
24917 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
24918 (gdb) set p elms 20
24919 (gdb) show p elms
24920 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
24921 @end smallexample
24922
24923 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
24924 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
24925 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
24926
24927 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
24928 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
24929
24930 @smallexample
24931 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
24932 @end smallexample
24933
24934 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
24935 alias for a more complex command.
24936 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
24937
24938 @smallexample
24939 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
24940 (gdb) spe 20
24941 @end smallexample
24942
24943 @node Interpreters
24944 @chapter Command Interpreters
24945 @cindex command interpreters
24946
24947 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
24948 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
24949 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
24950
24951 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
24952 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
24953 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
24954 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
24955
24956 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
24957 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
24958 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
24959 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
24960
24961 @table @code
24962 @item console
24963 @cindex console interpreter
24964 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
24965 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
24966 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
24967
24968 @item mi
24969 @cindex mi interpreter
24970 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
24971 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
24972 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
24973 Interface}.
24974
24975 @item mi2
24976 @cindex mi2 interpreter
24977 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
24978
24979 @item mi1
24980 @cindex mi1 interpreter
24981 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
24982
24983 @end table
24984
24985 @cindex invoke another interpreter
24986 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
24987 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
24988 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
24989 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
24990 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
24991 the IDE inoperable!
24992
24993 @kindex interpreter-exec
24994 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
24995 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
24996 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
24997 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
24998
24999 @smallexample
25000 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
25001 @end smallexample
25002
25003 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
25004 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
25005
25006 @node TUI
25007 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
25008 @cindex TUI
25009 @cindex Text User Interface
25010
25011 @menu
25012 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
25013 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
25014 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
25015 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
25016 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
25017 @end menu
25018
25019 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
25020 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
25021 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
25022 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
25023 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
25024 is available.
25025
25026 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
25027 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
25028 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
25029 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
25030 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
25031
25032 @node TUI Overview
25033 @section TUI Overview
25034
25035 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
25036
25037 @table @emph
25038 @item command
25039 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
25040 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
25041 managed using readline.
25042
25043 @item source
25044 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
25045 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
25046
25047 @item assembly
25048 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
25049
25050 @item register
25051 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
25052 when their values change.
25053 @end table
25054
25055 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
25056 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
25057 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
25058 indicates the breakpoint type:
25059
25060 @table @code
25061 @item B
25062 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
25063
25064 @item b
25065 Breakpoint which was never hit.
25066
25067 @item H
25068 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
25069
25070 @item h
25071 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
25072 @end table
25073
25074 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
25075
25076 @table @code
25077 @item +
25078 Breakpoint is enabled.
25079
25080 @item -
25081 Breakpoint is disabled.
25082 @end table
25083
25084 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
25085 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
25086 changes.
25087
25088 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
25089 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
25090 layouts:
25091
25092 @itemize @bullet
25093 @item
25094 source only,
25095
25096 @item
25097 assembly only,
25098
25099 @item
25100 source and assembly,
25101
25102 @item
25103 source and registers, or
25104
25105 @item
25106 assembly and registers.
25107 @end itemize
25108
25109 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
25110
25111 @table @emph
25112 @item target
25113 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
25114 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
25115
25116 @item process
25117 Gives the current process or thread number.
25118 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
25119
25120 @item function
25121 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
25122 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
25123 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
25124 the string @code{??} is displayed.
25125
25126 @item line
25127 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
25128 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
25129
25130 @item pc
25131 Indicates the current program counter address.
25132 @end table
25133
25134 @node TUI Keys
25135 @section TUI Key Bindings
25136 @cindex TUI key bindings
25137
25138 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
25139 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
25140 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
25141 @end ifset
25142 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
25143 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
25144 @end ifclear
25145 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
25146 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
25147
25148 @table @kbd
25149 @kindex C-x C-a
25150 @item C-x C-a
25151 @kindex C-x a
25152 @itemx C-x a
25153 @kindex C-x A
25154 @itemx C-x A
25155 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
25156 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
25157 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
25158 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
25159 The screen is then refreshed.
25160
25161 @kindex C-x 1
25162 @item C-x 1
25163 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
25164 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
25165 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
25166
25167 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
25168
25169 @kindex C-x 2
25170 @item C-x 2
25171 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
25172 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
25173 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
25174 previous layout and the new one.
25175
25176 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
25177
25178 @kindex C-x o
25179 @item C-x o
25180 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
25181 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
25182 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
25183
25184 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
25185
25186 @kindex C-x s
25187 @item C-x s
25188 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
25189 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
25190 @end table
25191
25192 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
25193
25194 @table @asis
25195 @kindex PgUp
25196 @item @key{PgUp}
25197 Scroll the active window one page up.
25198
25199 @kindex PgDn
25200 @item @key{PgDn}
25201 Scroll the active window one page down.
25202
25203 @kindex Up
25204 @item @key{Up}
25205 Scroll the active window one line up.
25206
25207 @kindex Down
25208 @item @key{Down}
25209 Scroll the active window one line down.
25210
25211 @kindex Left
25212 @item @key{Left}
25213 Scroll the active window one column left.
25214
25215 @kindex Right
25216 @item @key{Right}
25217 Scroll the active window one column right.
25218
25219 @kindex C-L
25220 @item @kbd{C-L}
25221 Refresh the screen.
25222 @end table
25223
25224 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
25225 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
25226 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
25227 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
25228 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
25229
25230 @node TUI Single Key Mode
25231 @section TUI Single Key Mode
25232 @cindex TUI single key mode
25233
25234 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
25235 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
25236 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
25237
25238 @table @kbd
25239 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25240 @item c
25241 continue
25242
25243 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25244 @item d
25245 down
25246
25247 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25248 @item f
25249 finish
25250
25251 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25252 @item n
25253 next
25254
25255 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25256 @item q
25257 exit the SingleKey mode.
25258
25259 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25260 @item r
25261 run
25262
25263 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25264 @item s
25265 step
25266
25267 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25268 @item u
25269 up
25270
25271 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25272 @item v
25273 info locals
25274
25275 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25276 @item w
25277 where
25278 @end table
25279
25280 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25281 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
25282 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
25283 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
25284 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
25285 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
25286
25287
25288 @node TUI Commands
25289 @section TUI-specific Commands
25290 @cindex TUI commands
25291
25292 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
25293 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
25294 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
25295 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
25296
25297 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
25298 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
25299 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
25300 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
25301 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
25302
25303 @table @code
25304 @item info win
25305 @kindex info win
25306 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
25307
25308 @item layout next
25309 @kindex layout
25310 Display the next layout.
25311
25312 @item layout prev
25313 Display the previous layout.
25314
25315 @item layout src
25316 Display the source window only.
25317
25318 @item layout asm
25319 Display the assembly window only.
25320
25321 @item layout split
25322 Display the source and assembly window.
25323
25324 @item layout regs
25325 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
25326
25327 @item focus next
25328 @kindex focus
25329 Make the next window active for scrolling.
25330
25331 @item focus prev
25332 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
25333
25334 @item focus src
25335 Make the source window active for scrolling.
25336
25337 @item focus asm
25338 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
25339
25340 @item focus regs
25341 Make the register window active for scrolling.
25342
25343 @item focus cmd
25344 Make the command window active for scrolling.
25345
25346 @item refresh
25347 @kindex refresh
25348 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
25349
25350 @item tui reg float
25351 @kindex tui reg
25352 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
25353
25354 @item tui reg general
25355 Show the general registers in the register window.
25356
25357 @item tui reg next
25358 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
25359 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
25360 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
25361 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
25362
25363 @item tui reg system
25364 Show the system registers in the register window.
25365
25366 @item update
25367 @kindex update
25368 Update the source window and the current execution point.
25369
25370 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
25371 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
25372 @kindex winheight
25373 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
25374 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
25375 decrease it.
25376
25377 @item tabset @var{nchars}
25378 @kindex tabset
25379 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
25380 @end table
25381
25382 @node TUI Configuration
25383 @section TUI Configuration Variables
25384 @cindex TUI configuration variables
25385
25386 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
25387
25388 @table @code
25389 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
25390 @kindex set tui border-kind
25391 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
25392 The possible values are the following:
25393 @table @code
25394 @item space
25395 Use a space character to draw the border.
25396
25397 @item ascii
25398 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
25399
25400 @item acs
25401 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
25402 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
25403 @end table
25404
25405 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
25406 @kindex set tui border-mode
25407 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
25408 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
25409 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
25410 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
25411 @table @code
25412 @item normal
25413 Use normal attributes to display the border.
25414
25415 @item standout
25416 Use standout mode.
25417
25418 @item reverse
25419 Use reverse video mode.
25420
25421 @item half
25422 Use half bright mode.
25423
25424 @item half-standout
25425 Use half bright and standout mode.
25426
25427 @item bold
25428 Use extra bright or bold mode.
25429
25430 @item bold-standout
25431 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
25432 @end table
25433 @end table
25434
25435 @node Emacs
25436 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
25437
25438 @cindex Emacs
25439 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
25440 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
25441 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
25442 @value{GDBN}.
25443
25444 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
25445 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
25446 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
25447 created Emacs buffer.
25448 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
25449
25450 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
25451 things:
25452
25453 @itemize @bullet
25454 @item
25455 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
25456 the GUD buffer.
25457
25458 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
25459 and output done by the program you are debugging.
25460
25461 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
25462 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
25463 in this way.
25464
25465 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
25466 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
25467 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
25468 stop.
25469
25470 @item
25471 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
25472
25473 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
25474 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
25475 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
25476 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
25477 and the source.
25478
25479 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
25480 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
25481 @end itemize
25482
25483 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
25484 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
25485 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
25486 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
25487
25488 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
25489 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
25490 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
25491 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
25492 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
25493 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
25494 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
25495 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
25496 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
25497
25498 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
25499 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
25500 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
25501 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
25502
25503 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
25504 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
25505 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
25506 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
25507 one you want.
25508
25509 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
25510 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
25511
25512 @table @kbd
25513 @item C-h m
25514 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
25515
25516 @item C-c C-s
25517 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
25518 update the display window to show the current file and location.
25519
25520 @item C-c C-n
25521 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
25522 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
25523 to show the current file and location.
25524
25525 @item C-c C-i
25526 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
25527 display window accordingly.
25528
25529 @item C-c C-f
25530 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
25531 @code{finish} command.
25532
25533 @item C-c C-r
25534 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
25535 command.
25536
25537 @item C-c <
25538 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
25539 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
25540 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
25541
25542 @item C-c >
25543 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
25544 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
25545 @end table
25546
25547 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
25548 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
25549
25550 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
25551 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
25552 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
25553 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
25554 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
25555 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
25556 speedbar displays watch expressions.
25557
25558 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
25559 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
25560 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
25561 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
25562 frame.
25563
25564 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
25565 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
25566 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
25567 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
25568 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
25569 to correspond properly with the code.
25570
25571 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
25572 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
25573 Emacs Manual}).
25574
25575 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
25576 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
25577 @ignore
25578 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
25579 @kindex Epoch
25580 @kindex inspect
25581
25582 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
25583 called the @code{epoch}
25584 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
25585 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
25586 each value is printed in its own window.
25587 @end ignore
25588
25589
25590 @node GDB/MI
25591 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
25592
25593 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
25594
25595 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
25596 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
25597 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
25598 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
25599 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
25600 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
25601
25602 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
25603 in the form of a reference manual.
25604
25605 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
25606 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
25607 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
25608
25609 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
25610
25611 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
25612 This chapter uses the following notation:
25613
25614 @itemize @bullet
25615 @item
25616 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
25617
25618 @item
25619 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
25620 it may or may not be given.
25621
25622 @item
25623 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25624 may repeat zero or more times.
25625
25626 @item
25627 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25628 may repeat one or more times.
25629
25630 @item
25631 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
25632 @end itemize
25633
25634 @ignore
25635 @heading Dependencies
25636 @end ignore
25637
25638 @menu
25639 * GDB/MI General Design::
25640 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
25641 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
25642 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
25643 * GDB/MI Output Records::
25644 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
25645 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
25646 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
25647 * GDB/MI Program Context::
25648 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
25649 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
25650 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
25651 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
25652 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
25653 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
25654 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
25655 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
25656 * GDB/MI File Commands::
25657 @ignore
25658 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
25659 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
25660 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
25661 @end ignore
25662 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
25663 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
25664 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
25665 @end menu
25666
25667 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25668 @node GDB/MI General Design
25669 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
25670 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
25671
25672 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
25673 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
25674 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
25675 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
25676 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
25677 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
25678 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
25679 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
25680 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
25681 a command and reported as part of that command response.
25682
25683 The important examples of notifications are:
25684 @itemize @bullet
25685
25686 @item
25687 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
25688 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
25689 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
25690 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
25691 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
25692 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
25693 command itself was successfully executed.
25694
25695 @item
25696 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
25697 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
25698 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
25699 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
25700 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
25701 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
25702
25703 @item
25704 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
25705 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
25706 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
25707 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
25708 orthogonal frontend design.
25709
25710 @end itemize
25711
25712 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
25713 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
25714 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
25715 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
25716 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
25717 the user interface.
25718
25719
25720 @menu
25721 * Context management::
25722 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
25723 * Thread groups::
25724 @end menu
25725
25726 @node Context management
25727 @subsection Context management
25728
25729 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
25730 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
25731 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
25732 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
25733 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
25734 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
25735 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
25736 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
25737 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
25738
25739 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
25740 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
25741 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
25742 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
25743 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
25744 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
25745 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
25746 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
25747 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
25748 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
25749 for thread and frame to operate on.
25750
25751 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
25752 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
25753 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
25754 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
25755 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
25756 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
25757 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
25758 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
25759 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
25760 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
25761
25762 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
25763 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
25764 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
25765 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
25766 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
25767 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
25768 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
25769 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
25770 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
25771 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
25772 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
25773 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
25774 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
25775 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
25776 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
25777 @samp{--frame} options.
25778
25779 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
25780 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
25781
25782 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
25783 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
25784 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
25785 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
25786 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
25787 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
25788 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
25789 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
25790 @code{-list-target-features} command.
25791
25792 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
25793 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
25794 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
25795 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
25796 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
25797 are running.
25798
25799 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
25800 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
25801 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
25802 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
25803 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
25804 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
25805 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
25806 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
25807 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
25808 @samp{--thread} option).
25809
25810 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
25811 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
25812 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
25813 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
25814
25815 @node Thread groups
25816 @subsection Thread groups
25817 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
25818 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
25819 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
25820 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
25821 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
25822
25823 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
25824 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
25825 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
25826 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
25827 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
25828 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
25829 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
25830 into processes.
25831
25832 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
25833 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
25834 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
25835 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
25836 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
25837 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
25838 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
25839 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
25840 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
25841 the members of specific thread group.
25842
25843 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
25844 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
25845 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
25846 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
25847 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
25848 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
25849 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
25850 after attaching to that thread group.
25851
25852 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
25853 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
25854 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
25855 such thread groups.
25856
25857 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25858 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
25859 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
25860
25861 @menu
25862 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
25863 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
25864 @end menu
25865
25866 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
25867 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
25868
25869 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
25870 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
25871 @table @code
25872 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
25873 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
25874
25875 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
25876 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
25877 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
25878
25879 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
25880 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
25881 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
25882
25883 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
25884 "any sequence of digits"
25885
25886 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
25887 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
25888
25889 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
25890 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
25891
25892 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
25893 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
25894
25895 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
25896 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
25897 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
25898
25899 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
25900 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
25901
25902 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25903 @code{CR | CR-LF}
25904 @end table
25905
25906 @noindent
25907 Notes:
25908
25909 @itemize @bullet
25910 @item
25911 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
25912 output is described below.
25913
25914 @item
25915 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
25916 finishes.
25917
25918 @item
25919 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
25920 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
25921 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
25922 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
25923 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
25924 @end itemize
25925
25926 Pragmatics:
25927
25928 @itemize @bullet
25929 @item
25930 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
25931
25932 @item
25933 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
25934 @end itemize
25935
25936 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
25937 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
25938
25939 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
25940 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
25941 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
25942 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
25943 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
25944 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
25945
25946 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
25947 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
25948 @var{token}.
25949
25950 @table @code
25951 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
25952 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
25953
25954 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
25955 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
25956
25957 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
25958 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
25959
25960 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
25961 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
25962
25963 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
25964 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
25965
25966 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
25967 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
25968
25969 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
25970 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
25971
25972 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
25973 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
25974
25975 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
25976 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
25977
25978 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
25979 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
25980 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
25981
25982 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
25983 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
25984
25985 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
25986 @code{ @var{string} }
25987
25988 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
25989 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
25990
25991 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
25992 @code{@var{c-string}}
25993
25994 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
25995 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
25996
25997 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
25998 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
25999 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
26000
26001 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
26002 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
26003
26004 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
26005 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
26006
26007 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
26008 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
26009
26010 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
26011 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
26012
26013 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
26014 @code{CR | CR-LF}
26015
26016 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
26017 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
26018 @end table
26019
26020 @noindent
26021 Notes:
26022
26023 @itemize @bullet
26024 @item
26025 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
26026
26027 @item
26028 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
26029 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
26030 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
26031 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
26032 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
26033 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
26034 prior command.
26035
26036 @item
26037 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26038 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
26039 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
26040 prefixed by @samp{+}.
26041
26042 @item
26043 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26044 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
26045 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
26046 @samp{*}.
26047
26048 @item
26049 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26050 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
26051 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
26052 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
26053
26054 @item
26055 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26056 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
26057 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
26058 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
26059
26060 @item
26061 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26062 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
26063 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
26064
26065 @item
26066 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26067 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
26068 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
26069 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
26070
26071 @item
26072 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26073 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
26074 @var{values}.
26075
26076
26077 @end itemize
26078
26079 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
26080 details about the various output records.
26081
26082 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26083 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
26084 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
26085
26086 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
26087 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
26088
26089 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
26090 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
26091 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
26092 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
26093 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
26094 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
26095
26096 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
26097 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
26098 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
26099
26100 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26101 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
26102 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
26103 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
26104
26105 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
26106 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
26107
26108 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
26109 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
26110 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
26111 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
26112 might change.
26113
26114 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
26115 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
26116 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
26117 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
26118
26119 @itemize @bullet
26120 @item
26121 New MI commands may be added.
26122
26123 @item
26124 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
26125
26126 @item
26127 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
26128 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
26129
26130 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
26131 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
26132
26133 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
26134 @c resolve inconsistencies.
26135 @end itemize
26136
26137 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
26138 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
26139 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
26140 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
26141 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
26142
26143 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
26144 @c version?
26145
26146 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
26147 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
26148 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
26149 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
26150 @cindex mailing lists
26151
26152 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26153 @node GDB/MI Output Records
26154 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
26155
26156 @menu
26157 * GDB/MI Result Records::
26158 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
26159 * GDB/MI Async Records::
26160 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
26161 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
26162 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
26163 @end menu
26164
26165 @node GDB/MI Result Records
26166 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
26167
26168 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26169 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
26170 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
26171 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
26172
26173 @table @code
26174 @findex ^done
26175 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
26176 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
26177 values.
26178
26179 @item "^running"
26180 @findex ^running
26181 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
26182 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
26183 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
26184 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
26185 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
26186 which threads are resumed.
26187
26188 @item "^connected"
26189 @findex ^connected
26190 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
26191
26192 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
26193 @findex ^error
26194 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
26195 error message.
26196
26197 @item "^exit"
26198 @findex ^exit
26199 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
26200
26201 @end table
26202
26203 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
26204 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
26205
26206 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
26207 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26208 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
26209 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
26210 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
26211
26212 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
26213 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
26214 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
26215 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
26216 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
26217
26218 @table @code
26219 @item "~" @var{string-output}
26220 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
26221 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
26222
26223 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
26224 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
26225 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
26226 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
26227
26228 @item "&" @var{string-output}
26229 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
26230 internals.
26231 @end table
26232
26233 @node GDB/MI Async Records
26234 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
26235
26236 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26237 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
26238 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
26239 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
26240 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
26241 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
26242
26243 The following is the list of possible async records:
26244
26245 @table @code
26246
26247 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
26248 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
26249 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
26250 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
26251 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
26252 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
26253 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
26254 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
26255 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
26256 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
26257
26258 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
26259 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
26260 following values:
26261
26262 @table @code
26263 @item breakpoint-hit
26264 A breakpoint was reached.
26265 @item watchpoint-trigger
26266 A watchpoint was triggered.
26267 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
26268 A read watchpoint was triggered.
26269 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
26270 An access watchpoint was triggered.
26271 @item function-finished
26272 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26273 @item location-reached
26274 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26275 @item watchpoint-scope
26276 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
26277 @item end-stepping-range
26278 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
26279 similar CLI command was accomplished.
26280 @item exited-signalled
26281 The inferior exited because of a signal.
26282 @item exited
26283 The inferior exited.
26284 @item exited-normally
26285 The inferior exited normally.
26286 @item signal-received
26287 A signal was received by the inferior.
26288 @item solib-event
26289 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
26290 This can only happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files})
26291 is set.
26292 @item fork
26293 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
26294 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26295 @item vfork
26296 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
26297 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26298 @item syscall-entry
26299 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
26300 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26301 @item syscall-entry
26302 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
26303 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26304 @item exec
26305 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
26306 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26307 @end table
26308
26309 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
26310 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
26311 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
26312 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
26313 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
26314 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
26315 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
26316 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
26317 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
26318 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
26319 if such information is not available.
26320
26321 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
26322 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
26323 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
26324 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
26325 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
26326 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
26327 cannot be used in any way.
26328
26329 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
26330 A thread group became associated with a running program,
26331 either because the program was just started or the thread group
26332 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
26333 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
26334 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
26335
26336 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
26337 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
26338 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
26339 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
26340 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
26341 only when the inferior exited with some code.
26342
26343 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26344 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26345 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
26346 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
26347 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
26348
26349 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
26350 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
26351 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
26352 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
26353 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
26354 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
26355 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
26356
26357 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
26358 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
26359 that thread.
26360
26361 @item =library-loaded,...
26362 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
26363 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
26364 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
26365 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
26366 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
26367 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
26368 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
26369 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
26370 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
26371 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
26372 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
26373 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
26374 thread groups.
26375
26376 @item =library-unloaded,...
26377 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
26378 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
26379 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
26380 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
26381 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
26382 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
26383 thread groups.
26384
26385 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
26386 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
26387 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,bkpt=@{...@}
26388 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
26389 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
26390 user.
26391
26392 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
26393 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}.
26394
26395 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
26396 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
26397
26398 @end table
26399
26400 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
26401 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
26402
26403 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
26404 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
26405 fields:
26406
26407 @table @code
26408 @item level
26409 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
26410 zero. This field is always present.
26411
26412 @item func
26413 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
26414 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
26415
26416 @item addr
26417 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
26418
26419 @item file
26420 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
26421 address. This field may be absent.
26422
26423 @item line
26424 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
26425 may be absent.
26426
26427 @item from
26428 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
26429 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
26430
26431 @end table
26432
26433 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
26434 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
26435
26436 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
26437 uses a tuple with the following fields:
26438
26439 @table @code
26440 @item id
26441 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
26442 always present.
26443
26444 @item target-id
26445 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
26446
26447 @item details
26448 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
26449 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
26450 frontend. This field is optional.
26451
26452 @item state
26453 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
26454 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
26455
26456 @item core
26457 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
26458 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
26459 @end table
26460
26461 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
26462 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
26463
26464 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
26465 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
26466 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
26467 the @code{exception-name} field.
26468
26469 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26470 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
26471 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
26472 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
26473
26474 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
26475 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
26476 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
26477 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
26478
26479 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
26480 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
26481
26482 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
26483
26484 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
26485 information of the breakpoint.
26486
26487 @smallexample
26488 -> -break-insert main
26489 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26490 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26491 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
26492 <- (gdb)
26493 @end smallexample
26494
26495 @subheading Program Execution
26496
26497 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
26498 reason that execution stopped.
26499
26500 @smallexample
26501 -> -exec-run
26502 <- ^running
26503 <- (gdb)
26504 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26505 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
26506 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
26507 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
26508 <- (gdb)
26509 -> -exec-continue
26510 <- ^running
26511 <- (gdb)
26512 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26513 <- (gdb)
26514 @end smallexample
26515
26516 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
26517
26518 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
26519
26520 @smallexample
26521 -> (gdb)
26522 <- -gdb-exit
26523 <- ^exit
26524 @end smallexample
26525
26526 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
26527 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
26528 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
26529 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
26530 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
26531 fails to exit in reasonable time.
26532
26533 @subheading A Bad Command
26534
26535 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
26536
26537 @smallexample
26538 -> -rubbish
26539 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
26540 <- (gdb)
26541 @end smallexample
26542
26543
26544 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26545 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
26546 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
26547
26548 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
26549 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
26550
26551 @subheading Motivation
26552
26553 The motivation for this collection of commands.
26554
26555 @subheading Introduction
26556
26557 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
26558
26559 @subheading Commands
26560
26561 For each command in the block, the following is described:
26562
26563 @subsubheading Synopsis
26564
26565 @smallexample
26566 -command @var{args}@dots{}
26567 @end smallexample
26568
26569 @subsubheading Result
26570
26571 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26572
26573 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
26574
26575 @subsubheading Example
26576
26577 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
26578 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
26579
26580
26581 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26582 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
26583 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
26584
26585 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
26586 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
26587 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
26588 breakpoints.
26589
26590 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
26591 @findex -break-after
26592
26593 @subsubheading Synopsis
26594
26595 @smallexample
26596 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
26597 @end smallexample
26598
26599 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
26600 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
26601 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
26602 @samp{-break-list} command below.
26603
26604 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26605
26606 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
26607
26608 @subsubheading Example
26609
26610 @smallexample
26611 (gdb)
26612 -break-insert main
26613 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26614 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26615 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
26616 (gdb)
26617 -break-after 1 3
26618 ~
26619 ^done
26620 (gdb)
26621 -break-list
26622 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26623 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26624 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26625 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26626 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26627 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26628 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26629 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26630 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26631 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26632 (gdb)
26633 @end smallexample
26634
26635 @ignore
26636 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
26637 @findex -break-catch
26638 @end ignore
26639
26640 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
26641 @findex -break-commands
26642
26643 @subsubheading Synopsis
26644
26645 @smallexample
26646 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
26647 @end smallexample
26648
26649 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
26650 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
26651 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
26652 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
26653 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
26654 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
26655
26656 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26657
26658 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
26659
26660 @subsubheading Example
26661
26662 @smallexample
26663 (gdb)
26664 -break-insert main
26665 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26666 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26667 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
26668 (gdb)
26669 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
26670 ^done
26671 (gdb)
26672 @end smallexample
26673
26674 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
26675 @findex -break-condition
26676
26677 @subsubheading Synopsis
26678
26679 @smallexample
26680 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
26681 @end smallexample
26682
26683 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
26684 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
26685 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
26686 command below).
26687
26688 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26689
26690 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
26691
26692 @subsubheading Example
26693
26694 @smallexample
26695 (gdb)
26696 -break-condition 1 1
26697 ^done
26698 (gdb)
26699 -break-list
26700 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26701 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26702 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26703 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26704 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26705 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26706 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26707 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26708 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26709 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26710 (gdb)
26711 @end smallexample
26712
26713 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
26714 @findex -break-delete
26715
26716 @subsubheading Synopsis
26717
26718 @smallexample
26719 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26720 @end smallexample
26721
26722 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
26723 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
26724
26725 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26726
26727 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
26728
26729 @subsubheading Example
26730
26731 @smallexample
26732 (gdb)
26733 -break-delete 1
26734 ^done
26735 (gdb)
26736 -break-list
26737 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26738 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26739 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26740 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26741 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26742 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26743 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26744 body=[]@}
26745 (gdb)
26746 @end smallexample
26747
26748 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
26749 @findex -break-disable
26750
26751 @subsubheading Synopsis
26752
26753 @smallexample
26754 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26755 @end smallexample
26756
26757 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
26758 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
26759
26760 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26761
26762 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
26763
26764 @subsubheading Example
26765
26766 @smallexample
26767 (gdb)
26768 -break-disable 2
26769 ^done
26770 (gdb)
26771 -break-list
26772 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26773 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26774 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26775 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26776 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26777 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26778 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26779 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
26780 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26781 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
26782 (gdb)
26783 @end smallexample
26784
26785 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
26786 @findex -break-enable
26787
26788 @subsubheading Synopsis
26789
26790 @smallexample
26791 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26792 @end smallexample
26793
26794 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
26795
26796 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26797
26798 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
26799
26800 @subsubheading Example
26801
26802 @smallexample
26803 (gdb)
26804 -break-enable 2
26805 ^done
26806 (gdb)
26807 -break-list
26808 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26809 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26810 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26811 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26812 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26813 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26814 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26815 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26816 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26817 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
26818 (gdb)
26819 @end smallexample
26820
26821 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
26822 @findex -break-info
26823
26824 @subsubheading Synopsis
26825
26826 @smallexample
26827 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
26828 @end smallexample
26829
26830 @c REDUNDANT???
26831 Get information about a single breakpoint.
26832
26833 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26834
26835 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
26836
26837 @subsubheading Example
26838 N.A.
26839
26840 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
26841 @findex -break-insert
26842
26843 @subsubheading Synopsis
26844
26845 @smallexample
26846 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
26847 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
26848 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
26849 @end smallexample
26850
26851 @noindent
26852 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
26853
26854 @itemize @bullet
26855 @item function
26856 @c @item +offset
26857 @c @item -offset
26858 @c @item linenum
26859 @item filename:linenum
26860 @item filename:function
26861 @item *address
26862 @end itemize
26863
26864 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
26865
26866 @table @samp
26867 @item -t
26868 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
26869 @item -h
26870 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
26871 @item -c @var{condition}
26872 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26873 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
26874 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
26875 @item -f
26876 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
26877 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
26878 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
26879 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
26880 cannot be parsed.
26881 @item -d
26882 Create a disabled breakpoint.
26883 @item -a
26884 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
26885 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
26886 @end table
26887
26888 @subsubheading Result
26889
26890 The result is in the form:
26891
26892 @smallexample
26893 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
26894 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
26895 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
26896 times="@var{times}"@}
26897 @end smallexample
26898
26899 @noindent
26900 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
26901 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
26902 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
26903 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
26904 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
26905 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
26906 which use the same output).
26907
26908 Note: this format is open to change.
26909 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
26910
26911 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26912
26913 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
26914 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
26915
26916 @subsubheading Example
26917
26918 @smallexample
26919 (gdb)
26920 -break-insert main
26921 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
26922 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
26923 (gdb)
26924 -break-insert -t foo
26925 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
26926 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
26927 (gdb)
26928 -break-list
26929 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26930 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26931 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26932 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26933 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26934 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26935 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26936 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26937 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
26938 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
26939 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
26940 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
26941 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
26942 (gdb)
26943 -break-insert -r foo.*
26944 ~int foo(int, int);
26945 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
26946 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
26947 (gdb)
26948 @end smallexample
26949
26950 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
26951 @findex -break-list
26952
26953 @subsubheading Synopsis
26954
26955 @smallexample
26956 -break-list
26957 @end smallexample
26958
26959 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
26960
26961 @table @samp
26962 @item Number
26963 number of the breakpoint
26964 @item Type
26965 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
26966 @item Disposition
26967 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
26968 or @samp{nokeep}
26969 @item Enabled
26970 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
26971 @item Address
26972 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
26973 @item What
26974 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
26975 name, line number
26976 @item Times
26977 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
26978 @end table
26979
26980 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
26981 @code{body} field is an empty list.
26982
26983 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26984
26985 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
26986
26987 @subsubheading Example
26988
26989 @smallexample
26990 (gdb)
26991 -break-list
26992 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
26993 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26994 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26995 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26996 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26997 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26998 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26999 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27000 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
27001 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27002 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27003 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
27004 (gdb)
27005 @end smallexample
27006
27007 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
27008
27009 @smallexample
27010 (gdb)
27011 -break-list
27012 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27013 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27014 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27015 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27016 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27017 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27018 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27019 body=[]@}
27020 (gdb)
27021 @end smallexample
27022
27023 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
27024 @findex -break-passcount
27025
27026 @subsubheading Synopsis
27027
27028 @smallexample
27029 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
27030 @end smallexample
27031
27032 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
27033 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
27034 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
27035 command @samp{passcount}.
27036
27037 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
27038 @findex -break-watch
27039
27040 @subsubheading Synopsis
27041
27042 @smallexample
27043 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
27044 @end smallexample
27045
27046 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
27047 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
27048 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
27049 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
27050 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
27051 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
27052 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
27053 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
27054
27055 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
27056 breakpoints inserted.
27057
27058 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27059
27060 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
27061 @samp{rwatch}.
27062
27063 @subsubheading Example
27064
27065 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
27066
27067 @smallexample
27068 (gdb)
27069 -break-watch x
27070 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
27071 (gdb)
27072 -exec-continue
27073 ^running
27074 (gdb)
27075 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
27076 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
27077 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27078 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
27079 (gdb)
27080 @end smallexample
27081
27082 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
27083 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
27084 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
27085
27086 @smallexample
27087 (gdb)
27088 -break-watch C
27089 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
27090 (gdb)
27091 -exec-continue
27092 ^running
27093 (gdb)
27094 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
27095 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27096 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27097 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27098 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27099 (gdb)
27100 -exec-continue
27101 ^running
27102 (gdb)
27103 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
27104 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27105 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27106 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27107 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27108 (gdb)
27109 @end smallexample
27110
27111 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
27112 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
27113 deleted.
27114
27115 @smallexample
27116 (gdb)
27117 -break-watch C
27118 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
27119 (gdb)
27120 -break-list
27121 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27122 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27123 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27124 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27125 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27126 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27127 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27128 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27129 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27130 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27131 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
27132 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27133 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
27134 (gdb)
27135 -exec-continue
27136 ^running
27137 (gdb)
27138 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
27139 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27140 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27141 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27142 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27143 (gdb)
27144 -break-list
27145 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27146 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27147 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27148 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27149 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27150 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27151 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27152 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27153 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27154 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27155 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
27156 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27157 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
27158 (gdb)
27159 -exec-continue
27160 ^running
27161 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
27162 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27163 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27164 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27165 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27166 (gdb)
27167 -break-list
27168 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27169 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27170 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27171 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27172 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27173 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27174 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27175 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27176 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27177 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27178 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
27179 times="1"@}]@}
27180 (gdb)
27181 @end smallexample
27182
27183 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27184 @node GDB/MI Program Context
27185 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
27186
27187 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
27188 @findex -exec-arguments
27189
27190
27191 @subsubheading Synopsis
27192
27193 @smallexample
27194 -exec-arguments @var{args}
27195 @end smallexample
27196
27197 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
27198 @samp{-exec-run}.
27199
27200 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27201
27202 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
27203
27204 @subsubheading Example
27205
27206 @smallexample
27207 (gdb)
27208 -exec-arguments -v word
27209 ^done
27210 (gdb)
27211 @end smallexample
27212
27213
27214 @ignore
27215 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
27216 @findex -exec-show-arguments
27217
27218 @subsubheading Synopsis
27219
27220 @smallexample
27221 -exec-show-arguments
27222 @end smallexample
27223
27224 Print the arguments of the program.
27225
27226 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27227
27228 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
27229
27230 @subsubheading Example
27231 N.A.
27232 @end ignore
27233
27234
27235 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
27236 @findex -environment-cd
27237
27238 @subsubheading Synopsis
27239
27240 @smallexample
27241 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
27242 @end smallexample
27243
27244 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
27245
27246 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27247
27248 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
27249
27250 @subsubheading Example
27251
27252 @smallexample
27253 (gdb)
27254 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27255 ^done
27256 (gdb)
27257 @end smallexample
27258
27259
27260 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
27261 @findex -environment-directory
27262
27263 @subsubheading Synopsis
27264
27265 @smallexample
27266 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27267 @end smallexample
27268
27269 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
27270 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
27271 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
27272 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27273 occurs as normal.
27274 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27275 multiple directories in a single command
27276 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27277 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27278 If blanks are needed as
27279 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27280 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27281 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27282 character must not be used
27283 in any directory name.
27284 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
27285
27286 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27287
27288 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
27289
27290 @subsubheading Example
27291
27292 @smallexample
27293 (gdb)
27294 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27295 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27296 (gdb)
27297 -environment-directory ""
27298 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27299 (gdb)
27300 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
27301 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
27302 (gdb)
27303 -environment-directory -r
27304 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
27305 (gdb)
27306 @end smallexample
27307
27308
27309 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
27310 @findex -environment-path
27311
27312 @subsubheading Synopsis
27313
27314 @smallexample
27315 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27316 @end smallexample
27317
27318 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
27319 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
27320 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
27321 supplied in addition to the
27322 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27323 occurs as normal.
27324 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27325 multiple directories in a single command
27326 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27327 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27328 If blanks are needed as
27329 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27330 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27331 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27332 character must not be used
27333 in any directory name.
27334 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
27335
27336
27337 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27338
27339 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
27340
27341 @subsubheading Example
27342
27343 @smallexample
27344 (gdb)
27345 -environment-path
27346 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
27347 (gdb)
27348 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
27349 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
27350 (gdb)
27351 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
27352 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
27353 (gdb)
27354 @end smallexample
27355
27356
27357 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
27358 @findex -environment-pwd
27359
27360 @subsubheading Synopsis
27361
27362 @smallexample
27363 -environment-pwd
27364 @end smallexample
27365
27366 Show the current working directory.
27367
27368 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27369
27370 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
27371
27372 @subsubheading Example
27373
27374 @smallexample
27375 (gdb)
27376 -environment-pwd
27377 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
27378 (gdb)
27379 @end smallexample
27380
27381 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27382 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
27383 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
27384
27385
27386 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
27387 @findex -thread-info
27388
27389 @subsubheading Synopsis
27390
27391 @smallexample
27392 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
27393 @end smallexample
27394
27395 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
27396 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
27397 threads. When printing information about all threads,
27398 also reports the current thread.
27399
27400 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27401
27402 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
27403 about all threads.
27404
27405 @subsubheading Result
27406
27407 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
27408 defined for a given thread:
27409
27410 @table @samp
27411 @item current
27412 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27413
27414 @item id
27415 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
27416
27417 @item target-id
27418 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
27419
27420 @item details
27421 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
27422 field is optional.
27423
27424 @item name
27425 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
27426 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
27427 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
27428 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
27429 field is omitted.
27430
27431 @item frame
27432 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
27433
27434 @item state
27435 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
27436 values:
27437
27438 @table @code
27439 @item stopped
27440 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
27441 threads.
27442
27443 @item running
27444 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
27445 threads.
27446
27447 @end table
27448
27449 @item core
27450 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
27451 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
27452
27453 @end table
27454
27455 @subsubheading Example
27456
27457 @smallexample
27458 -thread-info
27459 ^done,threads=[
27460 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
27461 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
27462 args=[]@},state="running"@},
27463 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
27464 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
27465 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
27466 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
27467 state="running"@}],
27468 current-thread-id="1"
27469 (gdb)
27470 @end smallexample
27471
27472 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
27473 @findex -thread-list-ids
27474
27475 @subsubheading Synopsis
27476
27477 @smallexample
27478 -thread-list-ids
27479 @end smallexample
27480
27481 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
27482 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
27483
27484 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
27485 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
27486
27487 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27488
27489 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
27490
27491 @subsubheading Example
27492
27493 @smallexample
27494 (gdb)
27495 -thread-list-ids
27496 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27497 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
27498 (gdb)
27499 @end smallexample
27500
27501
27502 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
27503 @findex -thread-select
27504
27505 @subsubheading Synopsis
27506
27507 @smallexample
27508 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
27509 @end smallexample
27510
27511 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
27512 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
27513
27514 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
27515 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
27516
27517 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27518
27519 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
27520
27521 @subsubheading Example
27522
27523 @smallexample
27524 (gdb)
27525 -exec-next
27526 ^running
27527 (gdb)
27528 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
27529 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
27530 (gdb)
27531 -thread-list-ids
27532 ^done,
27533 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27534 number-of-threads="3"
27535 (gdb)
27536 -thread-select 3
27537 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
27538 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
27539 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
27540 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
27541 (gdb)
27542 @end smallexample
27543
27544 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27545 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
27546 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
27547
27548 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
27549 @findex -ada-task-info
27550
27551 @subsubheading Synopsis
27552
27553 @smallexample
27554 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
27555 @end smallexample
27556
27557 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
27558 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
27559
27560 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27561
27562 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
27563 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
27564
27565 @subsubheading Result
27566
27567 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
27568 defined for each Ada task:
27569
27570 @table @samp
27571 @item current
27572 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27573
27574 @item id
27575 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
27576
27577 @item task-id
27578 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
27579
27580 @item thread-id
27581 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
27582
27583 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
27584 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
27585 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
27586
27587 @item parent-id
27588 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
27589 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
27590
27591 @item priority
27592 The base priority of the task.
27593
27594 @item state
27595 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
27596 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
27597
27598 @item name
27599 The name of the task.
27600
27601 @end table
27602
27603 @subsubheading Example
27604
27605 @smallexample
27606 -ada-task-info
27607 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
27608 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
27609 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
27610 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
27611 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
27612 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
27613 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
27614 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
27615 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
27616 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
27617 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
27618 (gdb)
27619 @end smallexample
27620
27621 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27622 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
27623 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
27624
27625 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
27626 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
27627 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
27628 other cases.
27629
27630 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
27631 @findex -exec-continue
27632
27633 @subsubheading Synopsis
27634
27635 @smallexample
27636 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
27637 @end smallexample
27638
27639 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
27640 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
27641 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
27642 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
27643 @itemize @bullet
27644 @item
27645 breakpoints or watchpoints
27646 @item
27647 signals or exceptions
27648 @item
27649 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
27650 @item
27651 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
27652 @end itemize
27653 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
27654 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
27655 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
27656 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
27657 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
27658 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
27659
27660 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27661
27662 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
27663
27664 @subsubheading Example
27665
27666 @smallexample
27667 -exec-continue
27668 ^running
27669 (gdb)
27670 @@Hello world
27671 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
27672 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
27673 line="13"@}
27674 (gdb)
27675 @end smallexample
27676
27677
27678 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
27679 @findex -exec-finish
27680
27681 @subsubheading Synopsis
27682
27683 @smallexample
27684 -exec-finish [--reverse]
27685 @end smallexample
27686
27687 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
27688 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
27689 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
27690 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
27691 function was called.
27692
27693 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27694
27695 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
27696
27697 @subsubheading Example
27698
27699 Function returning @code{void}.
27700
27701 @smallexample
27702 -exec-finish
27703 ^running
27704 (gdb)
27705 @@hello from foo
27706 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
27707 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
27708 (gdb)
27709 @end smallexample
27710
27711 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
27712 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
27713 value itself.
27714
27715 @smallexample
27716 -exec-finish
27717 ^running
27718 (gdb)
27719 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
27720 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
27721 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27722 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
27723 (gdb)
27724 @end smallexample
27725
27726
27727 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
27728 @findex -exec-interrupt
27729
27730 @subsubheading Synopsis
27731
27732 @smallexample
27733 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
27734 @end smallexample
27735
27736 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
27737 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
27738 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
27739 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
27740 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
27741
27742 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
27743 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
27744 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
27745 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
27746
27747 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
27748 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
27749 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
27750 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
27751
27752 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27753
27754 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
27755
27756 @subsubheading Example
27757
27758 @smallexample
27759 (gdb)
27760 111-exec-continue
27761 111^running
27762
27763 (gdb)
27764 222-exec-interrupt
27765 222^done
27766 (gdb)
27767 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
27768 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27769 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
27770 (gdb)
27771
27772 (gdb)
27773 -exec-interrupt
27774 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
27775 (gdb)
27776 @end smallexample
27777
27778 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
27779 @findex -exec-jump
27780
27781 @subsubheading Synopsis
27782
27783 @smallexample
27784 -exec-jump @var{location}
27785 @end smallexample
27786
27787 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
27788 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
27789 different forms of @var{location}.
27790
27791 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27792
27793 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
27794
27795 @subsubheading Example
27796
27797 @smallexample
27798 -exec-jump foo.c:10
27799 *running,thread-id="all"
27800 ^running
27801 @end smallexample
27802
27803
27804 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
27805 @findex -exec-next
27806
27807 @subsubheading Synopsis
27808
27809 @smallexample
27810 -exec-next [--reverse]
27811 @end smallexample
27812
27813 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
27814 of the next source line is reached.
27815
27816 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27817 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
27818 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
27819 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
27820 source line where the function was called.
27821
27822
27823 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27824
27825 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
27826
27827 @subsubheading Example
27828
27829 @smallexample
27830 -exec-next
27831 ^running
27832 (gdb)
27833 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
27834 (gdb)
27835 @end smallexample
27836
27837
27838 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
27839 @findex -exec-next-instruction
27840
27841 @subsubheading Synopsis
27842
27843 @smallexample
27844 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
27845 @end smallexample
27846
27847 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
27848 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
27849 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
27850 printed as well.
27851
27852 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27853 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
27854 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
27855 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
27856 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
27857
27858 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27859
27860 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
27861
27862 @subsubheading Example
27863
27864 @smallexample
27865 (gdb)
27866 -exec-next-instruction
27867 ^running
27868
27869 (gdb)
27870 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27871 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
27872 (gdb)
27873 @end smallexample
27874
27875
27876 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
27877 @findex -exec-return
27878
27879 @subsubheading Synopsis
27880
27881 @smallexample
27882 -exec-return
27883 @end smallexample
27884
27885 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
27886 Displays the new current frame.
27887
27888 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27889
27890 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
27891
27892 @subsubheading Example
27893
27894 @smallexample
27895 (gdb)
27896 200-break-insert callee4
27897 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
27898 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
27899 (gdb)
27900 000-exec-run
27901 000^running
27902 (gdb)
27903 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
27904 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27905 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27906 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
27907 (gdb)
27908 205-break-delete
27909 205^done
27910 (gdb)
27911 111-exec-return
27912 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
27913 args=[@{name="strarg",
27914 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27915 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27916 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27917 (gdb)
27918 @end smallexample
27919
27920
27921 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
27922 @findex -exec-run
27923
27924 @subsubheading Synopsis
27925
27926 @smallexample
27927 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
27928 @end smallexample
27929
27930 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
27931 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
27932 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
27933 the program has exited exceptionally.
27934
27935 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
27936 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
27937 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
27938 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
27939
27940 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27941
27942 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
27943
27944 @subsubheading Examples
27945
27946 @smallexample
27947 (gdb)
27948 -break-insert main
27949 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
27950 (gdb)
27951 -exec-run
27952 ^running
27953 (gdb)
27954 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
27955 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27956 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
27957 (gdb)
27958 @end smallexample
27959
27960 @noindent
27961 Program exited normally:
27962
27963 @smallexample
27964 (gdb)
27965 -exec-run
27966 ^running
27967 (gdb)
27968 x = 55
27969 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
27970 (gdb)
27971 @end smallexample
27972
27973 @noindent
27974 Program exited exceptionally:
27975
27976 @smallexample
27977 (gdb)
27978 -exec-run
27979 ^running
27980 (gdb)
27981 x = 55
27982 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
27983 (gdb)
27984 @end smallexample
27985
27986 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
27987 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
27988
27989 @smallexample
27990 (gdb)
27991 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
27992 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
27993 @end smallexample
27994
27995
27996 @c @subheading -exec-signal
27997
27998
27999 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
28000 @findex -exec-step
28001
28002 @subsubheading Synopsis
28003
28004 @smallexample
28005 -exec-step [--reverse]
28006 @end smallexample
28007
28008 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28009 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
28010 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
28011 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
28012 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
28013 previously executed source line.
28014
28015 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28016
28017 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
28018
28019 @subsubheading Example
28020
28021 Stepping into a function:
28022
28023 @smallexample
28024 -exec-step
28025 ^running
28026 (gdb)
28027 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28028 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
28029 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
28030 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
28031 (gdb)
28032 @end smallexample
28033
28034 Regular stepping:
28035
28036 @smallexample
28037 -exec-step
28038 ^running
28039 (gdb)
28040 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
28041 (gdb)
28042 @end smallexample
28043
28044
28045 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
28046 @findex -exec-step-instruction
28047
28048 @subsubheading Synopsis
28049
28050 @smallexample
28051 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
28052 @end smallexample
28053
28054 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
28055 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
28056 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
28057 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
28058 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
28059 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
28060 as well.
28061
28062 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28063
28064 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
28065
28066 @subsubheading Example
28067
28068 @smallexample
28069 (gdb)
28070 -exec-step-instruction
28071 ^running
28072
28073 (gdb)
28074 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28075 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28076 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28077 (gdb)
28078 -exec-step-instruction
28079 ^running
28080
28081 (gdb)
28082 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28083 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28084 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28085 (gdb)
28086 @end smallexample
28087
28088
28089 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
28090 @findex -exec-until
28091
28092 @subsubheading Synopsis
28093
28094 @smallexample
28095 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
28096 @end smallexample
28097
28098 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
28099 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
28100 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
28101 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
28102
28103 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28104
28105 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
28106
28107 @subsubheading Example
28108
28109 @smallexample
28110 (gdb)
28111 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
28112 ^running
28113 (gdb)
28114 x = 55
28115 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28116 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
28117 (gdb)
28118 @end smallexample
28119
28120 @ignore
28121 @subheading -file-clear
28122 Is this going away????
28123 @end ignore
28124
28125 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28126 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
28127 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
28128
28129
28130 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
28131 @findex -stack-info-frame
28132
28133 @subsubheading Synopsis
28134
28135 @smallexample
28136 -stack-info-frame
28137 @end smallexample
28138
28139 Get info on the selected frame.
28140
28141 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28142
28143 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
28144 (without arguments).
28145
28146 @subsubheading Example
28147
28148 @smallexample
28149 (gdb)
28150 -stack-info-frame
28151 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28152 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28153 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
28154 (gdb)
28155 @end smallexample
28156
28157 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
28158 @findex -stack-info-depth
28159
28160 @subsubheading Synopsis
28161
28162 @smallexample
28163 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
28164 @end smallexample
28165
28166 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
28167 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
28168
28169 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28170
28171 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
28172
28173 @subsubheading Example
28174
28175 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
28176
28177 @smallexample
28178 (gdb)
28179 -stack-info-depth
28180 ^done,depth="12"
28181 (gdb)
28182 -stack-info-depth 4
28183 ^done,depth="4"
28184 (gdb)
28185 -stack-info-depth 12
28186 ^done,depth="12"
28187 (gdb)
28188 -stack-info-depth 11
28189 ^done,depth="11"
28190 (gdb)
28191 -stack-info-depth 13
28192 ^done,depth="12"
28193 (gdb)
28194 @end smallexample
28195
28196 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
28197 @findex -stack-list-arguments
28198
28199 @subsubheading Synopsis
28200
28201 @smallexample
28202 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
28203 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28204 @end smallexample
28205
28206 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
28207 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
28208 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
28209 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
28210 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
28211 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
28212 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
28213 which case only existing frames will be returned.
28214
28215 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28216 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28217 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28218 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28219 structures and unions.
28220
28221 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
28222 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28223
28224 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28225
28226 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
28227 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
28228 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
28229
28230 @subsubheading Example
28231
28232 @smallexample
28233 (gdb)
28234 -stack-list-frames
28235 ^done,
28236 stack=[
28237 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28238 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28239 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
28240 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28241 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28242 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
28243 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
28244 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28245 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
28246 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
28247 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28248 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
28249 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
28250 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28251 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
28252 (gdb)
28253 -stack-list-arguments 0
28254 ^done,
28255 stack-args=[
28256 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28257 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
28258 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
28259 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
28260 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28261 (gdb)
28262 -stack-list-arguments 1
28263 ^done,
28264 stack-args=[
28265 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28266 frame=@{level="1",
28267 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28268 frame=@{level="2",args=[
28269 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28270 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28271 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
28272 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28273 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
28274 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
28275 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28276 (gdb)
28277 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
28278 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
28279 (gdb)
28280 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
28281 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
28282 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28283 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
28284 (gdb)
28285 @end smallexample
28286
28287 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
28288
28289
28290 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
28291 @findex -stack-list-frames
28292
28293 @subsubheading Synopsis
28294
28295 @smallexample
28296 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28297 @end smallexample
28298
28299 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
28300 following info:
28301
28302 @table @samp
28303 @item @var{level}
28304 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
28305 @item @var{addr}
28306 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
28307 @item @var{func}
28308 Function name.
28309 @item @var{file}
28310 File name of the source file where the function lives.
28311 @item @var{fullname}
28312 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
28313 @item @var{line}
28314 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
28315 @item @var{from}
28316 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
28317 if the frame's function is not known.
28318 @end table
28319
28320 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
28321 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
28322 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
28323 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
28324 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
28325 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
28326 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
28327
28328 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28329
28330 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
28331
28332 @subsubheading Example
28333
28334 Full stack backtrace:
28335
28336 @smallexample
28337 (gdb)
28338 -stack-list-frames
28339 ^done,stack=
28340 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
28341 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
28342 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28343 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28344 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28345 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28346 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28347 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28348 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28349 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28350 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28351 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28352 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28353 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28354 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28355 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28356 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28357 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28358 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28359 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28360 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28361 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28362 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
28363 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
28364 (gdb)
28365 @end smallexample
28366
28367 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
28368
28369 @smallexample
28370 (gdb)
28371 -stack-list-frames 3 5
28372 ^done,stack=
28373 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28374 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28375 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28376 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28377 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28378 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28379 (gdb)
28380 @end smallexample
28381
28382 Show a single frame:
28383
28384 @smallexample
28385 (gdb)
28386 -stack-list-frames 3 3
28387 ^done,stack=
28388 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28389 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28390 (gdb)
28391 @end smallexample
28392
28393
28394 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
28395 @findex -stack-list-locals
28396
28397 @subsubheading Synopsis
28398
28399 @smallexample
28400 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
28401 @end smallexample
28402
28403 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
28404 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28405 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28406 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28407 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28408 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
28409 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
28410 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
28411 more detail.
28412
28413 This command is deprecated in favor of the
28414 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28415
28416 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28417
28418 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
28419
28420 @subsubheading Example
28421
28422 @smallexample
28423 (gdb)
28424 -stack-list-locals 0
28425 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
28426 (gdb)
28427 -stack-list-locals --all-values
28428 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
28429 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
28430 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
28431 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
28432 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
28433 (gdb)
28434 @end smallexample
28435
28436 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
28437 @findex -stack-list-variables
28438
28439 @subsubheading Synopsis
28440
28441 @smallexample
28442 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
28443 @end smallexample
28444
28445 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
28446 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28447 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28448 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28449 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28450 structures and unions.
28451
28452 @subsubheading Example
28453
28454 @smallexample
28455 (gdb)
28456 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
28457 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
28458 (gdb)
28459 @end smallexample
28460
28461
28462 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
28463 @findex -stack-select-frame
28464
28465 @subsubheading Synopsis
28466
28467 @smallexample
28468 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
28469 @end smallexample
28470
28471 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
28472 the stack.
28473
28474 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
28475 option to every command.
28476
28477 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28478
28479 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
28480 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
28481
28482 @subsubheading Example
28483
28484 @smallexample
28485 (gdb)
28486 -stack-select-frame 2
28487 ^done
28488 (gdb)
28489 @end smallexample
28490
28491 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28492 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
28493 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
28494
28495 @ignore
28496
28497 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28498
28499 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
28500 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
28501 used by @code{Insight}.
28502
28503 The two main reasons for that are:
28504
28505 @enumerate 1
28506 @item
28507 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
28508
28509 @item
28510 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
28511 now).
28512 @end enumerate
28513
28514 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
28515 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
28516 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
28517 hints about their use.
28518
28519 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
28520 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
28521 least, the following operations:
28522
28523 @itemize @bullet
28524 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
28525 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
28526 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
28527 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
28528 @end itemize
28529
28530 @end ignore
28531
28532 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
28533
28534 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28535
28536 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
28537 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
28538 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
28539 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
28540 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
28541 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
28542 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
28543 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
28544 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
28545 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
28546 object, or to change display format.
28547
28548 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
28549 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
28550 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
28551 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
28552 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
28553 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
28554 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
28555 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
28556 child will be created.
28557
28558 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
28559 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
28560 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
28561 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
28562 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
28563
28564 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
28565 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
28566 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
28567 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
28568 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
28569 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
28570 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
28571 variables that frontend has created.
28572
28573 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
28574 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
28575 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
28576 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
28577 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
28578 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
28579 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
28580 implicitly updated.
28581
28582 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
28583 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
28584 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
28585 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
28586 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
28587 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
28588 frame. Consider this example:
28589
28590 @smallexample
28591 void do_work(...)
28592 @{
28593 struct work_state state;
28594
28595 if (...)
28596 do_work(...);
28597 @}
28598 @end smallexample
28599
28600 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
28601 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
28602 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
28603 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
28604 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
28605
28606 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
28607 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
28608 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
28609 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
28610 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
28611 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
28612
28613 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
28614 access this functionality:
28615
28616 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
28617 @item @strong{Operation}
28618 @tab @strong{Description}
28619
28620 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
28621 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
28622 @item @code{-var-create}
28623 @tab create a variable object
28624 @item @code{-var-delete}
28625 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
28626 @item @code{-var-set-format}
28627 @tab set the display format of this variable
28628 @item @code{-var-show-format}
28629 @tab show the display format of this variable
28630 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
28631 @tab tells how many children this object has
28632 @item @code{-var-list-children}
28633 @tab return a list of the object's children
28634 @item @code{-var-info-type}
28635 @tab show the type of this variable object
28636 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
28637 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
28638 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
28639 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
28640 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
28641 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
28642 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
28643 @tab get the value of this variable
28644 @item @code{-var-assign}
28645 @tab set the value of this variable
28646 @item @code{-var-update}
28647 @tab update the variable and its children
28648 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
28649 @tab set frozeness attribute
28650 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
28651 @tab set range of children to display on update
28652 @end multitable
28653
28654 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
28655 how it can be used.
28656
28657 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
28658
28659 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
28660 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
28661
28662 @smallexample
28663 -enable-pretty-printing
28664 @end smallexample
28665
28666 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
28667 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
28668 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
28669 request that this functionality be enabled.
28670
28671 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
28672
28673 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
28674 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
28675
28676 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
28677 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
28678
28679 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
28680 @findex -var-create
28681
28682 @subsubheading Synopsis
28683
28684 @smallexample
28685 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
28686 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
28687 @end smallexample
28688
28689 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
28690 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
28691 register.
28692
28693 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
28694 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
28695 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
28696 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
28697 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
28698
28699 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
28700 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
28701 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
28702 object must be created.
28703
28704 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
28705 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
28706
28707 @itemize @bullet
28708 @item
28709 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
28710
28711 @item
28712 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
28713
28714 @item
28715 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
28716 @end itemize
28717
28718 @cindex dynamic varobj
28719 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
28720 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
28721 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
28722 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
28723 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
28724 compatibility for existing clients.
28725
28726 @subsubheading Result
28727
28728 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
28729 are:
28730
28731 @table @samp
28732 @item name
28733 The name of the varobj.
28734
28735 @item numchild
28736 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
28737 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
28738 @samp{has_more} attribute.
28739
28740 @item value
28741 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
28742 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
28743 will not be interesting.
28744
28745 @item type
28746 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
28747 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
28748
28749 @item thread-id
28750 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
28751 thread's identifier.
28752
28753 @item has_more
28754 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
28755 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
28756
28757 @item dynamic
28758 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
28759 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
28760 then this attribute will not be present.
28761
28762 @item displayhint
28763 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28764 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28765 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28766 @end table
28767
28768 Typical output will look like this:
28769
28770 @smallexample
28771 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
28772 has_more="@var{has_more}"
28773 @end smallexample
28774
28775
28776 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
28777 @findex -var-delete
28778
28779 @subsubheading Synopsis
28780
28781 @smallexample
28782 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
28783 @end smallexample
28784
28785 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
28786 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
28787
28788 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
28789
28790
28791 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
28792 @findex -var-set-format
28793
28794 @subsubheading Synopsis
28795
28796 @smallexample
28797 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
28798 @end smallexample
28799
28800 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
28801 @var{format-spec}.
28802
28803 @anchor{-var-set-format}
28804 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
28805
28806 @smallexample
28807 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
28808 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
28809 @end smallexample
28810
28811 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
28812 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
28813 for pointers, etc.).
28814
28815 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
28816 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
28817
28818 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
28819 @findex -var-show-format
28820
28821 @subsubheading Synopsis
28822
28823 @smallexample
28824 -var-show-format @var{name}
28825 @end smallexample
28826
28827 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
28828
28829 @smallexample
28830 @var{format} @expansion{}
28831 @var{format-spec}
28832 @end smallexample
28833
28834
28835 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
28836 @findex -var-info-num-children
28837
28838 @subsubheading Synopsis
28839
28840 @smallexample
28841 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
28842 @end smallexample
28843
28844 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
28845
28846 @smallexample
28847 numchild=@var{n}
28848 @end smallexample
28849
28850 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
28851 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
28852 be available.
28853
28854
28855 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
28856 @findex -var-list-children
28857
28858 @subsubheading Synopsis
28859
28860 @smallexample
28861 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
28862 @end smallexample
28863 @anchor{-var-list-children}
28864
28865 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
28866 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
28867 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
28868 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
28869 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
28870 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
28871 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
28872 and unions.
28873
28874 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
28875 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
28876 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
28877 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
28878 reported.
28879
28880 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
28881 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
28882 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
28883 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
28884 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
28885 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
28886 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
28887 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
28888 the visible items.
28889
28890 For each child the following results are returned:
28891
28892 @table @var
28893
28894 @item name
28895 Name of the variable object created for this child.
28896
28897 @item exp
28898 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
28899 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
28900
28901 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
28902 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
28903
28904 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
28905 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
28906 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
28907 type and value are not present.
28908
28909 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
28910 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
28911 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
28912
28913 @item numchild
28914 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
28915 0.
28916
28917 @item type
28918 The type of the child.
28919
28920 @item value
28921 If values were requested, this is the value.
28922
28923 @item thread-id
28924 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
28925 Otherwise this result is not present.
28926
28927 @item frozen
28928 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
28929 @end table
28930
28931 The result may have its own attributes:
28932
28933 @table @samp
28934 @item displayhint
28935 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28936 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28937 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28938
28939 @item has_more
28940 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
28941 remaining after the end of the selected range.
28942 @end table
28943
28944 @subsubheading Example
28945
28946 @smallexample
28947 (gdb)
28948 -var-list-children n
28949 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
28950 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
28951 (gdb)
28952 -var-list-children --all-values n
28953 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
28954 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
28955 @end smallexample
28956
28957
28958 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
28959 @findex -var-info-type
28960
28961 @subsubheading Synopsis
28962
28963 @smallexample
28964 -var-info-type @var{name}
28965 @end smallexample
28966
28967 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
28968 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
28969 @value{GDBN} CLI:
28970
28971 @smallexample
28972 type=@var{typename}
28973 @end smallexample
28974
28975
28976 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
28977 @findex -var-info-expression
28978
28979 @subsubheading Synopsis
28980
28981 @smallexample
28982 -var-info-expression @var{name}
28983 @end smallexample
28984
28985 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
28986 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
28987 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
28988
28989 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
28990 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
28991
28992 @smallexample
28993 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
28994 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
28995 @end smallexample
28996
28997 @noindent
28998 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
28999
29000 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
29001 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
29002 is of limited use.
29003
29004 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
29005 @findex -var-info-path-expression
29006
29007 @subsubheading Synopsis
29008
29009 @smallexample
29010 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
29011 @end smallexample
29012
29013 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
29014 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
29015 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
29016 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
29017 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
29018 watchpoint from a variable object.
29019
29020 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
29021 and will give an error when invoked on one.
29022
29023 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
29024 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
29025 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
29026 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
29027 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
29028 @smallexample
29029 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
29030 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
29031 @end smallexample
29032
29033 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
29034 @findex -var-show-attributes
29035
29036 @subsubheading Synopsis
29037
29038 @smallexample
29039 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
29040 @end smallexample
29041
29042 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
29043
29044 @smallexample
29045 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
29046 @end smallexample
29047
29048 @noindent
29049 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
29050
29051 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
29052 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
29053
29054 @subsubheading Synopsis
29055
29056 @smallexample
29057 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
29058 @end smallexample
29059
29060 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
29061 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
29062 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
29063 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
29064 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
29065 the current display format will be used. The current display format
29066 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
29067
29068 @smallexample
29069 value=@var{value}
29070 @end smallexample
29071
29072 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
29073 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
29074
29075 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
29076 @findex -var-assign
29077
29078 @subsubheading Synopsis
29079
29080 @smallexample
29081 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
29082 @end smallexample
29083
29084 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
29085 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
29086 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
29087 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
29088
29089 @subsubheading Example
29090
29091 @smallexample
29092 (gdb)
29093 -var-assign var1 3
29094 ^done,value="3"
29095 (gdb)
29096 -var-update *
29097 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
29098 (gdb)
29099 @end smallexample
29100
29101 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
29102 @findex -var-update
29103
29104 @subsubheading Synopsis
29105
29106 @smallexample
29107 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
29108 @end smallexample
29109
29110 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
29111 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
29112 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
29113 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
29114 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
29115 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
29116 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
29117 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
29118 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
29119 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
29120 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
29121 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
29122 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
29123
29124 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
29125 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
29126 diagnostic.
29127
29128 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
29129 only the selected range of children will be reported.
29130
29131 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
29132 @samp{changelist}.
29133
29134 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
29135
29136 @table @samp
29137 @item name
29138 The name of the varobj.
29139
29140 @item value
29141 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
29142 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
29143
29144 @item in_scope
29145 @anchor{-var-update}
29146 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
29147
29148 @table @code
29149 @item "true"
29150 The variable object's current value is valid.
29151
29152 @item "false"
29153 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
29154 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
29155 scope.
29156
29157 @item "invalid"
29158 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
29159 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
29160 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
29161 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
29162 objects.
29163 @end table
29164
29165 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
29166 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
29167
29168 @item type_changed
29169 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
29170 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
29171 be @samp{false}.
29172
29173 @item new_type
29174 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
29175 hold the new type.
29176
29177 @item new_num_children
29178 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
29179 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
29180
29181 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
29182 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
29183 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
29184 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
29185 children which may be available.
29186
29187 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
29188 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
29189 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
29190 only happen at the end of the update range).
29191
29192 @item displayhint
29193 The display hint, if any.
29194
29195 @item has_more
29196 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
29197 available outside the varobj's update range.
29198
29199 @item dynamic
29200 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29201 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29202 then this attribute will not be present.
29203
29204 @item new_children
29205 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
29206 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
29207 be listed in this attribute.
29208 @end table
29209
29210 @subsubheading Example
29211
29212 @smallexample
29213 (gdb)
29214 -var-assign var1 3
29215 ^done,value="3"
29216 (gdb)
29217 -var-update --all-values var1
29218 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
29219 type_changed="false"@}]
29220 (gdb)
29221 @end smallexample
29222
29223 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
29224 @findex -var-set-frozen
29225 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
29226
29227 @subsubheading Synopsis
29228
29229 @smallexample
29230 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
29231 @end smallexample
29232
29233 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
29234 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
29235 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
29236 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
29237 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
29238 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
29239 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
29240 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
29241 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
29242 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
29243 @code{-var-update} does.
29244
29245 @subsubheading Example
29246
29247 @smallexample
29248 (gdb)
29249 -var-set-frozen V 1
29250 ^done
29251 (gdb)
29252 @end smallexample
29253
29254 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
29255 @findex -var-set-update-range
29256 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
29257
29258 @subsubheading Synopsis
29259
29260 @smallexample
29261 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
29262 @end smallexample
29263
29264 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
29265 @code{-var-update}.
29266
29267 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
29268 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
29269 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
29270 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
29271
29272 @subsubheading Example
29273
29274 @smallexample
29275 (gdb)
29276 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
29277 ^done
29278 @end smallexample
29279
29280 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
29281 @findex -var-set-visualizer
29282 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
29283
29284 @subsubheading Synopsis
29285
29286 @smallexample
29287 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
29288 @end smallexample
29289
29290 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
29291
29292 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
29293 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
29294
29295 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
29296 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
29297 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
29298 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
29299 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
29300 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
29301 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
29302
29303 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
29304 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
29305 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
29306 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
29307
29308 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
29309 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
29310 can be used to check this.
29311
29312 @subsubheading Example
29313
29314 Resetting the visualizer:
29315
29316 @smallexample
29317 (gdb)
29318 -var-set-visualizer V None
29319 ^done
29320 @end smallexample
29321
29322 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
29323
29324 @smallexample
29325 (gdb)
29326 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
29327 ^done
29328 @end smallexample
29329
29330 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
29331 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
29332
29333 @smallexample
29334 (gdb)
29335 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
29336 ^done
29337 @end smallexample
29338
29339 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29340 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
29341 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
29342
29343 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
29344 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
29345 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
29346 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
29347
29348 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
29349 @c @subheading -data-assign
29350 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
29351 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
29352 @c set variable
29353 @c @subsubheading Example
29354 @c N.A.
29355
29356 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
29357 @findex -data-disassemble
29358
29359 @subsubheading Synopsis
29360
29361 @smallexample
29362 -data-disassemble
29363 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
29364 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
29365 -- @var{mode}
29366 @end smallexample
29367
29368 @noindent
29369 Where:
29370
29371 @table @samp
29372 @item @var{start-addr}
29373 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
29374 @item @var{end-addr}
29375 is the end address
29376 @item @var{filename}
29377 is the name of the file to disassemble
29378 @item @var{linenum}
29379 is the line number to disassemble around
29380 @item @var{lines}
29381 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
29382 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
29383 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
29384 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
29385 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
29386 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
29387 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
29388 are displayed.
29389 @item @var{mode}
29390 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
29391 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
29392 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
29393 @end table
29394
29395 @subsubheading Result
29396
29397 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
29398
29399 @itemize @bullet
29400 @item Address
29401 @item Func-name
29402 @item Offset
29403 @item Instruction
29404 @end itemize
29405
29406 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
29407 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
29408
29409 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29410
29411 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
29412
29413 @subsubheading Example
29414
29415 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
29416
29417 @smallexample
29418 (gdb)
29419 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
29420 ^done,
29421 asm_insns=[
29422 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29423 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29424 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29425 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29426 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
29427 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
29428 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
29429 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29430 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
29431 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
29432 (gdb)
29433 @end smallexample
29434
29435 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
29436 @code{main}.
29437
29438 @smallexample
29439 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
29440 ^done,asm_insns=[
29441 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29442 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29443 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29444 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29445 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29446 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29447 [@dots{}]
29448 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
29449 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
29450 (gdb)
29451 @end smallexample
29452
29453 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
29454
29455 @smallexample
29456 (gdb)
29457 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
29458 ^done,asm_insns=[
29459 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29460 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29461 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29462 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29463 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29464 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
29465 (gdb)
29466 @end smallexample
29467
29468 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
29469
29470 @smallexample
29471 (gdb)
29472 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
29473 ^done,asm_insns=[
29474 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
29475 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
29476 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
29477 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29478 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
29479 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
29480 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
29481 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
29482 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29483 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29484 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29485 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
29486 (gdb)
29487 @end smallexample
29488
29489
29490 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
29491 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
29492
29493 @subsubheading Synopsis
29494
29495 @smallexample
29496 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
29497 @end smallexample
29498
29499 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
29500 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
29501 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
29502
29503 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29504
29505 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
29506 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
29507 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
29508
29509 @subsubheading Example
29510
29511 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
29512 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
29513 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
29514 output.
29515
29516 @smallexample
29517 211-data-evaluate-expression A
29518 211^done,value="1"
29519 (gdb)
29520 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
29521 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
29522 (gdb)
29523 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
29524 411^done,value="4"
29525 (gdb)
29526 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
29527 511^done,value="4"
29528 (gdb)
29529 @end smallexample
29530
29531
29532 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
29533 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
29534
29535 @subsubheading Synopsis
29536
29537 @smallexample
29538 -data-list-changed-registers
29539 @end smallexample
29540
29541 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
29542
29543 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29544
29545 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
29546 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
29547
29548 @subsubheading Example
29549
29550 On a PPC MBX board:
29551
29552 @smallexample
29553 (gdb)
29554 -exec-continue
29555 ^running
29556
29557 (gdb)
29558 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
29559 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
29560 line="5"@}
29561 (gdb)
29562 -data-list-changed-registers
29563 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
29564 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
29565 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
29566 (gdb)
29567 @end smallexample
29568
29569
29570 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
29571 @findex -data-list-register-names
29572
29573 @subsubheading Synopsis
29574
29575 @smallexample
29576 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
29577 @end smallexample
29578
29579 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
29580 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
29581 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
29582 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
29583 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
29584 include empty register names.
29585
29586 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29587
29588 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
29589 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
29590 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
29591
29592 @subsubheading Example
29593
29594 For the PPC MBX board:
29595 @smallexample
29596 (gdb)
29597 -data-list-register-names
29598 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
29599 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
29600 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
29601 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
29602 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
29603 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
29604 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
29605 (gdb)
29606 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
29607 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
29608 (gdb)
29609 @end smallexample
29610
29611 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
29612 @findex -data-list-register-values
29613
29614 @subsubheading Synopsis
29615
29616 @smallexample
29617 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
29618 @end smallexample
29619
29620 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
29621 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
29622 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
29623 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
29624
29625 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
29626
29627 @table @code
29628 @item x
29629 Hexadecimal
29630 @item o
29631 Octal
29632 @item t
29633 Binary
29634 @item d
29635 Decimal
29636 @item r
29637 Raw
29638 @item N
29639 Natural
29640 @end table
29641
29642 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29643
29644 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
29645 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
29646
29647 @subsubheading Example
29648
29649 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
29650 don't appear in the actual output):
29651
29652 @smallexample
29653 (gdb)
29654 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
29655 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29656 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
29657 (gdb)
29658 -data-list-register-values x
29659 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
29660 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29661 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
29662 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
29663 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
29664 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
29665 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
29666 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
29667 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
29668 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29669 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
29670 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
29671 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
29672 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
29673 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
29674 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
29675 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
29676 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
29677 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
29678 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
29679 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
29680 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
29681 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
29682 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
29683 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
29684 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
29685 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
29686 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
29687 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
29688 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
29689 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
29690 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
29691 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29692 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
29693 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
29694 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
29695 (gdb)
29696 @end smallexample
29697
29698
29699 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
29700 @findex -data-read-memory
29701
29702 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
29703
29704 @subsubheading Synopsis
29705
29706 @smallexample
29707 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29708 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
29709 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
29710 @end smallexample
29711
29712 @noindent
29713 where:
29714
29715 @table @samp
29716 @item @var{address}
29717 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29718 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29719 quoted using the C convention.
29720
29721 @item @var{word-format}
29722 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
29723 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
29724 ,Output Formats}).
29725
29726 @item @var{word-size}
29727 The size of each memory word in bytes.
29728
29729 @item @var{nr-rows}
29730 The number of rows in the output table.
29731
29732 @item @var{nr-cols}
29733 The number of columns in the output table.
29734
29735 @item @var{aschar}
29736 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
29737 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
29738 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
29739 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
29740
29741 @item @var{byte-offset}
29742 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
29743 @end table
29744
29745 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
29746 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
29747 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
29748 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
29749 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
29750 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
29751 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
29752 @samp{addr}.
29753
29754 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
29755 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
29756 @samp{prev-page}.
29757
29758 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29759
29760 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
29761 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
29762
29763 @subsubheading Example
29764
29765 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
29766 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
29767 word. Display each word in hex.
29768
29769 @smallexample
29770 (gdb)
29771 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
29772 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
29773 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
29774 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
29775 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
29776 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
29777 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
29778 (gdb)
29779 @end smallexample
29780
29781 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
29782 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
29783
29784 @smallexample
29785 (gdb)
29786 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
29787 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
29788 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
29789 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
29790 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
29791 (gdb)
29792 @end smallexample
29793
29794 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
29795 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
29796 used as the non-printable character.
29797
29798 @smallexample
29799 (gdb)
29800 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
29801 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
29802 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
29803 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
29804 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29805 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29806 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29807 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29808 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
29809 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
29810 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
29811 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
29812 (gdb)
29813 @end smallexample
29814
29815 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
29816 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
29817
29818 @subsubheading Synopsis
29819
29820 @smallexample
29821 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29822 @var{address} @var{count}
29823 @end smallexample
29824
29825 @noindent
29826 where:
29827
29828 @table @samp
29829 @item @var{address}
29830 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29831 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29832 quoted using the C convention.
29833
29834 @item @var{count}
29835 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
29836
29837 @item @var{byte-offset}
29838 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
29839 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
29840 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
29841 perform address arithmetics itself.
29842
29843 @end table
29844
29845 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
29846 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
29847 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
29848 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
29849 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
29850 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
29851
29852 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
29853 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
29854 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
29855 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
29856 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
29857 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
29858 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
29859 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
29860
29861 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
29862 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
29863 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
29864 and has the following fields:
29865
29866 @table @code
29867 @item begin
29868 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29869
29870 @item end
29871 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29872
29873 @item offset
29874 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
29875 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
29876
29877 @item contents
29878 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
29879
29880 @end table
29881
29882
29883
29884 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29885
29886 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
29887
29888 @subsubheading Example
29889
29890 @smallexample
29891 (gdb)
29892 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
29893 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
29894 end="0xbffff15e",
29895 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
29896 (gdb)
29897 @end smallexample
29898
29899
29900 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
29901 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
29902
29903 @subsubheading Synopsis
29904
29905 @smallexample
29906 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
29907 @end smallexample
29908
29909 @noindent
29910 where:
29911
29912 @table @samp
29913 @item @var{address}
29914 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29915 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29916 quoted using the C convention.
29917
29918 @item @var{contents}
29919 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
29920
29921 @end table
29922
29923 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29924
29925 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
29926
29927 @subsubheading Example
29928
29929 @smallexample
29930 (gdb)
29931 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
29932 ^done
29933 (gdb)
29934 @end smallexample
29935
29936
29937 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29938 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
29939 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
29940
29941 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
29942 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
29943
29944 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
29945 @findex -trace-find
29946
29947 @subsubheading Synopsis
29948
29949 @smallexample
29950 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
29951 @end smallexample
29952
29953 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
29954 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
29955 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
29956
29957 @table @samp
29958
29959 @item none
29960 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
29961
29962 @item frame-number
29963 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
29964 that index.
29965
29966 @item tracepoint-number
29967 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
29968 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
29969
29970 @item pc
29971 An address is required as parameter. Finds
29972 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
29973 address.
29974
29975 @item pc-inside-range
29976 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
29977 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
29978 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
29979
29980 @item pc-outside-range
29981 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
29982 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
29983 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
29984
29985 @item line
29986 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
29987 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
29988 the specified location.
29989
29990 @end table
29991
29992 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
29993 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
29994
29995 @table @samp
29996 @item found
29997 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
29998 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
29999
30000 @item traceframe
30001 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
30002 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30003
30004 @item tracepoint
30005 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
30006 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30007
30008 @item frame
30009 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
30010 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
30011 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
30012
30013 @end table
30014
30015 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30016
30017 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
30018
30019 @subheading -trace-define-variable
30020 @findex -trace-define-variable
30021
30022 @subsubheading Synopsis
30023
30024 @smallexample
30025 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
30026 @end smallexample
30027
30028 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
30029 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
30030 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
30031 with the @samp{$} character.
30032
30033 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30034
30035 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
30036
30037 @subheading -trace-list-variables
30038 @findex -trace-list-variables
30039
30040 @subsubheading Synopsis
30041
30042 @smallexample
30043 -trace-list-variables
30044 @end smallexample
30045
30046 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
30047 table has the following fields:
30048
30049 @table @samp
30050 @item name
30051 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
30052
30053 @item initial
30054 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
30055 field is always present.
30056
30057 @item current
30058 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
30059 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
30060 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
30061 presently running.
30062
30063 @end table
30064
30065 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30066
30067 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
30068
30069 @subsubheading Example
30070
30071 @smallexample
30072 (gdb)
30073 -trace-list-variables
30074 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
30075 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
30076 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
30077 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
30078 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
30079 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
30080 (gdb)
30081 @end smallexample
30082
30083 @subheading -trace-save
30084 @findex -trace-save
30085
30086 @subsubheading Synopsis
30087
30088 @smallexample
30089 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
30090 @end smallexample
30091
30092 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
30093 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
30094 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
30095 to perform the save.
30096
30097 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30098
30099 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
30100
30101
30102 @subheading -trace-start
30103 @findex -trace-start
30104
30105 @subsubheading Synopsis
30106
30107 @smallexample
30108 -trace-start
30109 @end smallexample
30110
30111 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
30112 have any fields.
30113
30114 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30115
30116 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
30117
30118 @subheading -trace-status
30119 @findex -trace-status
30120
30121 @subsubheading Synopsis
30122
30123 @smallexample
30124 -trace-status
30125 @end smallexample
30126
30127 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
30128 the following fields:
30129
30130 @table @samp
30131
30132 @item supported
30133 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
30134 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
30135 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
30136 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
30137 started. This field is always present.
30138
30139 @item running
30140 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
30141 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
30142 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30143
30144 @item stop-reason
30145 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
30146 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
30147 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
30148 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
30149 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
30150 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
30151 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
30152 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
30153 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30154
30155 @item stopping-tracepoint
30156 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
30157 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
30158 @samp{passcount}.
30159
30160 @item frames
30161 @itemx frames-created
30162 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
30163 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
30164 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
30165 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
30166
30167 @item buffer-size
30168 @itemx buffer-free
30169 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
30170 remaining space. These fields are optional.
30171
30172 @item circular
30173 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
30174 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
30175 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
30176 and may fill up.
30177
30178 @item disconnected
30179 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
30180 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
30181 that the trace run will stop.
30182
30183 @end table
30184
30185 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30186
30187 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
30188
30189 @subheading -trace-stop
30190 @findex -trace-stop
30191
30192 @subsubheading Synopsis
30193
30194 @smallexample
30195 -trace-stop
30196 @end smallexample
30197
30198 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
30199 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
30200 @samp{running} fields are not output.
30201
30202 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30203
30204 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
30205
30206
30207 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30208 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
30209 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
30210
30211
30212 @ignore
30213 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
30214 @findex -symbol-info-address
30215
30216 @subsubheading Synopsis
30217
30218 @smallexample
30219 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
30220 @end smallexample
30221
30222 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
30223
30224 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30225
30226 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
30227
30228 @subsubheading Example
30229 N.A.
30230
30231
30232 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
30233 @findex -symbol-info-file
30234
30235 @subsubheading Synopsis
30236
30237 @smallexample
30238 -symbol-info-file
30239 @end smallexample
30240
30241 Show the file for the symbol.
30242
30243 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30244
30245 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
30246 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
30247
30248 @subsubheading Example
30249 N.A.
30250
30251
30252 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
30253 @findex -symbol-info-function
30254
30255 @subsubheading Synopsis
30256
30257 @smallexample
30258 -symbol-info-function
30259 @end smallexample
30260
30261 Show which function the symbol lives in.
30262
30263 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30264
30265 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
30266
30267 @subsubheading Example
30268 N.A.
30269
30270
30271 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
30272 @findex -symbol-info-line
30273
30274 @subsubheading Synopsis
30275
30276 @smallexample
30277 -symbol-info-line
30278 @end smallexample
30279
30280 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
30281
30282 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30283
30284 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
30285 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
30286
30287 @subsubheading Example
30288 N.A.
30289
30290
30291 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
30292 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
30293
30294 @subsubheading Synopsis
30295
30296 @smallexample
30297 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
30298 @end smallexample
30299
30300 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
30301
30302 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30303
30304 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
30305
30306 @subsubheading Example
30307 N.A.
30308
30309
30310 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
30311 @findex -symbol-list-functions
30312
30313 @subsubheading Synopsis
30314
30315 @smallexample
30316 -symbol-list-functions
30317 @end smallexample
30318
30319 List the functions in the executable.
30320
30321 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30322
30323 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
30324 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30325
30326 @subsubheading Example
30327 N.A.
30328 @end ignore
30329
30330
30331 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
30332 @findex -symbol-list-lines
30333
30334 @subsubheading Synopsis
30335
30336 @smallexample
30337 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
30338 @end smallexample
30339
30340 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
30341 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
30342 ascending PC order.
30343
30344 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30345
30346 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30347
30348 @subsubheading Example
30349 @smallexample
30350 (gdb)
30351 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
30352 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
30353 (gdb)
30354 @end smallexample
30355
30356
30357 @ignore
30358 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
30359 @findex -symbol-list-types
30360
30361 @subsubheading Synopsis
30362
30363 @smallexample
30364 -symbol-list-types
30365 @end smallexample
30366
30367 List all the type names.
30368
30369 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30370
30371 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
30372 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30373
30374 @subsubheading Example
30375 N.A.
30376
30377
30378 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
30379 @findex -symbol-list-variables
30380
30381 @subsubheading Synopsis
30382
30383 @smallexample
30384 -symbol-list-variables
30385 @end smallexample
30386
30387 List all the global and static variable names.
30388
30389 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30390
30391 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30392
30393 @subsubheading Example
30394 N.A.
30395
30396
30397 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
30398 @findex -symbol-locate
30399
30400 @subsubheading Synopsis
30401
30402 @smallexample
30403 -symbol-locate
30404 @end smallexample
30405
30406 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30407
30408 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
30409
30410 @subsubheading Example
30411 N.A.
30412
30413
30414 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
30415 @findex -symbol-type
30416
30417 @subsubheading Synopsis
30418
30419 @smallexample
30420 -symbol-type @var{variable}
30421 @end smallexample
30422
30423 Show type of @var{variable}.
30424
30425 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30426
30427 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
30428 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
30429
30430 @subsubheading Example
30431 N.A.
30432 @end ignore
30433
30434
30435 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30436 @node GDB/MI File Commands
30437 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
30438
30439 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
30440 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
30441
30442 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
30443 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
30444
30445 @subsubheading Synopsis
30446
30447 @smallexample
30448 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
30449 @end smallexample
30450
30451 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
30452 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
30453 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
30454 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
30455 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
30456 notification.
30457
30458 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30459
30460 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
30461
30462 @subsubheading Example
30463
30464 @smallexample
30465 (gdb)
30466 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30467 ^done
30468 (gdb)
30469 @end smallexample
30470
30471
30472 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
30473 @findex -file-exec-file
30474
30475 @subsubheading Synopsis
30476
30477 @smallexample
30478 -file-exec-file @var{file}
30479 @end smallexample
30480
30481 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
30482 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
30483 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
30484 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
30485 notification.
30486
30487 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30488
30489 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
30490
30491 @subsubheading Example
30492
30493 @smallexample
30494 (gdb)
30495 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30496 ^done
30497 (gdb)
30498 @end smallexample
30499
30500
30501 @ignore
30502 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
30503 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
30504
30505 @subsubheading Synopsis
30506
30507 @smallexample
30508 -file-list-exec-sections
30509 @end smallexample
30510
30511 List the sections of the current executable file.
30512
30513 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30514
30515 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
30516 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
30517 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
30518
30519 @subsubheading Example
30520 N.A.
30521 @end ignore
30522
30523
30524 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
30525 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
30526
30527 @subsubheading Synopsis
30528
30529 @smallexample
30530 -file-list-exec-source-file
30531 @end smallexample
30532
30533 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
30534 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
30535 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
30536 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
30537
30538 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30539
30540 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
30541
30542 @subsubheading Example
30543
30544 @smallexample
30545 (gdb)
30546 123-file-list-exec-source-file
30547 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
30548 (gdb)
30549 @end smallexample
30550
30551
30552 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
30553 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
30554
30555 @subsubheading Synopsis
30556
30557 @smallexample
30558 -file-list-exec-source-files
30559 @end smallexample
30560
30561 List the source files for the current executable.
30562
30563 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
30564 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
30565
30566 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30567
30568 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
30569 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
30570
30571 @subsubheading Example
30572 @smallexample
30573 (gdb)
30574 -file-list-exec-source-files
30575 ^done,files=[
30576 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
30577 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
30578 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
30579 (gdb)
30580 @end smallexample
30581
30582 @ignore
30583 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
30584 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
30585
30586 @subsubheading Synopsis
30587
30588 @smallexample
30589 -file-list-shared-libraries
30590 @end smallexample
30591
30592 List the shared libraries in the program.
30593
30594 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30595
30596 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
30597
30598 @subsubheading Example
30599 N.A.
30600
30601
30602 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
30603 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
30604
30605 @subsubheading Synopsis
30606
30607 @smallexample
30608 -file-list-symbol-files
30609 @end smallexample
30610
30611 List symbol files.
30612
30613 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30614
30615 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
30616
30617 @subsubheading Example
30618 N.A.
30619 @end ignore
30620
30621
30622 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
30623 @findex -file-symbol-file
30624
30625 @subsubheading Synopsis
30626
30627 @smallexample
30628 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
30629 @end smallexample
30630
30631 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
30632 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
30633 produced, except for a completion notification.
30634
30635 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30636
30637 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
30638
30639 @subsubheading Example
30640
30641 @smallexample
30642 (gdb)
30643 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30644 ^done
30645 (gdb)
30646 @end smallexample
30647
30648 @ignore
30649 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30650 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
30651 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
30652
30653 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
30654
30655 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
30656
30657 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
30658
30659 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
30660
30661 @c @subheading -overlay-map
30662
30663 @c @subheading -overlay-off
30664
30665 @c @subheading -overlay-on
30666
30667 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
30668
30669 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30670 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
30671 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
30672
30673 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
30674
30675 @c @subheading -signal-handle
30676
30677 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
30678
30679 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
30680 @end ignore
30681
30682
30683 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30684 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
30685 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
30686
30687
30688 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
30689 @findex -target-attach
30690
30691 @subsubheading Synopsis
30692
30693 @smallexample
30694 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
30695 @end smallexample
30696
30697 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
30698 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
30699 group, the id previously returned by
30700 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
30701
30702 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30703
30704 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
30705
30706 @subsubheading Example
30707 @smallexample
30708 (gdb)
30709 -target-attach 34
30710 =thread-created,id="1"
30711 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
30712 ^done
30713 (gdb)
30714 @end smallexample
30715
30716 @ignore
30717 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
30718 @findex -target-compare-sections
30719
30720 @subsubheading Synopsis
30721
30722 @smallexample
30723 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
30724 @end smallexample
30725
30726 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
30727 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
30728
30729 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30730
30731 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
30732
30733 @subsubheading Example
30734 N.A.
30735 @end ignore
30736
30737
30738 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
30739 @findex -target-detach
30740
30741 @subsubheading Synopsis
30742
30743 @smallexample
30744 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
30745 @end smallexample
30746
30747 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
30748 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
30749 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
30750
30751 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30752
30753 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
30754
30755 @subsubheading Example
30756
30757 @smallexample
30758 (gdb)
30759 -target-detach
30760 ^done
30761 (gdb)
30762 @end smallexample
30763
30764
30765 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
30766 @findex -target-disconnect
30767
30768 @subsubheading Synopsis
30769
30770 @smallexample
30771 -target-disconnect
30772 @end smallexample
30773
30774 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
30775 generally not resumed.
30776
30777 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30778
30779 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
30780
30781 @subsubheading Example
30782
30783 @smallexample
30784 (gdb)
30785 -target-disconnect
30786 ^done
30787 (gdb)
30788 @end smallexample
30789
30790
30791 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
30792 @findex -target-download
30793
30794 @subsubheading Synopsis
30795
30796 @smallexample
30797 -target-download
30798 @end smallexample
30799
30800 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
30801 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
30802
30803 @table @samp
30804 @item section
30805 The name of the section.
30806 @item section-sent
30807 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
30808 @item section-size
30809 The size of the section.
30810 @item total-sent
30811 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
30812 @item total-size
30813 The size of the overall executable to download.
30814 @end table
30815
30816 @noindent
30817 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
30818 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
30819
30820 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
30821 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
30822
30823 @table @samp
30824 @item section
30825 The name of the section.
30826 @item section-size
30827 The size of the section.
30828 @item total-size
30829 The size of the overall executable to download.
30830 @end table
30831
30832 @noindent
30833 At the end, a summary is printed.
30834
30835 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30836
30837 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
30838
30839 @subsubheading Example
30840
30841 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
30842 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
30843
30844 @smallexample
30845 (gdb)
30846 -target-download
30847 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
30848 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
30849 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
30850 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
30851 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
30852 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
30853 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
30854 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
30855 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
30856 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
30857 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
30858 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
30859 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
30860 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
30861 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
30862 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
30863 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
30864 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
30865 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
30866 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
30867 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
30868 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
30869 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
30870 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
30871 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
30872 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
30873 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
30874 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30875 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30876 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
30877 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
30878 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
30879 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
30880 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
30881 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
30882 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
30883 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
30884 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
30885 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
30886 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
30887 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
30888 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
30889 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
30890 write-rate="429"
30891 (gdb)
30892 @end smallexample
30893
30894
30895 @ignore
30896 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
30897 @findex -target-exec-status
30898
30899 @subsubheading Synopsis
30900
30901 @smallexample
30902 -target-exec-status
30903 @end smallexample
30904
30905 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
30906 not, for instance).
30907
30908 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30909
30910 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
30911
30912 @subsubheading Example
30913 N.A.
30914
30915
30916 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
30917 @findex -target-list-available-targets
30918
30919 @subsubheading Synopsis
30920
30921 @smallexample
30922 -target-list-available-targets
30923 @end smallexample
30924
30925 List the possible targets to connect to.
30926
30927 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30928
30929 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
30930
30931 @subsubheading Example
30932 N.A.
30933
30934
30935 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
30936 @findex -target-list-current-targets
30937
30938 @subsubheading Synopsis
30939
30940 @smallexample
30941 -target-list-current-targets
30942 @end smallexample
30943
30944 Describe the current target.
30945
30946 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30947
30948 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
30949 other things).
30950
30951 @subsubheading Example
30952 N.A.
30953
30954
30955 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
30956 @findex -target-list-parameters
30957
30958 @subsubheading Synopsis
30959
30960 @smallexample
30961 -target-list-parameters
30962 @end smallexample
30963
30964 @c ????
30965 @end ignore
30966
30967 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30968
30969 No equivalent.
30970
30971 @subsubheading Example
30972 N.A.
30973
30974
30975 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
30976 @findex -target-select
30977
30978 @subsubheading Synopsis
30979
30980 @smallexample
30981 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
30982 @end smallexample
30983
30984 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
30985
30986 @table @samp
30987 @item @var{type}
30988 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
30989 @item @var{parameters}
30990 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
30991 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
30992 @end table
30993
30994 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
30995 which the target program is, in the following form:
30996
30997 @smallexample
30998 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
30999 args=[@var{arg list}]
31000 @end smallexample
31001
31002 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31003
31004 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
31005
31006 @subsubheading Example
31007
31008 @smallexample
31009 (gdb)
31010 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
31011 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
31012 (gdb)
31013 @end smallexample
31014
31015 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31016 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
31017 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
31018
31019
31020 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
31021 @findex -target-file-put
31022
31023 @subsubheading Synopsis
31024
31025 @smallexample
31026 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
31027 @end smallexample
31028
31029 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
31030 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
31031
31032 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31033
31034 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
31035
31036 @subsubheading Example
31037
31038 @smallexample
31039 (gdb)
31040 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
31041 ^done
31042 (gdb)
31043 @end smallexample
31044
31045
31046 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
31047 @findex -target-file-get
31048
31049 @subsubheading Synopsis
31050
31051 @smallexample
31052 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
31053 @end smallexample
31054
31055 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
31056 on the host system.
31057
31058 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31059
31060 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
31061
31062 @subsubheading Example
31063
31064 @smallexample
31065 (gdb)
31066 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
31067 ^done
31068 (gdb)
31069 @end smallexample
31070
31071
31072 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
31073 @findex -target-file-delete
31074
31075 @subsubheading Synopsis
31076
31077 @smallexample
31078 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
31079 @end smallexample
31080
31081 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
31082
31083 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31084
31085 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
31086
31087 @subsubheading Example
31088
31089 @smallexample
31090 (gdb)
31091 -target-file-delete remotefile
31092 ^done
31093 (gdb)
31094 @end smallexample
31095
31096
31097 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31098 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
31099 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31100
31101 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
31102
31103 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
31104 @findex -gdb-exit
31105
31106 @subsubheading Synopsis
31107
31108 @smallexample
31109 -gdb-exit
31110 @end smallexample
31111
31112 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
31113
31114 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31115
31116 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
31117
31118 @subsubheading Example
31119
31120 @smallexample
31121 (gdb)
31122 -gdb-exit
31123 ^exit
31124 @end smallexample
31125
31126
31127 @ignore
31128 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
31129 @findex -exec-abort
31130
31131 @subsubheading Synopsis
31132
31133 @smallexample
31134 -exec-abort
31135 @end smallexample
31136
31137 Kill the inferior running program.
31138
31139 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31140
31141 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
31142
31143 @subsubheading Example
31144 N.A.
31145 @end ignore
31146
31147
31148 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
31149 @findex -gdb-set
31150
31151 @subsubheading Synopsis
31152
31153 @smallexample
31154 -gdb-set
31155 @end smallexample
31156
31157 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
31158 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
31159
31160 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31161
31162 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
31163
31164 @subsubheading Example
31165
31166 @smallexample
31167 (gdb)
31168 -gdb-set $foo=3
31169 ^done
31170 (gdb)
31171 @end smallexample
31172
31173
31174 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
31175 @findex -gdb-show
31176
31177 @subsubheading Synopsis
31178
31179 @smallexample
31180 -gdb-show
31181 @end smallexample
31182
31183 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
31184
31185 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31186
31187 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
31188
31189 @subsubheading Example
31190
31191 @smallexample
31192 (gdb)
31193 -gdb-show annotate
31194 ^done,value="0"
31195 (gdb)
31196 @end smallexample
31197
31198 @c @subheading -gdb-source
31199
31200
31201 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
31202 @findex -gdb-version
31203
31204 @subsubheading Synopsis
31205
31206 @smallexample
31207 -gdb-version
31208 @end smallexample
31209
31210 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
31211
31212 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31213
31214 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
31215 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
31216
31217 @subsubheading Example
31218
31219 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
31220 @c box in TeX.
31221 @smallexample
31222 (gdb)
31223 -gdb-version
31224 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
31225 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31226 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
31227 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
31228 ~ certain conditions.
31229 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31230 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
31231 ~ details.
31232 ~This GDB was configured as
31233 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
31234 ^done
31235 (gdb)
31236 @end smallexample
31237
31238 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
31239 @findex -list-features
31240
31241 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
31242 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
31243 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
31244 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
31245 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
31246 startup.
31247
31248 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
31249 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
31250 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
31251 is given below.
31252
31253 Example output:
31254
31255 @smallexample
31256 (gdb) -list-features
31257 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
31258 @end smallexample
31259
31260 The current list of features is:
31261
31262 @table @samp
31263 @item frozen-varobjs
31264 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
31265 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
31266 of @code{-varobj-create}.
31267 @item pending-breakpoints
31268 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
31269 command.
31270 @item python
31271 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
31272 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
31273 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
31274 @item thread-info
31275 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
31276 @item data-read-memory-bytes
31277 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
31278 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
31279 @item breakpoint-notifications
31280 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
31281 CLI will be announced via async records.
31282 @item ada-task-info
31283 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
31284 @end table
31285
31286 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
31287 @findex -list-target-features
31288
31289 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
31290 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
31291 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
31292 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
31293 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
31294 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
31295 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
31296 Example output:
31297
31298 @smallexample
31299 (gdb) -list-features
31300 ^done,result=["async"]
31301 @end smallexample
31302
31303 The current list of features is:
31304
31305 @table @samp
31306 @item async
31307 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
31308 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
31309 while the target is running.
31310
31311 @item reverse
31312 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
31313 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31314
31315 @end table
31316
31317 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
31318 @findex -list-thread-groups
31319
31320 @subheading Synopsis
31321
31322 @smallexample
31323 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
31324 @end smallexample
31325
31326 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
31327 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
31328 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
31329 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
31330 top-level thread groups.
31331
31332 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
31333 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
31334 available on the target.
31335
31336 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
31337 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
31338 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
31339 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
31340 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
31341 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
31342 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
31343 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
31344
31345 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
31346 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
31347 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
31348 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
31349 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
31350 @samp{threads} field.
31351
31352 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
31353 the following caveats:
31354
31355 @itemize @bullet
31356 @item
31357 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
31358 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
31359 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
31360
31361 @item
31362 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
31363 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
31364 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
31365 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
31366 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
31367 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
31368
31369 @end itemize
31370
31371 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
31372 have the following fields:
31373
31374 @table @code
31375 @item id
31376 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
31377 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
31378 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
31379
31380 @item type
31381 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
31382 valid type.
31383
31384 @item pid
31385 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
31386 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
31387
31388 @item num_children
31389 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
31390 absent for an available thread group.
31391
31392 @item threads
31393 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
31394 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
31395 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
31396
31397 @item cores
31398 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
31399 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
31400 such information is not available.
31401
31402 @item executable
31403 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
31404 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
31405 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
31406
31407 @end table
31408
31409 @subheading Example
31410
31411 @smallexample
31412 @value{GDBP}
31413 -list-thread-groups
31414 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
31415 -list-thread-groups 17
31416 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
31417 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
31418 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
31419 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
31420 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
31421 -list-thread-groups --available
31422 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
31423 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
31424 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31425 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31426 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
31427 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
31428 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31429 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31430 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
31431 @end smallexample
31432
31433
31434 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
31435 @findex -add-inferior
31436
31437 @subheading Synopsis
31438
31439 @smallexample
31440 -add-inferior
31441 @end smallexample
31442
31443 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
31444 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
31445 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
31446 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
31447 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
31448 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
31449
31450 @subheading Example
31451
31452 @smallexample
31453 @value{GDBP}
31454 -add-inferior
31455 ^done,thread-group="i3"
31456 @end smallexample
31457
31458 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
31459 @findex -interpreter-exec
31460
31461 @subheading Synopsis
31462
31463 @smallexample
31464 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
31465 @end smallexample
31466 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
31467
31468 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
31469
31470 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31471
31472 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
31473
31474 @subheading Example
31475
31476 @smallexample
31477 (gdb)
31478 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
31479 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
31480 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
31481 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
31482 ^done
31483 (gdb)
31484 @end smallexample
31485
31486 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
31487 @findex -inferior-tty-set
31488
31489 @subheading Synopsis
31490
31491 @smallexample
31492 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31493 @end smallexample
31494
31495 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
31496
31497 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31498
31499 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
31500
31501 @subheading Example
31502
31503 @smallexample
31504 (gdb)
31505 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31506 ^done
31507 (gdb)
31508 @end smallexample
31509
31510 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
31511 @findex -inferior-tty-show
31512
31513 @subheading Synopsis
31514
31515 @smallexample
31516 -inferior-tty-show
31517 @end smallexample
31518
31519 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
31520
31521 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31522
31523 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
31524
31525 @subheading Example
31526
31527 @smallexample
31528 (gdb)
31529 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31530 ^done
31531 (gdb)
31532 -inferior-tty-show
31533 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
31534 (gdb)
31535 @end smallexample
31536
31537 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
31538 @findex -enable-timings
31539
31540 @subheading Synopsis
31541
31542 @smallexample
31543 -enable-timings [yes | no]
31544 @end smallexample
31545
31546 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
31547 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
31548 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
31549 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
31550
31551 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31552
31553 No equivalent.
31554
31555 @subheading Example
31556
31557 @smallexample
31558 (gdb)
31559 -enable-timings
31560 ^done
31561 (gdb)
31562 -break-insert main
31563 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
31564 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
31565 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
31566 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
31567 (gdb)
31568 -enable-timings no
31569 ^done
31570 (gdb)
31571 -exec-run
31572 ^running
31573 (gdb)
31574 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
31575 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
31576 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
31577 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
31578 (gdb)
31579 @end smallexample
31580
31581 @node Annotations
31582 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
31583
31584 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
31585 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
31586 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
31587 relatively high level.
31588
31589 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
31590 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
31591
31592 @ignore
31593 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
31594 @end ignore
31595
31596 @menu
31597 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
31598 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
31599 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
31600 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
31601 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
31602 * Annotations for Running::
31603 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
31604 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
31605 @end menu
31606
31607 @node Annotations Overview
31608 @section What is an Annotation?
31609 @cindex annotations
31610
31611 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
31612 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
31613 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
31614 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
31615 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
31616 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
31617 cannot contain newline characters.
31618
31619 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
31620 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
31621 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
31622 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
31623 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
31624 means those three characters as output.
31625
31626 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
31627 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
31628 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
31629 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
31630 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
31631 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
31632 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
31633 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
31634 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
31635
31636 @table @code
31637 @kindex set annotate
31638 @item set annotate @var{level}
31639 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
31640 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
31641
31642 @item show annotate
31643 @kindex show annotate
31644 Show the current annotation level.
31645 @end table
31646
31647 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
31648
31649 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
31650
31651 @smallexample
31652 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
31653 GNU gdb 6.0
31654 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31655 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
31656 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
31657 under certain conditions.
31658 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31659 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
31660 for details.
31661 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
31662
31663 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
31664 (@value{GDBP})
31665 ^Z^Zprompt
31666 @kbd{quit}
31667
31668 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
31669 $
31670 @end smallexample
31671
31672 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
31673 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
31674 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
31675 output from @value{GDBN}.
31676
31677 @node Server Prefix
31678 @section The Server Prefix
31679 @cindex server prefix
31680
31681 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
31682 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
31683 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
31684 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
31685 a transparent manner.
31686
31687 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
31688 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
31689 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
31690 @code{print} command.
31691
31692 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
31693 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
31694
31695 @node Prompting
31696 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
31697
31698 @cindex annotations for prompts
31699 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
31700 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
31701 over, etc.
31702
31703 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
31704 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
31705 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
31706 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
31707 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
31708 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
31709 features the following annotations:
31710
31711 @smallexample
31712 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
31713 ^Z^Zprompt
31714 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
31715 @end smallexample
31716
31717 The input types are
31718
31719 @table @code
31720 @findex pre-prompt annotation
31721 @findex prompt annotation
31722 @findex post-prompt annotation
31723 @item prompt
31724 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
31725
31726 @findex pre-commands annotation
31727 @findex commands annotation
31728 @findex post-commands annotation
31729 @item commands
31730 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
31731 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
31732
31733 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
31734 @findex overload-choice annotation
31735 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
31736 @item overload-choice
31737 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
31738
31739 @findex pre-query annotation
31740 @findex query annotation
31741 @findex post-query annotation
31742 @item query
31743 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
31744
31745 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
31746 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
31747 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
31748 @item prompt-for-continue
31749 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
31750 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
31751 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
31752 presence of annotations.
31753 @end table
31754
31755 @node Errors
31756 @section Errors
31757 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
31758
31759 @findex quit annotation
31760 @smallexample
31761 ^Z^Zquit
31762 @end smallexample
31763
31764 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
31765
31766 @findex error annotation
31767 @smallexample
31768 ^Z^Zerror
31769 @end smallexample
31770
31771 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
31772
31773 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
31774 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
31775 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
31776 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
31777 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
31778 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
31779 to the top level.
31780
31781 @findex error-begin annotation
31782 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
31783
31784 @smallexample
31785 ^Z^Zerror-begin
31786 @end smallexample
31787
31788 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
31789 message.
31790
31791 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
31792 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
31793 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
31794
31795 @node Invalidation
31796 @section Invalidation Notices
31797
31798 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
31799 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
31800 changed.
31801
31802 @table @code
31803 @findex frames-invalid annotation
31804 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
31805
31806 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
31807 have changed.
31808
31809 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
31810 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
31811
31812 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
31813 deleted a breakpoint.
31814 @end table
31815
31816 @node Annotations for Running
31817 @section Running the Program
31818 @cindex annotations for running programs
31819
31820 @findex starting annotation
31821 @findex stopping annotation
31822 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
31823 @code{step} or @code{continue},
31824
31825 @smallexample
31826 ^Z^Zstarting
31827 @end smallexample
31828
31829 is output. When the program stops,
31830
31831 @smallexample
31832 ^Z^Zstopped
31833 @end smallexample
31834
31835 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
31836 annotations describe how the program stopped.
31837
31838 @table @code
31839 @findex exited annotation
31840 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
31841 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
31842 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
31843
31844 @findex signalled annotation
31845 @findex signal-name annotation
31846 @findex signal-name-end annotation
31847 @findex signal-string annotation
31848 @findex signal-string-end annotation
31849 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
31850 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
31851 annotation continues:
31852
31853 @smallexample
31854 @var{intro-text}
31855 ^Z^Zsignal-name
31856 @var{name}
31857 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
31858 @var{middle-text}
31859 ^Z^Zsignal-string
31860 @var{string}
31861 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
31862 @var{end-text}
31863 @end smallexample
31864
31865 @noindent
31866 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
31867 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
31868 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
31869 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
31870 user's benefit and have no particular format.
31871
31872 @findex signal annotation
31873 @item ^Z^Zsignal
31874 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
31875 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
31876 terminated with it.
31877
31878 @findex breakpoint annotation
31879 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
31880 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
31881
31882 @findex watchpoint annotation
31883 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
31884 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
31885 @end table
31886
31887 @node Source Annotations
31888 @section Displaying Source
31889 @cindex annotations for source display
31890
31891 @findex source annotation
31892 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
31893
31894 @smallexample
31895 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
31896 @end smallexample
31897
31898 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
31899 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
31900 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
31901 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
31902 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
31903 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
31904 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
31905 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
31906 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
31907 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
31908 depend on the language).
31909
31910 @node JIT Interface
31911 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
31912 @cindex just-in-time compilation
31913 @cindex JIT compilation interface
31914
31915 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
31916 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
31917 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
31918 performance while maintaining platform independence.
31919
31920 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
31921 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
31922 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
31923 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
31924 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
31925 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
31926
31927 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
31928 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
31929 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
31930 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
31931 LLVM JIT.
31932
31933 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
31934 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
31935 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
31936 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
31937 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
31938 out about additional code.
31939
31940 @menu
31941 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
31942 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
31943 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
31944 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
31945 @end menu
31946
31947 @node Declarations
31948 @section JIT Declarations
31949
31950 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
31951 implement the interface:
31952
31953 @smallexample
31954 typedef enum
31955 @{
31956 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
31957 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
31958 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
31959 @} jit_actions_t;
31960
31961 struct jit_code_entry
31962 @{
31963 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
31964 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
31965 const char *symfile_addr;
31966 uint64_t symfile_size;
31967 @};
31968
31969 struct jit_descriptor
31970 @{
31971 uint32_t version;
31972 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
31973 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
31974 uint32_t action_flag;
31975 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
31976 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
31977 @};
31978
31979 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
31980 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
31981
31982 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
31983 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
31984 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
31985 @end smallexample
31986
31987 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
31988 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
31989 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
31990
31991 @node Registering Code
31992 @section Registering Code
31993
31994 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
31995
31996 @itemize @bullet
31997 @item
31998 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
31999 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
32000
32001 @item
32002 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
32003 file.
32004
32005 @item
32006 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
32007
32008 @item
32009 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
32010
32011 @item
32012 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
32013 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32014 @end itemize
32015
32016 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
32017 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
32018 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
32019 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
32020
32021 @node Unregistering Code
32022 @section Unregistering Code
32023
32024 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
32025
32026 @itemize @bullet
32027 @item
32028 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
32029
32030 @item
32031 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
32032
32033 @item
32034 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
32035 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32036 @end itemize
32037
32038 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
32039 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
32040
32041 @node Custom Debug Info
32042 @section Custom Debug Info
32043 @cindex custom JIT debug info
32044 @cindex JIT debug info reader
32045
32046 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
32047 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
32048 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
32049 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
32050 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
32051 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
32052 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
32053 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
32054 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
32055
32056 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
32057 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
32058 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
32059 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
32060 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
32061 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
32062 compiler.
32063
32064 @menu
32065 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
32066 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
32067 @end menu
32068
32069 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32070 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32071 @kindex jit-reader-load
32072 @kindex jit-reader-unload
32073
32074 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
32075 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
32076
32077 @table @code
32078 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader-name}
32079 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader-name}. On a UNIX system, this
32080 will usually load @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/@var{reader-name}}, where
32081 @var{libdir} is the system library directory, usually
32082 @file{/usr/local/lib}. Only one reader can be active at a time;
32083 trying to load a second reader when one is already loaded will result
32084 in @value{GDBN} reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by
32085 first unloading the current one using @code{jit-reader-load} and then
32086 invoking @code{jit-reader-load}.
32087
32088 @item jit-reader-unload
32089 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
32090
32091 @end table
32092
32093 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32094 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32095 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
32096
32097 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
32098 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
32099
32100 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
32101 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
32102 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
32103 the system include directory.
32104
32105 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
32106 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
32107 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
32108
32109 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
32110 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
32111
32112 @findex gdb_init_reader
32113 @smallexample
32114 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
32115 @end smallexample
32116
32117 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
32118
32119 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
32120 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
32121 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
32122 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
32123 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
32124 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
32125
32126 @smallexample
32127 struct gdb_reader_funcs
32128 @{
32129 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
32130 int reader_version;
32131
32132 /* For use by the reader. */
32133 void *priv_data;
32134
32135 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
32136 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
32137 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
32138 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
32139 @};
32140 @end smallexample
32141
32142 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
32143 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
32144
32145 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
32146 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
32147 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
32148 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
32149 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
32150 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
32151 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
32152 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
32153 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
32154 target's address space.
32155
32156 @node GDB Bugs
32157 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
32158 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
32159 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
32160
32161 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
32162
32163 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
32164 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
32165 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
32166 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
32167
32168 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
32169 information that enables us to fix the bug.
32170
32171 @menu
32172 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
32173 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
32174 @end menu
32175
32176 @node Bug Criteria
32177 @section Have You Found a Bug?
32178 @cindex bug criteria
32179
32180 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
32181
32182 @itemize @bullet
32183 @cindex fatal signal
32184 @cindex debugger crash
32185 @cindex crash of debugger
32186 @item
32187 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
32188 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
32189
32190 @cindex error on valid input
32191 @item
32192 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
32193 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
32194 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
32195
32196 @cindex invalid input
32197 @item
32198 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
32199 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
32200 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
32201 for traditional practice''.
32202
32203 @item
32204 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
32205 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
32206 @end itemize
32207
32208 @node Bug Reporting
32209 @section How to Report Bugs
32210 @cindex bug reports
32211 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
32212
32213 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
32214 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
32215 contact that organization first.
32216
32217 You can find contact information for many support companies and
32218 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
32219 distribution.
32220 @c should add a web page ref...
32221
32222 @ifset BUGURL
32223 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
32224 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
32225 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
32226 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
32227 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
32228 be used.
32229
32230 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
32231 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
32232 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
32233 @samp{bug-gdb}.
32234
32235 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
32236 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
32237 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
32238 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
32239 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
32240 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
32241 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
32242 bug reports to the mailing list.
32243 @end ifset
32244 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
32245 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
32246 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
32247 @end ifclear
32248 @end ifset
32249
32250 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
32251 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
32252 fact or leave it out, state it!
32253
32254 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
32255 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
32256 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
32257 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
32258 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
32259 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
32260 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
32261 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
32262 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
32263
32264 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
32265 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
32266 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
32267 self-contained.
32268
32269 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
32270 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
32271 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
32272 bugs properly.
32273
32274 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
32275
32276 @itemize @bullet
32277 @item
32278 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
32279 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
32280 version}.
32281
32282 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
32283 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
32284
32285 @item
32286 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
32287 version number.
32288
32289 @item
32290 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
32291 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
32292
32293 @item
32294 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
32295 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
32296 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
32297 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
32298 those compilers.
32299
32300 @item
32301 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
32302 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
32303 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
32304 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
32305
32306 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
32307 and then we might not encounter the bug.
32308
32309 @item
32310 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
32311 reproduce the bug.
32312
32313 @item
32314 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
32315 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
32316
32317 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
32318 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
32319 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
32320 a chance to make a mistake.
32321
32322 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
32323 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
32324 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
32325 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
32326 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
32327 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
32328 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
32329 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
32330
32331 @pindex script
32332 @cindex recording a session script
32333 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
32334 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
32335 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
32336 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
32337
32338 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
32339 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
32340
32341 @item
32342 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
32343 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
32344 it by context, not by line number.
32345
32346 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
32347 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
32348
32349 @end itemize
32350
32351 Here are some things that are not necessary:
32352
32353 @itemize @bullet
32354 @item
32355 A description of the envelope of the bug.
32356
32357 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
32358 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
32359 changes will not affect it.
32360
32361 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
32362 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
32363 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
32364 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
32365
32366 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
32367 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
32368 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
32369 less time, and so on.
32370
32371 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
32372 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
32373
32374 @item
32375 A patch for the bug.
32376
32377 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
32378 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
32379 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
32380 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
32381
32382 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
32383 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
32384 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
32385 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
32386
32387 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
32388 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
32389 help us to understand.
32390
32391 @item
32392 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
32393
32394 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
32395 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
32396 @end itemize
32397
32398 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
32399 @c and consists of the two following files:
32400 @c rluser.texi
32401 @c hsuser.texi
32402 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
32403 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
32404 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
32405 @include rluser.texi
32406 @include hsuser.texi
32407 @end ifclear
32408
32409 @node In Memoriam
32410 @appendix In Memoriam
32411
32412 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
32413 contributors:
32414
32415 @table @code
32416 @item Fred Fish
32417 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
32418 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
32419 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
32420
32421 @item Michael Snyder
32422 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
32423 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
32424 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
32425 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
32426 @end table
32427
32428 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
32429 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
32430
32431 @node Formatting Documentation
32432 @appendix Formatting Documentation
32433
32434 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
32435 @cindex reference card
32436 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
32437 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
32438 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
32439 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
32440 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
32441 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
32442
32443 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
32444 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
32445
32446 @smallexample
32447 make refcard.dvi
32448 @end smallexample
32449
32450 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
32451 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
32452 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
32453 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
32454 your @sc{dvi} output program.
32455
32456 @cindex documentation
32457
32458 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
32459 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
32460 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
32461 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
32462 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
32463 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
32464
32465 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
32466 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
32467 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
32468 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
32469 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
32470 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
32471 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
32472 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
32473
32474 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
32475 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
32476 @code{makeinfo}.
32477
32478 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
32479 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
32480 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
32481
32482 @smallexample
32483 cd gdb
32484 make gdb.info
32485 @end smallexample
32486
32487 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
32488 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
32489 Texinfo definitions file.
32490
32491 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
32492 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
32493 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
32494 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
32495 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
32496 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
32497 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
32498
32499 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
32500 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
32501 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
32502 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
32503 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
32504 directory.
32505
32506 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
32507 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
32508 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
32509 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
32510
32511 @smallexample
32512 make gdb.dvi
32513 @end smallexample
32514
32515 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
32516
32517 @node Installing GDB
32518 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
32519 @cindex installation
32520
32521 @menu
32522 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
32523 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
32524 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
32525 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
32526 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
32527 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
32528 @end menu
32529
32530 @node Requirements
32531 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
32532 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
32533
32534 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
32535 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
32536
32537 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
32538 @table @asis
32539 @item ISO C90 compiler
32540 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
32541 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
32542
32543 @end table
32544
32545 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
32546 @table @asis
32547 @item Expat
32548 @anchor{Expat}
32549 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
32550 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
32551 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
32552 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
32553 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
32554 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
32555
32556 Expat is used for:
32557
32558 @itemize @bullet
32559 @item
32560 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
32561 @item
32562 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
32563 @item
32564 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
32565 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
32566 @item
32567 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
32568 @item
32569 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
32570 @end itemize
32571
32572 @item zlib
32573 @cindex compressed debug sections
32574 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
32575 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
32576 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
32577 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
32578 information in such binaries.
32579
32580 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
32581 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
32582 @url{http://zlib.net}.
32583
32584 @item iconv
32585 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
32586 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
32587 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
32588 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
32589
32590 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
32591 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
32592 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
32593 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
32594
32595 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
32596 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
32597 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
32598
32599 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
32600 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
32601 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
32602 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
32603 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
32604 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
32605 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
32606 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
32607 @end table
32608
32609 @node Running Configure
32610 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
32611 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
32612 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
32613 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
32614 build the @code{gdb} program.
32615 @iftex
32616 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
32617 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
32618 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
32619 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
32620 @end iftex
32621
32622 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
32623 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
32624 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
32625
32626 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
32627 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
32628
32629 @table @code
32630 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
32631 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
32632
32633 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
32634 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
32635
32636 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
32637 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
32638
32639 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
32640 @sc{gnu} include files
32641
32642 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
32643 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
32644
32645 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
32646 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
32647
32648 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
32649 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
32650
32651 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
32652 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
32653
32654 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
32655 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
32656 @end table
32657
32658 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
32659 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
32660 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
32661
32662 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
32663 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
32664 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
32665 argument.
32666
32667 For example:
32668
32669 @smallexample
32670 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
32671 ./configure @var{host}
32672 make
32673 @end smallexample
32674
32675 @noindent
32676 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
32677 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
32678 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
32679 correct value by examining your system.)
32680
32681 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
32682 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
32683 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
32684 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
32685
32686 @need 750
32687 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
32688 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
32689 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
32690
32691 @smallexample
32692 sh configure @var{host}
32693 @end smallexample
32694
32695 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
32696 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
32697 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
32698 @file{configure}
32699 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
32700 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
32701
32702 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
32703 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
32704 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
32705 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
32706 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
32707 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
32708 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
32709 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
32710 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
32711
32712 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
32713 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
32714 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
32715 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
32716 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
32717
32718 @node Separate Objdir
32719 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
32720
32721 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
32722 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
32723 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
32724 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
32725 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
32726 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
32727 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
32728 program specified there.
32729
32730 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
32731 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
32732 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
32733 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
32734 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
32735 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
32736
32737 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
32738 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
32739
32740 @smallexample
32741 @group
32742 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
32743 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
32744 cd ../gdb-sun4
32745 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
32746 make
32747 @end group
32748 @end smallexample
32749
32750 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
32751 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
32752 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
32753 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
32754 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
32755 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
32756
32757 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
32758 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
32759 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
32760 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
32761 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
32762
32763 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
32764 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
32765 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
32766 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
32767 You specify a cross-debugging target by
32768 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
32769
32770 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
32771 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
32772 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
32773
32774 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
32775 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
32776 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
32777 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
32778 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
32779
32780 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
32781 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
32782 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
32783 with each other.
32784
32785 @node Config Names
32786 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
32787
32788 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
32789 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
32790 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
32791 of information in the following pattern:
32792
32793 @smallexample
32794 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
32795 @end smallexample
32796
32797 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
32798 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
32799 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
32800
32801 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
32802 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
32803 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
32804 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
32805 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
32806 abbreviations---for example:
32807
32808 @smallexample
32809 % sh config.sub i386-linux
32810 i386-pc-linux-gnu
32811 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
32812 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
32813 % sh config.sub hp9k700
32814 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
32815 % sh config.sub sun4
32816 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
32817 % sh config.sub sun3
32818 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
32819 % sh config.sub i986v
32820 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
32821 @end smallexample
32822
32823 @noindent
32824 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
32825 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
32826
32827 @node Configure Options
32828 @section @file{configure} Options
32829
32830 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
32831 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
32832 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
32833 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
32834
32835 @smallexample
32836 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
32837 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
32838 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
32839 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
32840 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
32841 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
32842 @var{host}
32843 @end smallexample
32844
32845 @noindent
32846 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
32847 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
32848 @samp{--}.
32849
32850 @table @code
32851 @item --help
32852 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
32853
32854 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
32855 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
32856 @file{@var{dir}}.
32857
32858 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
32859 Configure the source to install programs under directory
32860 @file{@var{dir}}.
32861
32862 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
32863 @need 2000
32864 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
32865 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
32866 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
32867 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
32868 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
32869 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
32870 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
32871 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
32872 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
32873 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
32874 @var{dirname}.
32875
32876 @item --norecursion
32877 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
32878 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
32879
32880 @item --target=@var{target}
32881 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
32882 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
32883 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
32884
32885 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
32886
32887 @item @var{host} @dots{}
32888 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
32889
32890 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
32891 @end table
32892
32893 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
32894 needed for special purposes only.
32895
32896 @node System-wide configuration
32897 @section System-wide configuration and settings
32898 @cindex system-wide init file
32899
32900 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
32901 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
32902 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
32903
32904 Here is the corresponding configure option:
32905
32906 @table @code
32907 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
32908 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
32909 @var{file}.
32910 @end table
32911
32912 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
32913 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
32914
32915 @itemize @bullet
32916 @item
32917 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
32918 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
32919 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
32920 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
32921 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
32922 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
32923
32924 @item
32925 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
32926 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
32927 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
32928 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
32929 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
32930 @end itemize
32931
32932 @node Maintenance Commands
32933 @appendix Maintenance Commands
32934 @cindex maintenance commands
32935 @cindex internal commands
32936
32937 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
32938 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
32939 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
32940 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
32941 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
32942
32943 @table @code
32944 @kindex maint agent
32945 @kindex maint agent-eval
32946 @item maint agent @var{expression}
32947 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
32948 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
32949 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
32950 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
32951 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
32952 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
32953 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
32954 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
32955 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
32956 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
32957 addition and return the sum.
32958
32959 @kindex maint info breakpoints
32960 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
32961 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
32962 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
32963 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
32964 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
32965 is shown:
32966
32967 @table @code
32968 @item breakpoint
32969 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
32970
32971 @item watchpoint
32972 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
32973
32974 @item longjmp
32975 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
32976 @code{longjmp} calls.
32977
32978 @item longjmp resume
32979 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
32980
32981 @item until
32982 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
32983
32984 @item finish
32985 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
32986
32987 @item shlib events
32988 Shared library events.
32989
32990 @end table
32991
32992 @kindex set displaced-stepping
32993 @kindex show displaced-stepping
32994 @cindex displaced stepping support
32995 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
32996 @item set displaced-stepping
32997 @itemx show displaced-stepping
32998 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
32999 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
33000 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
33001 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
33002 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
33003
33004 @table @code
33005 @item set displaced-stepping on
33006 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
33007 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
33008
33009 @item set displaced-stepping off
33010 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
33011 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
33012
33013 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
33014 @item set displaced-stepping auto
33015 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
33016 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
33017 architecture supports displaced stepping.
33018 @end table
33019
33020 @kindex maint check-symtabs
33021 @item maint check-symtabs
33022 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
33023
33024 @kindex maint cplus first_component
33025 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
33026 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
33027
33028 @kindex maint cplus namespace
33029 @item maint cplus namespace
33030 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
33031
33032 @kindex maint demangle
33033 @item maint demangle @var{name}
33034 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
33035
33036 @kindex maint deprecate
33037 @kindex maint undeprecate
33038 @cindex deprecated commands
33039 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
33040 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
33041 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
33042 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
33043 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
33044 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
33045 the replacement as part of the warning.
33046
33047 @kindex maint dump-me
33048 @item maint dump-me
33049 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
33050 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
33051 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
33052 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
33053
33054 @kindex maint internal-error
33055 @kindex maint internal-warning
33056 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33057 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33058 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
33059 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
33060 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
33061 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
33062 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
33063 @value{GDBN} session.
33064
33065 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
33066 used as the text of the error or warning message.
33067
33068 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
33069
33070 @smallexample
33071 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
33072 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
33073 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
33074 debugging may prove unreliable.
33075 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
33076 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
33077 (@value{GDBP})
33078 @end smallexample
33079
33080 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
33081 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
33082
33083 @kindex maint set internal-error
33084 @kindex maint show internal-error
33085 @kindex maint set internal-warning
33086 @kindex maint show internal-warning
33087 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33088 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
33089 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33090 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
33091 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
33092 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
33093 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
33094 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
33095 described in the table below.
33096
33097 @table @samp
33098 @item quit
33099 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
33100 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
33101
33102 @item corefile
33103 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
33104 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
33105 @end table
33106
33107 @kindex maint packet
33108 @item maint packet @var{text}
33109 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
33110 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
33111 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
33112 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
33113 checksum.
33114
33115 @kindex maint print architecture
33116 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33117 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
33118 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
33119
33120 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
33121 @item maint print c-tdesc
33122 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
33123 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
33124 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
33125
33126 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
33127 @item maint print dummy-frames
33128 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
33129
33130 @smallexample
33131 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
33132 @dots{}
33133 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
33134 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
33135 58 return (a + b);
33136 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
33137 @dots{}
33138 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
33139 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
33140 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
33141 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
33142 (@value{GDBP})
33143 @end smallexample
33144
33145 Takes an optional file parameter.
33146
33147 @kindex maint print registers
33148 @kindex maint print raw-registers
33149 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
33150 @kindex maint print register-groups
33151 @kindex maint print remote-registers
33152 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33153 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33154 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33155 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33156 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33157 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
33158
33159 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
33160 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
33161 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
33162 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
33163 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
33164 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
33165 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
33166 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
33167 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
33168
33169 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
33170 write the information.
33171
33172 @kindex maint print reggroups
33173 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33174 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
33175 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
33176 information.
33177
33178 The register groups info looks like this:
33179
33180 @smallexample
33181 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
33182 Group Type
33183 general user
33184 float user
33185 all user
33186 vector user
33187 system user
33188 save internal
33189 restore internal
33190 @end smallexample
33191
33192 @kindex flushregs
33193 @item flushregs
33194 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
33195
33196 @kindex maint print objfiles
33197 @cindex info for known object files
33198 @item maint print objfiles
33199 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
33200 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
33201 and symtabs.
33202
33203 @kindex maint print section-scripts
33204 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
33205 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
33206 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
33207 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
33208 matching @var{regexp}.
33209 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
33210 and the full path if known.
33211 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
33212
33213 @kindex maint print statistics
33214 @cindex bcache statistics
33215 @item maint print statistics
33216 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
33217 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
33218 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
33219 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
33220 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
33221 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
33222 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
33223 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
33224 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
33225 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
33226 lengths.
33227
33228 @kindex maint print target-stack
33229 @cindex target stack description
33230 @item maint print target-stack
33231 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
33232 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
33233 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
33234 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
33235 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
33236 address.
33237
33238 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
33239 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
33240
33241 @kindex maint print type
33242 @cindex type chain of a data type
33243 @item maint print type @var{expr}
33244 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
33245 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
33246 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
33247 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
33248 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
33249
33250 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
33251 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
33252 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
33253 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
33254 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
33255 information.
33256
33257 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
33258 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
33259 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
33260 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
33261 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
33262 always see the disassembly form.
33263
33264 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
33265
33266 @smallexample
33267 (gdb) info addr argc
33268 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
33269 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
33270 @end smallexample
33271
33272 For more information on these expressions, see
33273 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
33274
33275 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
33276 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
33277 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
33278 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
33279 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
33280
33281 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
33282 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
33283 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
33284 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
33285 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
33286 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
33287 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
33288 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
33289 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
33290
33291 @kindex maint set profile
33292 @kindex maint show profile
33293 @cindex profiling GDB
33294 @item maint set profile
33295 @itemx maint show profile
33296 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
33297
33298 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
33299 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
33300 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
33301 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
33302 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
33303 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
33304 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
33305
33306 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
33307 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
33308
33309 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
33310 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
33311 @cindex hardware debug registers
33312 @item maint set show-debug-regs
33313 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
33314 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
33315 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
33316 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
33317 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
33318 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
33319
33320 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
33321 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
33322 @item maint set show-all-tib
33323 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
33324 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
33325 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
33326 command.
33327
33328 @kindex maint space
33329 @cindex memory used by commands
33330 @item maint space
33331 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
33332 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
33333 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
33334 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
33335 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33336
33337 @kindex maint time
33338 @cindex time of command execution
33339 @item maint time
33340 Control whether to display the execution time of @value{GDBN} for each command.
33341 If set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
33342 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
33343 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
33344 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
33345 CPU or, e.g., disk/network, latency.
33346 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
33347 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
33348 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
33349 spent by the program been debugged.
33350 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
33351 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33352
33353 @kindex maint translate-address
33354 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
33355 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
33356 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
33357 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
33358 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
33359 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
33360 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
33361
33362 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
33363 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
33364 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
33365
33366 @end table
33367
33368 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
33369 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
33370
33371 @table @code
33372 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
33373 @kindex set watchdog
33374 @cindex watchdog timer
33375 @cindex timeout for commands
33376 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
33377 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
33378 reports and error and the command is aborted.
33379
33380 @item show watchdog
33381 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
33382 @end table
33383
33384 @node Remote Protocol
33385 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
33386
33387 @menu
33388 * Overview::
33389 * Packets::
33390 * Stop Reply Packets::
33391 * General Query Packets::
33392 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
33393 * Tracepoint Packets::
33394 * Host I/O Packets::
33395 * Interrupts::
33396 * Notification Packets::
33397 * Remote Non-Stop::
33398 * Packet Acknowledgment::
33399 * Examples::
33400 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
33401 * Library List Format::
33402 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
33403 * Memory Map Format::
33404 * Thread List Format::
33405 * Traceframe Info Format::
33406 @end menu
33407
33408 @node Overview
33409 @section Overview
33410
33411 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
33412 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
33413 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
33414 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
33415
33416 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
33417 transmitted and received data, respectively.
33418
33419 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
33420 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
33421 @cindex remote serial protocol
33422 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
33423 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
33424 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
33425 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
33426 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
33427
33428 @smallexample
33429 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33430 @end smallexample
33431 @noindent
33432
33433 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
33434 @noindent
33435 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
33436 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
33437 eight bit unsigned checksum).
33438
33439 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
33440 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
33441
33442 @smallexample
33443 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33444 @end smallexample
33445
33446 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
33447 @noindent
33448 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
33449 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
33450 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
33451
33452 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
33453 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
33454 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
33455 retransmission):
33456
33457 @smallexample
33458 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33459 <- @code{+}
33460 @end smallexample
33461 @noindent
33462
33463 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
33464 once a connection is established.
33465 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
33466
33467 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
33468 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
33469 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
33470 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
33471 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
33472 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
33473 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
33474
33475 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
33476 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
33477 exceptions).
33478
33479 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
33480 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
33481 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
33482 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
33483
33484 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
33485 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
33486 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
33487
33488 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
33489 @anchor{Binary Data}
33490 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
33491 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
33492 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
33493 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
33494 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
33495 binary data.
33496
33497 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
33498 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
33499 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
33500 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
33501 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
33502 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
33503 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
33504 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
33505 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
33506 (described next).
33507
33508 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
33509 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
33510 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
33511 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
33512 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
33513 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
33514 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
33515 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
33516 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
33517 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
33518 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
33519 3}} more times.
33520
33521 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
33522 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
33523 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
33524 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
33525 @samp{0*"00}.
33526
33527 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
33528 error number. That number is not well defined.
33529
33530 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
33531 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
33532 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
33533 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
33534 on that response.
33535
33536 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
33537 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
33538 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
33539 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
33540 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
33541 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
33542
33543 @node Packets
33544 @section Packets
33545
33546 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
33547 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
33548 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
33549 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
33550
33551 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
33552 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
33553 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
33554 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
33555 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
33556 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
33557 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
33558 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
33559 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
33560 @var{baz}.
33561
33562 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
33563 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
33564 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
33565 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
33566 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
33567 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
33568 pick any thread.
33569
33570 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
33571 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
33572 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
33573 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
33574 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
33575 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
33576 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
33577 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
33578 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
33579 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
33580 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
33581 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
33582 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
33583
33584 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
33585 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
33586 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
33587 more information.
33588
33589 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
33590 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
33591
33592 Here are the packet descriptions.
33593
33594 @table @samp
33595
33596 @item !
33597 @cindex @samp{!} packet
33598 @anchor{extended mode}
33599 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
33600 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
33601 debugged.
33602
33603 Reply:
33604 @table @samp
33605 @item OK
33606 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
33607 @end table
33608
33609 @item ?
33610 @cindex @samp{?} packet
33611 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
33612 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
33613 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
33614
33615 Reply:
33616 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33617
33618 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
33619 @cindex @samp{A} packet
33620 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
33621 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
33622 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
33623
33624 Reply:
33625 @table @samp
33626 @item OK
33627 The arguments were set.
33628 @item E @var{NN}
33629 An error occurred.
33630 @end table
33631
33632 @item b @var{baud}
33633 @cindex @samp{b} packet
33634 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
33635 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
33636
33637 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
33638 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
33639 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
33640
33641 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
33642 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
33643 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
33644 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
33645 of view, nothing actually happened.}
33646
33647 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
33648 @cindex @samp{B} packet
33649 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
33650 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
33651
33652 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
33653 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
33654
33655 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
33656 @anchor{bc}
33657 @item bc
33658 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
33659 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33660
33661 Reply:
33662 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33663
33664 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
33665 @anchor{bs}
33666 @item bs
33667 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
33668 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33669
33670 Reply:
33671 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33672
33673 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
33674 @cindex @samp{c} packet
33675 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
33676 resume at current address.
33677
33678 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33679 packet}.
33680
33681 Reply:
33682 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33683
33684 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
33685 @cindex @samp{C} packet
33686 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
33687 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
33688
33689 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33690 packet}.
33691
33692 Reply:
33693 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33694
33695 @item d
33696 @cindex @samp{d} packet
33697 Toggle debug flag.
33698
33699 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
33700 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
33701
33702 @item D
33703 @itemx D;@var{pid}
33704 @cindex @samp{D} packet
33705 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
33706 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
33707 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
33708
33709 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
33710 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
33711 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
33712 big-endian hex string.
33713
33714 Reply:
33715 @table @samp
33716 @item OK
33717 for success
33718 @item E @var{NN}
33719 for an error
33720 @end table
33721
33722 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
33723 @cindex @samp{F} packet
33724 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
33725 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
33726 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
33727
33728 @item g
33729 @anchor{read registers packet}
33730 @cindex @samp{g} packet
33731 Read general registers.
33732
33733 Reply:
33734 @table @samp
33735 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33736 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
33737 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
33738 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
33739 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
33740 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
33741 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
33742
33743 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
33744 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
33745 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
33746 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
33747 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
33748 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
33749 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
33750 have been collected, and both have zero value:
33751
33752 @smallexample
33753 -> @code{g}
33754 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
33755 @end smallexample
33756
33757 @item E @var{NN}
33758 for an error.
33759 @end table
33760
33761 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
33762 @cindex @samp{G} packet
33763 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
33764 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
33765
33766 Reply:
33767 @table @samp
33768 @item OK
33769 for success
33770 @item E @var{NN}
33771 for an error
33772 @end table
33773
33774 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
33775 @cindex @samp{H} packet
33776 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
33777 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
33778 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
33779 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
33780 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
33781 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
33782 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
33783
33784 Reply:
33785 @table @samp
33786 @item OK
33787 for success
33788 @item E @var{NN}
33789 for an error
33790 @end table
33791
33792 @c FIXME: JTC:
33793 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
33794 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
33795 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
33796 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
33797 @c described. For example:
33798 @c
33799 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
33800 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
33801 @c otherwise returns current registers.
33802 @c
33803 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
33804 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
33805 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
33806
33807 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
33808 @anchor{cycle step packet}
33809 @cindex @samp{i} packet
33810 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
33811 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
33812 step starting at that address.
33813
33814 @item I
33815 @cindex @samp{I} packet
33816 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
33817 step packet}.
33818
33819 @item k
33820 @cindex @samp{k} packet
33821 Kill request.
33822
33823 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
33824 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
33825 thread?)}.
33826
33827 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
33828 @cindex @samp{m} packet
33829 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
33830 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
33831
33832 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
33833 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
33834 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
33835 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
33836 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
33837 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
33838 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
33839 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
33840
33841 Reply:
33842 @table @samp
33843 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33844 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
33845 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
33846 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
33847 @item E @var{NN}
33848 @var{NN} is errno
33849 @end table
33850
33851 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
33852 @cindex @samp{M} packet
33853 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
33854 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
33855 hexadecimal number.
33856
33857 Reply:
33858 @table @samp
33859 @item OK
33860 for success
33861 @item E @var{NN}
33862 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
33863 written).
33864 @end table
33865
33866 @item p @var{n}
33867 @cindex @samp{p} packet
33868 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
33869 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
33870 register value is encoded.
33871
33872 Reply:
33873 @table @samp
33874 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33875 the register's value
33876 @item E @var{NN}
33877 for an error
33878 @item
33879 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
33880 @end table
33881
33882 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
33883 @anchor{write register packet}
33884 @cindex @samp{P} packet
33885 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
33886 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
33887 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
33888
33889 Reply:
33890 @table @samp
33891 @item OK
33892 for success
33893 @item E @var{NN}
33894 for an error
33895 @end table
33896
33897 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
33898 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
33899 @cindex @samp{q} packet
33900 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
33901 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
33902 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
33903
33904 @item r
33905 @cindex @samp{r} packet
33906 Reset the entire system.
33907
33908 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
33909
33910 @item R @var{XX}
33911 @cindex @samp{R} packet
33912 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
33913 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
33914
33915 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
33916
33917 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
33918 @cindex @samp{s} packet
33919 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
33920 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
33921
33922 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33923 packet}.
33924
33925 Reply:
33926 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33927
33928 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
33929 @anchor{step with signal packet}
33930 @cindex @samp{S} packet
33931 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
33932 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
33933
33934 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33935 packet}.
33936
33937 Reply:
33938 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33939
33940 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
33941 @cindex @samp{t} packet
33942 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
33943 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
33944 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
33945
33946 @item T @var{thread-id}
33947 @cindex @samp{T} packet
33948 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
33949
33950 Reply:
33951 @table @samp
33952 @item OK
33953 thread is still alive
33954 @item E @var{NN}
33955 thread is dead
33956 @end table
33957
33958 @item v
33959 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
33960 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
33961
33962 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
33963 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
33964 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
33965 The process ID is a
33966 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
33967 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
33968 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
33969
33970 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
33971 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
33972 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
33973 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
33974 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
33975 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
33976 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
33977 @c stopping or restarting threads.
33978
33979 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
33980
33981 Reply:
33982 @table @samp
33983 @item E @var{nn}
33984 for an error
33985 @item @r{Any stop packet}
33986 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
33987 @item OK
33988 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
33989 @end table
33990
33991 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
33992 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
33993 @anchor{vCont packet}
33994 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
33995 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
33996 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
33997 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
33998 in their current state in non-stop mode.
33999 Specifying multiple
34000 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
34001 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34002
34003 Currently supported actions are:
34004
34005 @table @samp
34006 @item c
34007 Continue.
34008 @item C @var{sig}
34009 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
34010 @item s
34011 Step.
34012 @item S @var{sig}
34013 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
34014 @item t
34015 Stop.
34016 @end table
34017
34018 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
34019 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
34020 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
34021
34022 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
34023 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
34024 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
34025 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
34026 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
34027 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
34028 as an implementation detail.
34029
34030 Reply:
34031 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34032
34033 @item vCont?
34034 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
34035 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
34036
34037 Reply:
34038 @table @samp
34039 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
34040 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
34041 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
34042 @item
34043 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
34044 @end table
34045
34046 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
34047 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
34048 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
34049 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
34050
34051 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
34052 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
34053 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
34054 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
34055 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
34056 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
34057 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
34058 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
34059 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
34060 packet is received.
34061
34062 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
34063 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
34064 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
34065 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
34066 @var{thread-id}.
34067
34068 Reply:
34069 @table @samp
34070 @item OK
34071 for success
34072 @item E @var{NN}
34073 for an error
34074 @end table
34075
34076 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34077 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
34078 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
34079 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
34080 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
34081 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
34082 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
34083 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
34084 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
34085 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
34086 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
34087 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
34088
34089
34090 Reply:
34091 @table @samp
34092 @item OK
34093 for success
34094 @item E.memtype
34095 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
34096 @item E @var{NN}
34097 for an error
34098 @end table
34099
34100 @item vFlashDone
34101 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
34102 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
34103 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
34104 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
34105 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
34106 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
34107 request is completed.
34108
34109 @item vKill;@var{pid}
34110 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
34111 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
34112 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
34113 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
34114 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
34115
34116 Reply:
34117 @table @samp
34118 @item E @var{nn}
34119 for an error
34120 @item OK
34121 for success
34122 @end table
34123
34124 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
34125 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
34126 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
34127 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
34128 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
34129 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
34130 state.
34131
34132 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
34133
34134 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34135
34136 Reply:
34137 @table @samp
34138 @item E @var{nn}
34139 for an error
34140 @item @r{Any stop packet}
34141 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34142 @end table
34143
34144 @item vStopped
34145 @anchor{vStopped packet}
34146 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
34147
34148 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
34149 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
34150
34151 Reply:
34152 @table @samp
34153 @item @r{Any stop packet}
34154 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34155 @item OK
34156 if there are no unreported stop events
34157 @end table
34158
34159 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34160 @anchor{X packet}
34161 @cindex @samp{X} packet
34162 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
34163 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
34164 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
34165
34166 Reply:
34167 @table @samp
34168 @item OK
34169 for success
34170 @item E @var{NN}
34171 for an error
34172 @end table
34173
34174 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
34175 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
34176 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
34177 @cindex @samp{z} packet
34178 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
34179 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
34180 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
34181
34182 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
34183 separately.
34184
34185 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
34186 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
34187 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
34188 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
34189 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
34190 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
34191
34192 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34193 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34194 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
34195 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
34196 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
34197 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
34198
34199 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
34200 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
34201 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
34202 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
34203 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
34204 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
34205 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
34206
34207 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
34208 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
34209 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
34210 target, is not defined.}
34211
34212 Reply:
34213 @table @samp
34214 @item OK
34215 success
34216 @item
34217 not supported
34218 @item E @var{NN}
34219 for an error
34220 @end table
34221
34222 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34223 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34224 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
34225 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
34226 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
34227 address @var{addr}.
34228
34229 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
34230 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
34231 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
34232
34233 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
34234 movement.}
34235
34236 Reply:
34237 @table @samp
34238 @item OK
34239 success
34240 @item
34241 not supported
34242 @item E @var{NN}
34243 for an error
34244 @end table
34245
34246 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34247 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34248 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
34249 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
34250 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34251 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34252
34253 Reply:
34254 @table @samp
34255 @item OK
34256 success
34257 @item
34258 not supported
34259 @item E @var{NN}
34260 for an error
34261 @end table
34262
34263 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34264 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34265 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
34266 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
34267 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34268 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34269
34270 Reply:
34271 @table @samp
34272 @item OK
34273 success
34274 @item
34275 not supported
34276 @item E @var{NN}
34277 for an error
34278 @end table
34279
34280 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34281 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34282 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
34283 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
34284 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34285 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34286
34287 Reply:
34288 @table @samp
34289 @item OK
34290 success
34291 @item
34292 not supported
34293 @item E @var{NN}
34294 for an error
34295 @end table
34296
34297 @end table
34298
34299 @node Stop Reply Packets
34300 @section Stop Reply Packets
34301 @cindex stop reply packets
34302
34303 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
34304 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
34305 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
34306 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
34307 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
34308 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
34309 @value{GDBN} source code.
34310
34311 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
34312 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
34313 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
34314 components.
34315
34316 @table @samp
34317
34318 @item S @var{AA}
34319 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
34320 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
34321 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
34322
34323 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
34324 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
34325 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
34326 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
34327 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
34328 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
34329 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
34330 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
34331
34332 @itemize @bullet
34333 @item
34334 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
34335 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
34336 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
34337 two-digit hex number.
34338
34339 @item
34340 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
34341 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34342
34343 @item
34344 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
34345 the core on which the stop event was detected.
34346
34347 @item
34348 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
34349 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
34350 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
34351 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
34352
34353 @item
34354 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
34355 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
34356 future.
34357 @end itemize
34358
34359 The currently defined stop reasons are:
34360
34361 @table @samp
34362 @item watch
34363 @itemx rwatch
34364 @itemx awatch
34365 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
34366 hex.
34367
34368 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
34369 @item library
34370 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
34371 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
34372 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
34373
34374 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
34375 @item replaylog
34376 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
34377 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
34378 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
34379 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
34380 for more information.
34381 @end table
34382
34383 @item W @var{AA}
34384 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
34385 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
34386 applicable to certain targets.
34387
34388 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
34389 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
34390 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
34391 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
34392
34393 @item X @var{AA}
34394 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
34395 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
34396
34397 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
34398 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
34399 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
34400 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
34401
34402 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
34403 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
34404 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
34405 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
34406 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
34407
34408 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
34409 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
34410 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
34411 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
34412 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
34413 system calls.
34414
34415 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
34416 this very system call.
34417
34418 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
34419 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
34420 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
34421 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
34422 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
34423 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
34424
34425 @end table
34426
34427 @node General Query Packets
34428 @section General Query Packets
34429 @cindex remote query requests
34430
34431 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
34432 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
34433 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
34434 sending information to and from the stub.
34435
34436 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
34437 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
34438 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
34439 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
34440 conventions:
34441
34442 @itemize @bullet
34443 @item
34444 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
34445 @item
34446 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
34447 letter.
34448 @item
34449 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
34450 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
34451 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
34452 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
34453 @end itemize
34454
34455 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
34456 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
34457 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
34458 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
34459 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
34460 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
34461 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
34462 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
34463 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
34464 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
34465 packet.}.
34466
34467 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
34468 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
34469 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
34470 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
34471 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
34472
34473 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
34474
34475 @table @samp
34476
34477 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
34478 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
34479 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
34480 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
34481 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
34482 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
34483 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
34484 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
34485 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
34486 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
34487 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
34488
34489 @item qC
34490 @cindex current thread, remote request
34491 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
34492 Return the current thread ID.
34493
34494 Reply:
34495 @table @samp
34496 @item QC @var{thread-id}
34497 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
34498 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34499 @item @r{(anything else)}
34500 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
34501 @end table
34502
34503 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
34504 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
34505 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
34506 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
34507 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
34508 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
34509 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
34510
34511 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
34512 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
34513 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
34514 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
34515 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
34516 detect trailing zeros.
34517
34518 Reply:
34519 @table @samp
34520 @item E @var{NN}
34521 An error (such as memory fault)
34522 @item C @var{crc32}
34523 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
34524 @end table
34525
34526 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
34527 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
34528 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
34529 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
34530 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
34531 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
34532 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
34533 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
34534 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
34535 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
34536 randomization.
34537
34538 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34539
34540 Reply:
34541 @table @samp
34542 @item OK
34543 The request succeeded.
34544
34545 @item E @var{nn}
34546 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34547
34548 @item
34549 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
34550 by the stub.
34551 @end table
34552
34553 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34554 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34555 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
34556 address space randomization.
34557
34558 @item qfThreadInfo
34559 @itemx qsThreadInfo
34560 @cindex list active threads, remote request
34561 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
34562 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
34563 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
34564 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
34565 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
34566 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
34567 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
34568 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
34569
34570 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
34571
34572 Reply:
34573 @table @samp
34574 @item m @var{thread-id}
34575 A single thread ID
34576 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
34577 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
34578 @item l
34579 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
34580 @end table
34581
34582 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
34583 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
34584 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
34585 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
34586 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
34587 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
34588 fields.
34589
34590 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
34591 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
34592 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
34593 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
34594 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
34595
34596 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
34597 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
34598
34599 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
34600 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
34601 information associated with the variable.)
34602
34603 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
34604 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
34605 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
34606 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
34607 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
34608 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
34609
34610 Reply:
34611 @table @samp
34612 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34613 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
34614 local storage requested.
34615
34616 @item E @var{nn}
34617 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34618
34619 @item
34620 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
34621 @end table
34622
34623 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
34624 @cindex get thread information block address
34625 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
34626 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
34627
34628 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
34629
34630 Reply:
34631 @table @samp
34632 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34633 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
34634 thread information block.
34635
34636 @item E @var{nn}
34637 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
34638 address could not be retrieved.
34639
34640 @item
34641 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
34642 @end table
34643
34644 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
34645 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
34646 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
34647 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
34648 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
34649 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
34650 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
34651
34652 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
34653
34654 Reply:
34655 @table @samp
34656 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
34657 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
34658 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
34659 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
34660 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
34661 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
34662 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
34663 @end table
34664
34665 @item qOffsets
34666 @cindex section offsets, remote request
34667 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
34668 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
34669 image.
34670
34671 Reply:
34672 @table @samp
34673 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
34674 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
34675 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
34676 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
34677 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
34678 segments by the supplied offsets.
34679
34680 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
34681 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
34682 to the @code{Bss} section.}
34683
34684 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
34685 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
34686 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
34687 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
34688 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
34689 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
34690 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
34691 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
34692 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
34693 @end table
34694
34695 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
34696 @cindex thread information, remote request
34697 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
34698 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
34699 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
34700 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
34701
34702 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
34703 (see below).
34704
34705 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
34706
34707 @item QNonStop:1
34708 @item QNonStop:0
34709 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
34710 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
34711 @anchor{QNonStop}
34712 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
34713 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
34714
34715 Reply:
34716 @table @samp
34717 @item OK
34718 The request succeeded.
34719
34720 @item E @var{nn}
34721 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34722
34723 @item
34724 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
34725 the stub.
34726 @end table
34727
34728 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34729 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34730 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
34731 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
34732
34733 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
34734 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
34735 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
34736 @anchor{QPassSignals}
34737 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
34738 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
34739 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
34740 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
34741 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
34742 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
34743 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
34744 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
34745 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
34746
34747 Reply:
34748 @table @samp
34749 @item OK
34750 The request succeeded.
34751
34752 @item E @var{nn}
34753 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34754
34755 @item
34756 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
34757 the stub.
34758 @end table
34759
34760 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
34761 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
34762 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34763 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34764
34765 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
34766 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
34767 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
34768 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
34769 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
34770 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
34771 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
34772 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
34773 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
34774
34775 Reply:
34776 @table @samp
34777 @item OK
34778 A command response with no output.
34779 @item @var{OUTPUT}
34780 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
34781 @item E @var{NN}
34782 Indicate a badly formed request.
34783 @item
34784 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
34785 @end table
34786
34787 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
34788 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
34789 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
34790 packets.)
34791
34792 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
34793 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
34794 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
34795 @anchor{qSearch memory}
34796 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
34797 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
34798 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
34799
34800 Reply:
34801 @table @samp
34802 @item 0
34803 The pattern was not found.
34804 @item 1,address
34805 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
34806 @item E @var{NN}
34807 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
34808 @item
34809 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
34810 @end table
34811
34812 @item QStartNoAckMode
34813 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
34814 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
34815 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
34816 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
34817
34818 Reply:
34819 @table @samp
34820 @item OK
34821 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
34822 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
34823 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
34824 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
34825 @item
34826 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
34827 @end table
34828
34829 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
34830 @cindex supported packets, remote query
34831 @cindex features of the remote protocol
34832 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
34833 @anchor{qSupported}
34834 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
34835 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
34836 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
34837 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
34838 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
34839 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
34840 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
34841 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
34842 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
34843 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
34844 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
34845 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
34846 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
34847 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
34848
34849 Reply:
34850 @table @samp
34851 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
34852 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
34853 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
34854 possible forms).
34855 @item
34856 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
34857 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
34858 @end table
34859
34860 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
34861 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
34862 are:
34863
34864 @table @samp
34865 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
34866 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
34867 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
34868 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
34869 @item @var{name}+
34870 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
34871 need an associated value.
34872 @item @var{name}-
34873 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
34874 @item @var{name}?
34875 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
34876 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
34877 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
34878 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
34879 @end table
34880
34881 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
34882 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
34883 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
34884 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
34885 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
34886
34887 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
34888 are defined:
34889
34890 @table @samp
34891 @item multiprocess
34892 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
34893 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
34894 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
34895 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
34896 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
34897
34898 @item xmlRegisters
34899 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
34900 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
34901 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
34902 description.
34903
34904 @item qRelocInsn
34905 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
34906 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
34907 instruction reply packet}).
34908 @end table
34909
34910 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
34911 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
34912 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
34913 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
34914 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
34915 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
34916 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
34917 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
34918 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
34919 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
34920 all the features it supports.
34921
34922 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
34923 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
34924
34925 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
34926 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
34927 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
34928 form response.
34929
34930 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
34931 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
34932 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
34933 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
34934
34935 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
34936 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
34937 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
34938 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
34939 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
34940
34941 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
34942
34943 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
34944 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
34945 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
34946 @item Feature Name
34947 @tab Value Required
34948 @tab Default
34949 @tab Probe Allowed
34950
34951 @item @samp{PacketSize}
34952 @tab Yes
34953 @tab @samp{-}
34954 @tab No
34955
34956 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
34957 @tab No
34958 @tab @samp{-}
34959 @tab Yes
34960
34961 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
34962 @tab No
34963 @tab @samp{-}
34964 @tab Yes
34965
34966 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
34967 @tab No
34968 @tab @samp{-}
34969 @tab Yes
34970
34971 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
34972 @tab No
34973 @tab @samp{-}
34974 @tab Yes
34975
34976 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
34977 @tab No
34978 @tab @samp{-}
34979 @tab Yes
34980
34981 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
34982 @tab No
34983 @tab @samp{-}
34984 @tab Yes
34985
34986 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
34987 @tab No
34988 @tab @samp{-}
34989 @tab Yes
34990
34991 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
34992 @tab No
34993 @tab @samp{-}
34994 @tab Yes
34995
34996 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
34997 @tab No
34998 @tab @samp{-}
34999 @tab Yes
35000
35001 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
35002 @tab No
35003 @tab @samp{-}
35004 @tab Yes
35005
35006 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
35007 @tab No
35008 @tab @samp{-}
35009 @tab Yes
35010
35011 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
35012 @tab No
35013 @tab @samp{-}
35014 @tab Yes
35015
35016 @item @samp{QNonStop}
35017 @tab No
35018 @tab @samp{-}
35019 @tab Yes
35020
35021 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
35022 @tab No
35023 @tab @samp{-}
35024 @tab Yes
35025
35026 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
35027 @tab No
35028 @tab @samp{-}
35029 @tab Yes
35030
35031 @item @samp{multiprocess}
35032 @tab No
35033 @tab @samp{-}
35034 @tab No
35035
35036 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
35037 @tab No
35038 @tab @samp{-}
35039 @tab No
35040
35041 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
35042 @tab No
35043 @tab @samp{-}
35044 @tab No
35045
35046 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
35047 @tab No
35048 @tab @samp{-}
35049 @tab No
35050
35051 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
35052 @tab No
35053 @tab @samp{-}
35054 @tab No
35055
35056 @item @samp{QAllow}
35057 @tab No
35058 @tab @samp{-}
35059 @tab No
35060
35061 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
35062 @tab No
35063 @tab @samp{-}
35064 @tab No
35065
35066 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
35067 @tab No
35068 @tab @samp{-}
35069 @tab No
35070
35071 @item @samp{tracenz}
35072 @tab No
35073 @tab @samp{-}
35074 @tab No
35075
35076 @end multitable
35077
35078 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
35079
35080 @table @samp
35081 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
35082 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
35083 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
35084 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
35085 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
35086 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
35087 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
35088 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
35089 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
35090 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
35091
35092 @item qXfer:auxv:read
35093 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
35094 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
35095
35096 @item qXfer:features:read
35097 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
35098 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
35099
35100 @item qXfer:libraries:read
35101 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
35102 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
35103
35104 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
35105 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
35106 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
35107
35108 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
35109 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
35110 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
35111
35112 @item qXfer:sdata:read
35113 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
35114 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
35115
35116 @item qXfer:spu:read
35117 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
35118 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
35119
35120 @item qXfer:spu:write
35121 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
35122 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
35123
35124 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
35125 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
35126 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
35127
35128 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
35129 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
35130 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
35131
35132 @item qXfer:threads:read
35133 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
35134 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
35135
35136 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
35137 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
35138 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
35139
35140 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
35141 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
35142 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
35143
35144 @item QNonStop
35145 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
35146 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
35147
35148 @item QPassSignals
35149 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
35150 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
35151
35152 @item QStartNoAckMode
35153 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
35154 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
35155
35156 @item multiprocess
35157 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
35158 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
35159 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
35160 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
35161 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
35162 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
35163 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
35164 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
35165 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
35166 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
35167 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
35168
35169 @item qXfer:osdata:read
35170 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
35171 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
35172
35173 @item ConditionalTracepoints
35174 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
35175 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
35176
35177 @item ReverseContinue
35178 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
35179 (@pxref{bc}).
35180
35181 @item ReverseStep
35182 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
35183 (@pxref{bs}).
35184
35185 @item TracepointSource
35186 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
35187 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
35188
35189 @item QAllow
35190 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
35191
35192 @item QDisableRandomization
35193 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
35194
35195 @item StaticTracepoint
35196 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
35197 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
35198
35199 @item InstallInTrace
35200 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
35201 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
35202
35203 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
35204 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
35205 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
35206 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
35207
35208 @item tracenz
35209 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
35210 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
35211 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
35212
35213 @end table
35214
35215 @item qSymbol::
35216 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
35217 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
35218 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
35219 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
35220
35221 Reply:
35222 @table @samp
35223 @item OK
35224 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
35225 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
35226 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
35227 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
35228 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
35229 below.
35230 @end table
35231
35232 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
35233 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
35234
35235 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
35236 target has previously requested.
35237
35238 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
35239 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
35240 will be empty.
35241
35242 Reply:
35243 @table @samp
35244 @item OK
35245 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
35246 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
35247 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
35248 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
35249 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
35250 @end table
35251
35252 @item qTBuffer
35253 @item QTBuffer
35254 @item QTDisconnected
35255 @itemx QTDP
35256 @itemx QTDPsrc
35257 @itemx QTDV
35258 @itemx qTfP
35259 @itemx qTfV
35260 @itemx QTFrame
35261 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
35262
35263 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
35264
35265 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
35266 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
35267 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
35268 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
35269 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
35270 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
35271 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
35272 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
35273 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
35274 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
35275 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
35276
35277 Reply:
35278 @table @samp
35279 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
35280 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
35281 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
35282 the thread's attributes.
35283 @end table
35284
35285 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
35286 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
35287 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
35288 packets.)
35289
35290 @item QTNotes
35291 @item qTP
35292 @item QTSave
35293 @item qTsP
35294 @item qTsV
35295 @itemx QTStart
35296 @itemx QTStop
35297 @itemx QTEnable
35298 @itemx QTDisable
35299 @itemx QTinit
35300 @itemx QTro
35301 @itemx qTStatus
35302 @itemx qTV
35303 @itemx qTfSTM
35304 @itemx qTsSTM
35305 @itemx qTSTMat
35306 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
35307
35308 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35309 @cindex read special object, remote request
35310 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
35311 @anchor{qXfer read}
35312 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
35313 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
35314 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
35315 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
35316 additional details about what data to access.
35317
35318 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
35319 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
35320 formats, listed below.
35321
35322 @table @samp
35323 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35324 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
35325 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
35326 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
35327
35328 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35329 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35330
35331 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35332 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
35333 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
35334 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
35335 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
35336
35337 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35338 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35339
35340 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35341 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
35342 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
35343 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35344 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35345
35346 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
35347 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
35348 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
35349
35350 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35351 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35352
35353 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35354 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
35355 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
35356 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
35357 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35358
35359 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
35360 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
35361
35362 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35363 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35364
35365 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35366 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
35367 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
35368 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35369 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35370
35371 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35372 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35373
35374 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35375 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
35376
35377 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
35378 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
35379 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
35380 Action Lists}.
35381
35382 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35383 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35384 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35385
35386 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35387 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
35388 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
35389 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
35390 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35391
35392 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35393 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35394 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35395
35396 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35397 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
35398 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
35399 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
35400 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
35401 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
35402 in that context to be accessed.
35403
35404 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35405 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35406 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35407
35408 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35409 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
35410 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
35411 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35412 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35413
35414 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35415 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35416
35417 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35418 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
35419
35420 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
35421 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
35422 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35423
35424 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35425 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35426
35427 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35428 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
35429 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
35430 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
35431 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
35432
35433 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35434 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35435
35436 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35437 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
35438 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
35439 @xref{Operating System Information}.
35440
35441 @end table
35442
35443 Reply:
35444 @table @samp
35445 @item m @var{data}
35446 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
35447 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
35448 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
35449 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
35450 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
35451 request.
35452
35453 @item l @var{data}
35454 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
35455 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
35456 than the @var{length} in the request.
35457
35458 @item l
35459 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
35460 There is no more data to be read.
35461
35462 @item E00
35463 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
35464
35465 @item E @var{nn}
35466 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
35467 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
35468
35469 @item
35470 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
35471 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
35472 @end table
35473
35474 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35475 @cindex write data into object, remote request
35476 @anchor{qXfer write}
35477 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
35478 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
35479 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
35480 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
35481 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
35482 to access.
35483
35484 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
35485 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
35486 formats, listed below.
35487
35488 @table @samp
35489 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35490 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
35491 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
35492 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
35493 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
35494
35495 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35496 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35497 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35498
35499 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35500 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
35501 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
35502 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
35503 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
35504 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
35505 in that context to be accessed.
35506
35507 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35508 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35509 @end table
35510
35511 Reply:
35512 @table @samp
35513 @item @var{nn}
35514 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
35515 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
35516
35517 @item E00
35518 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
35519
35520 @item E @var{nn}
35521 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
35522 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
35523
35524 @item
35525 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
35526 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
35527 @end table
35528
35529 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
35530 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
35531 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
35532 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
35533 must respond with an empty packet.
35534
35535 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
35536 @cindex query attached, remote request
35537 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
35538 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
35539 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
35540 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
35541 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
35542 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
35543 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
35544
35545 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
35546 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
35547 the @code{quit} command.
35548
35549 Reply:
35550 @table @samp
35551 @item 1
35552 The remote server attached to an existing process.
35553 @item 0
35554 The remote server created a new process.
35555 @item E @var{NN}
35556 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
35557 @end table
35558
35559 @end table
35560
35561 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
35562 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
35563
35564 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
35565 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
35566 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
35567
35568 @subsection ARM
35569
35570 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
35571
35572 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
35573
35574 @table @r
35575
35576 @item 2
35577 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
35578
35579 @item 3
35580 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
35581
35582 @item 4
35583 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
35584
35585 @end table
35586
35587 @subsection MIPS
35588
35589 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
35590
35591 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
35592 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
35593 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
35594 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
35595 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
35596 most-significant - least-significant.
35597
35598 @table @r
35599
35600 @item MIPS32
35601
35602 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
35603 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
35604 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
35605
35606 @item MIPS64
35607
35608 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
35609 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
35610 as @code{MIPS32}.
35611
35612 @end table
35613
35614 @node Tracepoint Packets
35615 @section Tracepoint Packets
35616 @cindex tracepoint packets
35617 @cindex packets, tracepoint
35618
35619 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
35620 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
35621
35622 @table @samp
35623
35624 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
35625 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
35626 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
35627 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
35628 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
35629 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
35630 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
35631 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
35632 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
35633 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
35634 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
35635 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
35636 actions.
35637
35638 Replies:
35639 @table @samp
35640 @item OK
35641 The packet was understood and carried out.
35642 @item qRelocInsn
35643 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
35644 @item
35645 The packet was not recognized.
35646 @end table
35647
35648 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
35649 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
35650 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
35651 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
35652 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
35653 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
35654 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
35655
35656 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
35657 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
35658 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
35659 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
35660 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
35661 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
35662 tracepoint actions.
35663
35664 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
35665 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
35666 following forms:
35667
35668 @table @samp
35669
35670 @item R @var{mask}
35671 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
35672 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
35673 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
35674 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
35675 not fit in a 32-bit word.
35676
35677 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
35678 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
35679 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
35680 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
35681 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
35682 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
35683 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
35684
35685 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35686 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
35687 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
35688 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
35689 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
35690 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
35691 packet).
35692
35693 @end table
35694
35695 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
35696 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
35697 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
35698 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
35699 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
35700 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
35701 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
35702 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
35703
35704 Replies:
35705 @table @samp
35706 @item OK
35707 The packet was understood and carried out.
35708 @item qRelocInsn
35709 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
35710 @item
35711 The packet was not recognized.
35712 @end table
35713
35714 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
35715 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
35716 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
35717 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
35718 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
35719 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
35720 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
35721 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
35722
35723 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
35724 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
35725 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
35726 fit in a single packet.
35727 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
35728 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
35729
35730 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
35731 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
35732 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
35733 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
35734
35735 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
35736 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
35737 query packets.
35738
35739 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
35740 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
35741 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
35742 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
35743 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
35744 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
35745 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
35746 be found.
35747
35748 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
35749 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
35750 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
35751 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
35752 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
35753 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
35754 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
35755 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
35756 mentioned in expressions.
35757
35758 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
35759 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
35760 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
35761 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
35762
35763 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
35764 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
35765 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
35766 one of the following forms:
35767
35768 @table @samp
35769 @item F @var{f}
35770 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
35771 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
35772 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
35773
35774 @item T @var{t}
35775 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
35776 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
35777
35778 @end table
35779
35780 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
35781 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35782 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
35783 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
35784
35785 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
35786 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35787 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
35788 is a hexadecimal number.
35789
35790 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
35791 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35792 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
35793 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
35794 numbers.
35795
35796 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
35797 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
35798 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
35799
35800 @item qTMinFTPILen
35801 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
35802 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
35803 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
35804 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
35805 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
35806 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
35807 arrange for that.
35808
35809 Replies:
35810
35811 @table @samp
35812 @item 0
35813 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
35814 @item @var{length}
35815 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
35816 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
35817 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
35818 @item E
35819 An error has occurred.
35820 @item
35821 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
35822 @end table
35823
35824 @item QTStart
35825 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
35826 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
35827 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
35828 instruction reply packet}).
35829
35830 @item QTStop
35831 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
35832
35833 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
35834 @anchor{QTEnable}
35835 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
35836 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
35837 of data from it will resume.
35838
35839 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
35840 @anchor{QTDisable}
35841 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
35842 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
35843 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
35844
35845 @item QTinit
35846 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
35847
35848 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
35849 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
35850 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
35851 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
35852
35853 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
35854 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
35855 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
35856 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
35857
35858 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
35859 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
35860 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
35861 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
35862 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
35863
35864 @item qTStatus
35865 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
35866
35867 The reply has the form:
35868
35869 @table @samp
35870
35871 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
35872 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
35873 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
35874 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
35875
35876 @end table
35877
35878 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
35879 explanations as one of the optional fields:
35880
35881 @table @samp
35882
35883 @item tnotrun:0
35884 No trace has been run yet.
35885
35886 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
35887 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
35888 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
35889 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
35890 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
35891
35892 @item tfull:0
35893 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
35894
35895 @item tdisconnected:0
35896 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
35897
35898 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
35899 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
35900
35901 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
35902 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
35903 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
35904 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
35905 @var{text} is hex encoded.
35906
35907 @item tunknown:0
35908 The trace stopped for some other reason.
35909
35910 @end table
35911
35912 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
35913 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
35914 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
35915 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
35916 trace.
35917
35918 @table @samp
35919
35920 @item tframes:@var{n}
35921 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
35922
35923 @item tcreated:@var{n}
35924 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
35925 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
35926
35927 @item tsize:@var{n}
35928 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
35929
35930 @item tfree:@var{n}
35931 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
35932
35933 @item circular:@var{n}
35934 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
35935 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
35936 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
35937 and may fill up.
35938
35939 @item disconn:@var{n}
35940 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
35941 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
35942 that the trace run will stop.
35943
35944 @end table
35945
35946 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
35947 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
35948 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
35949 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
35950 address @var{addr}.
35951
35952 Replies:
35953 @table @samp
35954 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
35955 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
35956 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
35957 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
35958 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
35959
35960 @end table
35961
35962 @item qTV:@var{var}
35963 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
35964 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
35965 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
35966
35967 Replies:
35968 @table @samp
35969 @item V@var{value}
35970 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
35971 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
35972 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
35973 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
35974 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
35975 program is running.
35976
35977 @item U
35978 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
35979 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
35980 was not collected.
35981 @end table
35982
35983 @item qTfP
35984 @itemx qTsP
35985 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
35986 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
35987 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
35988 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
35989 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
35990
35991 @item qTfV
35992 @itemx qTsV
35993 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
35994 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
35995 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
35996 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
35997 trace state variables.
35998
35999 @item qTfSTM
36000 @itemx qTsSTM
36001 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
36002 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
36003 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
36004 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
36005
36006 Reply:
36007 @table @samp
36008 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
36009 A single marker
36010 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
36011 a comma-separated list of markers
36012 @item l
36013 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
36014 @item E @var{nn}
36015 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36016 @item
36017 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
36018 stub.
36019 @end table
36020
36021 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
36022 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
36023
36024 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
36025 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
36026 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
36027 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
36028 @dfn{last}).
36029
36030 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
36031 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
36032 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
36033 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
36034 tracepoint markers.
36035
36036 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
36037 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
36038 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
36039 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
36040 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
36041
36042 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
36043 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
36044 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
36045 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
36046 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
36047 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
36048 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
36049 available.
36050
36051 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
36052 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
36053 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
36054
36055 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
36056 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
36057 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
36058 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
36059
36060 @end table
36061
36062 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
36063 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
36064 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
36065 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
36066 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
36067 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
36068 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
36069 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
36070 it had executed in the original location.
36071
36072 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
36073 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
36074 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
36075 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
36076 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
36077 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
36078 format of the request is:
36079
36080 @table @samp
36081 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
36082
36083 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
36084 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
36085 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
36086 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
36087 memory starting at @var{to}.
36088 @end table
36089
36090 Replies:
36091 @table @samp
36092 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
36093 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
36094 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
36095 @item E @var{NN}
36096 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
36097 relocating the instruction.
36098 @end table
36099
36100 @node Host I/O Packets
36101 @section Host I/O Packets
36102 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
36103 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
36104
36105 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
36106 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
36107 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
36108 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
36109 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
36110 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
36111 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
36112 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
36113 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
36114 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
36115
36116 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
36117 its arguments. They have this format:
36118
36119 @table @samp
36120
36121 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
36122 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
36123 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
36124 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
36125 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
36126 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
36127 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
36128 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
36129 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
36130
36131 @end table
36132
36133 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
36134
36135 @table @samp
36136
36137 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
36138 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
36139 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
36140 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
36141 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
36142 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
36143 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
36144 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
36145 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
36146 @var{attachment}.
36147
36148 @item
36149 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
36150
36151 @end table
36152
36153 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
36154
36155 @table @samp
36156 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
36157 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
36158 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
36159 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
36160 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
36161 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
36162 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
36163
36164 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
36165 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
36166 -1 if an error occurs.
36167
36168 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
36169 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
36170 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
36171 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
36172 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
36173 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
36174 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
36175 @var{count} was zero.
36176
36177 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
36178 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
36179 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
36180 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
36181 some characters were escaped.
36182
36183 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
36184 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
36185 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
36186 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
36187 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
36188 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
36189 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
36190 error occurred.
36191
36192 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
36193 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
36194 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
36195
36196 @end table
36197
36198 @node Interrupts
36199 @section Interrupts
36200 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
36201
36202 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
36203 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
36204 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
36205 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
36206
36207 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
36208 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
36209 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
36210 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
36211 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
36212
36213 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
36214 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
36215 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
36216 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
36217 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
36218 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
36219 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
36220 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
36221
36222 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
36223 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
36224 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
36225
36226 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
36227 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
36228 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
36229 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
36230 currently-executing threads and processes.
36231 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
36232 running program, it should send one of the stop
36233 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
36234 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
36235 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
36236 Interrupts received while the
36237 program is stopped are discarded.
36238
36239 @node Notification Packets
36240 @section Notification Packets
36241 @cindex notification packets
36242 @cindex packets, notification
36243
36244 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
36245 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
36246 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
36247 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
36248 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
36249 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
36250 is not a problem.
36251
36252 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
36253 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
36254 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
36255 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
36256 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
36257 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
36258 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
36259
36260 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
36261 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
36262
36263 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
36264 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
36265 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
36266 not they understand it.
36267
36268 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
36269 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
36270 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
36271 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
36272 recipients.
36273
36274 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
36275 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
36276 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
36277 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
36278 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
36279
36280 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
36281 defined:
36282
36283 @table @samp
36284 @item Stop: @var{reply}
36285 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
36286 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
36287 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
36288 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
36289 @value{GDBN}.
36290 @end table
36291
36292 @node Remote Non-Stop
36293 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
36294
36295 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
36296 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
36297 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
36298 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36299
36300 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
36301 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
36302 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
36303 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
36304 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
36305 probe the target state after a mode change.
36306
36307 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
36308 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
36309 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
36310 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
36311 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
36312 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
36313 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
36314 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
36315 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
36316 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
36317 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
36318
36319 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
36320 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
36321 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
36322 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
36323 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
36324 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
36325 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
36326 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
36327 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
36328 sending any queued stop events.
36329
36330 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
36331 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
36332 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
36333 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
36334 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
36335 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
36336 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
36337
36338 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
36339 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
36340 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
36341 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
36342 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
36343 process normally.
36344
36345 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
36346 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
36347 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
36348 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
36349 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
36350 should process normally.
36351
36352 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
36353 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
36354 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
36355 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
36356 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
36357
36358 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
36359 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
36360 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
36361 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
36362 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
36363 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
36364 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
36365 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
36366 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
36367 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
36368 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
36369 @samp{OK}.
36370
36371 @node Packet Acknowledgment
36372 @section Packet Acknowledgment
36373
36374 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
36375 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
36376 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
36377 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
36378 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
36379 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
36380 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
36381
36382 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
36383 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
36384 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
36385 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
36386 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
36387
36388 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
36389 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
36390 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
36391 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
36392
36393 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
36394 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
36395 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
36396 @pxref{qSupported}.
36397 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
36398 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
36399 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
36400 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
36401 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
36402 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
36403 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
36404
36405 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
36406 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
36407 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
36408 connection.
36409 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
36410 new connection is established,
36411 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
36412 for the current connection, once disabled.
36413
36414 @node Examples
36415 @section Examples
36416
36417 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
36418 does not get any direct output:
36419
36420 @smallexample
36421 -> @code{R00}
36422 <- @code{+}
36423 @emph{target restarts}
36424 -> @code{?}
36425 <- @code{+}
36426 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
36427 -> @code{+}
36428 @end smallexample
36429
36430 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
36431
36432 @smallexample
36433 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
36434 <- @code{+}
36435 -> @code{s}
36436 <- @code{+}
36437 @emph{time passes}
36438 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
36439 -> @code{+}
36440 -> @code{g}
36441 <- @code{+}
36442 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
36443 -> @code{+}
36444 @end smallexample
36445
36446 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
36447 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
36448 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
36449
36450 @menu
36451 * File-I/O Overview::
36452 * Protocol Basics::
36453 * The F Request Packet::
36454 * The F Reply Packet::
36455 * The Ctrl-C Message::
36456 * Console I/O::
36457 * List of Supported Calls::
36458 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
36459 * Constants::
36460 * File-I/O Examples::
36461 @end menu
36462
36463 @node File-I/O Overview
36464 @subsection File-I/O Overview
36465 @cindex file-i/o overview
36466
36467 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
36468 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
36469 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
36470 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
36471 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
36472 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
36473
36474 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
36475 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
36476 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
36477 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
36478 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
36479
36480 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
36481 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
36482 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
36483 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
36484 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
36485 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
36486 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
36487
36488 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
36489 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
36490 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
36491 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
36492 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
36493
36494 @smallexample
36495 (@value{GDBP}) continue
36496 <- target requests 'system call X'
36497 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
36498 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
36499 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
36500 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
36501 @end smallexample
36502
36503 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
36504 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
36505 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
36506 system are not supported by this protocol.
36507
36508 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
36509
36510 @node Protocol Basics
36511 @subsection Protocol Basics
36512 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
36513
36514 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
36515 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
36516 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
36517 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
36518 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
36519 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
36520 to call the appropriate host system call:
36521
36522 @itemize @bullet
36523 @item
36524 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
36525
36526 @item
36527 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
36528 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
36529 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
36530 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
36531
36532 @end itemize
36533
36534 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
36535
36536 @itemize @bullet
36537 @item
36538 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
36539 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
36540 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
36541 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
36542 packet.
36543
36544 @item
36545 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
36546 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
36547
36548 @item
36549 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
36550
36551 @item
36552 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
36553
36554 @item
36555 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
36556 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
36557 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
36558 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
36559 packet.
36560
36561 @end itemize
36562
36563 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
36564 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
36565
36566 @itemize @bullet
36567 @item
36568 Return value.
36569
36570 @item
36571 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
36572
36573 @item
36574 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
36575
36576 @end itemize
36577
36578 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
36579 the latest continue or step action.
36580
36581 @node The F Request Packet
36582 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
36583 @cindex file-i/o request packet
36584 @cindex @code{F} request packet
36585
36586 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
36587
36588 @table @samp
36589 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
36590
36591 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
36592 This is just the name of the function.
36593
36594 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
36595 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
36596 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
36597 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
36598 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
36599 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
36600 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
36601
36602 @end table
36603
36604
36605
36606 @node The F Reply Packet
36607 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
36608 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
36609 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
36610
36611 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
36612
36613 @table @samp
36614
36615 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
36616
36617 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
36618
36619 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
36620 representation.
36621 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
36622
36623 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
36624 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
36625 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
36626
36627 @smallexample
36628 F0,0,C
36629 @end smallexample
36630
36631 @noindent
36632 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
36633
36634 @smallexample
36635 F-1,4,C
36636 @end smallexample
36637
36638 @noindent
36639 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
36640
36641 @end table
36642
36643
36644 @node The Ctrl-C Message
36645 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
36646 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
36647
36648 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
36649 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
36650 the target should behave as if it had
36651 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
36652 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
36653 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
36654 packet.
36655
36656 It's important for the target to know in which
36657 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
36658
36659 @itemize @bullet
36660 @item
36661 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
36662
36663 @item
36664 The system call on the host has been finished.
36665
36666 @end itemize
36667
36668 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
36669 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
36670 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
36671 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
36672 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
36673 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
36674
36675 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
36676 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
36677 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
36678 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
36679 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
36680 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
36681 or the full action has been completed.
36682
36683 @node Console I/O
36684 @subsection Console I/O
36685 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
36686
36687 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
36688 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
36689 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
36690 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
36691 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
36692 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
36693 conditions is met:
36694
36695 @itemize @bullet
36696 @item
36697 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
36698 @code{read}
36699 system call is treated as finished.
36700
36701 @item
36702 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
36703 newline.
36704
36705 @item
36706 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
36707 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
36708
36709 @end itemize
36710
36711 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
36712 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
36713 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
36714 is stopped at the user's request.
36715
36716
36717 @node List of Supported Calls
36718 @subsection List of Supported Calls
36719 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
36720
36721 @menu
36722 * open::
36723 * close::
36724 * read::
36725 * write::
36726 * lseek::
36727 * rename::
36728 * unlink::
36729 * stat/fstat::
36730 * gettimeofday::
36731 * isatty::
36732 * system::
36733 @end menu
36734
36735 @node open
36736 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
36737 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
36738
36739 @table @asis
36740 @item Synopsis:
36741 @smallexample
36742 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
36743 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
36744 @end smallexample
36745
36746 @item Request:
36747 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
36748
36749 @noindent
36750 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
36751
36752 @table @code
36753 @item O_CREAT
36754 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
36755 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
36756 are concerned.
36757
36758 @item O_EXCL
36759 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
36760 an error and open() fails.
36761
36762 @item O_TRUNC
36763 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
36764 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
36765 truncated to zero length.
36766
36767 @item O_APPEND
36768 The file is opened in append mode.
36769
36770 @item O_RDONLY
36771 The file is opened for reading only.
36772
36773 @item O_WRONLY
36774 The file is opened for writing only.
36775
36776 @item O_RDWR
36777 The file is opened for reading and writing.
36778 @end table
36779
36780 @noindent
36781 Other bits are silently ignored.
36782
36783
36784 @noindent
36785 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
36786
36787 @table @code
36788 @item S_IRUSR
36789 User has read permission.
36790
36791 @item S_IWUSR
36792 User has write permission.
36793
36794 @item S_IRGRP
36795 Group has read permission.
36796
36797 @item S_IWGRP
36798 Group has write permission.
36799
36800 @item S_IROTH
36801 Others have read permission.
36802
36803 @item S_IWOTH
36804 Others have write permission.
36805 @end table
36806
36807 @noindent
36808 Other bits are silently ignored.
36809
36810
36811 @item Return value:
36812 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
36813 occurred.
36814
36815 @item Errors:
36816
36817 @table @code
36818 @item EEXIST
36819 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
36820
36821 @item EISDIR
36822 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
36823
36824 @item EACCES
36825 The requested access is not allowed.
36826
36827 @item ENAMETOOLONG
36828 @var{pathname} was too long.
36829
36830 @item ENOENT
36831 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
36832
36833 @item ENODEV
36834 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
36835
36836 @item EROFS
36837 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
36838 write access was requested.
36839
36840 @item EFAULT
36841 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
36842
36843 @item ENOSPC
36844 No space on device to create the file.
36845
36846 @item EMFILE
36847 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
36848
36849 @item ENFILE
36850 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
36851 has been reached.
36852
36853 @item EINTR
36854 The call was interrupted by the user.
36855 @end table
36856
36857 @end table
36858
36859 @node close
36860 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
36861 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
36862
36863 @table @asis
36864 @item Synopsis:
36865 @smallexample
36866 int close(int fd);
36867 @end smallexample
36868
36869 @item Request:
36870 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
36871
36872 @item Return value:
36873 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
36874
36875 @item Errors:
36876
36877 @table @code
36878 @item EBADF
36879 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
36880
36881 @item EINTR
36882 The call was interrupted by the user.
36883 @end table
36884
36885 @end table
36886
36887 @node read
36888 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
36889 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
36890
36891 @table @asis
36892 @item Synopsis:
36893 @smallexample
36894 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
36895 @end smallexample
36896
36897 @item Request:
36898 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
36899
36900 @item Return value:
36901 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
36902 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
36903 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
36904
36905 @item Errors:
36906
36907 @table @code
36908 @item EBADF
36909 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
36910 reading.
36911
36912 @item EFAULT
36913 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36914
36915 @item EINTR
36916 The call was interrupted by the user.
36917 @end table
36918
36919 @end table
36920
36921 @node write
36922 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
36923 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
36924
36925 @table @asis
36926 @item Synopsis:
36927 @smallexample
36928 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
36929 @end smallexample
36930
36931 @item Request:
36932 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
36933
36934 @item Return value:
36935 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
36936 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
36937 is returned.
36938
36939 @item Errors:
36940
36941 @table @code
36942 @item EBADF
36943 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
36944 writing.
36945
36946 @item EFAULT
36947 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
36948
36949 @item EFBIG
36950 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
36951 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
36952
36953 @item ENOSPC
36954 No space on device to write the data.
36955
36956 @item EINTR
36957 The call was interrupted by the user.
36958 @end table
36959
36960 @end table
36961
36962 @node lseek
36963 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
36964 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
36965
36966 @table @asis
36967 @item Synopsis:
36968 @smallexample
36969 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
36970 @end smallexample
36971
36972 @item Request:
36973 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
36974
36975 @var{flag} is one of:
36976
36977 @table @code
36978 @item SEEK_SET
36979 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
36980
36981 @item SEEK_CUR
36982 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
36983 bytes.
36984
36985 @item SEEK_END
36986 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
36987 bytes.
36988 @end table
36989
36990 @item Return value:
36991 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
36992 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
36993 value of -1 is returned.
36994
36995 @item Errors:
36996
36997 @table @code
36998 @item EBADF
36999 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
37000
37001 @item ESPIPE
37002 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
37003
37004 @item EINVAL
37005 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
37006
37007 @item EINTR
37008 The call was interrupted by the user.
37009 @end table
37010
37011 @end table
37012
37013 @node rename
37014 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
37015 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
37016
37017 @table @asis
37018 @item Synopsis:
37019 @smallexample
37020 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
37021 @end smallexample
37022
37023 @item Request:
37024 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
37025
37026 @item Return value:
37027 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37028
37029 @item Errors:
37030
37031 @table @code
37032 @item EISDIR
37033 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
37034 directory.
37035
37036 @item EEXIST
37037 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
37038
37039 @item EBUSY
37040 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
37041 process.
37042
37043 @item EINVAL
37044 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
37045 of itself.
37046
37047 @item ENOTDIR
37048 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
37049 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
37050 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
37051
37052 @item EFAULT
37053 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
37054
37055 @item EACCES
37056 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37057
37058 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37059
37060 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
37061
37062 @item ENOENT
37063 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
37064
37065 @item EROFS
37066 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
37067
37068 @item ENOSPC
37069 The device containing the file has no room for the new
37070 directory entry.
37071
37072 @item EINTR
37073 The call was interrupted by the user.
37074 @end table
37075
37076 @end table
37077
37078 @node unlink
37079 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
37080 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
37081
37082 @table @asis
37083 @item Synopsis:
37084 @smallexample
37085 int unlink(const char *pathname);
37086 @end smallexample
37087
37088 @item Request:
37089 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
37090
37091 @item Return value:
37092 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37093
37094 @item Errors:
37095
37096 @table @code
37097 @item EACCES
37098 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37099
37100 @item EPERM
37101 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
37102
37103 @item EBUSY
37104 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
37105 being used by another process.
37106
37107 @item EFAULT
37108 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37109
37110 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37111 @var{pathname} was too long.
37112
37113 @item ENOENT
37114 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
37115
37116 @item ENOTDIR
37117 A component of the path is not a directory.
37118
37119 @item EROFS
37120 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
37121
37122 @item EINTR
37123 The call was interrupted by the user.
37124 @end table
37125
37126 @end table
37127
37128 @node stat/fstat
37129 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
37130 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
37131 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
37132
37133 @table @asis
37134 @item Synopsis:
37135 @smallexample
37136 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
37137 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
37138 @end smallexample
37139
37140 @item Request:
37141 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
37142 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
37143
37144 @item Return value:
37145 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37146
37147 @item Errors:
37148
37149 @table @code
37150 @item EBADF
37151 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
37152
37153 @item ENOENT
37154 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
37155 path is an empty string.
37156
37157 @item ENOTDIR
37158 A component of the path is not a directory.
37159
37160 @item EFAULT
37161 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37162
37163 @item EACCES
37164 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37165
37166 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37167 @var{pathname} was too long.
37168
37169 @item EINTR
37170 The call was interrupted by the user.
37171 @end table
37172
37173 @end table
37174
37175 @node gettimeofday
37176 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
37177 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
37178
37179 @table @asis
37180 @item Synopsis:
37181 @smallexample
37182 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
37183 @end smallexample
37184
37185 @item Request:
37186 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
37187
37188 @item Return value:
37189 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
37190
37191 @item Errors:
37192
37193 @table @code
37194 @item EINVAL
37195 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
37196
37197 @item EFAULT
37198 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37199 @end table
37200
37201 @end table
37202
37203 @node isatty
37204 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
37205 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
37206
37207 @table @asis
37208 @item Synopsis:
37209 @smallexample
37210 int isatty(int fd);
37211 @end smallexample
37212
37213 @item Request:
37214 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
37215
37216 @item Return value:
37217 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
37218
37219 @item Errors:
37220
37221 @table @code
37222 @item EINTR
37223 The call was interrupted by the user.
37224 @end table
37225
37226 @end table
37227
37228 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
37229 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
37230 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
37231 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
37232 needed.
37233
37234
37235 @node system
37236 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
37237 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
37238
37239 @table @asis
37240 @item Synopsis:
37241 @smallexample
37242 int system(const char *command);
37243 @end smallexample
37244
37245 @item Request:
37246 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
37247
37248 @item Return value:
37249 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
37250 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
37251 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
37252 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
37253 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
37254 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
37255 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
37256
37257 @item Errors:
37258
37259 @table @code
37260 @item EINTR
37261 The call was interrupted by the user.
37262 @end table
37263
37264 @end table
37265
37266 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
37267 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
37268 the host is simplified before it's returned
37269 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
37270 is discarded, and the return value consists
37271 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
37272
37273 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
37274 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
37275 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
37276
37277 @table @code
37278 @item set remote system-call-allowed
37279 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
37280 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
37281 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
37282
37283 @item show remote system-call-allowed
37284 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
37285 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
37286 protocol.
37287 @end table
37288
37289 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
37290 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
37291 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
37292
37293 @menu
37294 * Integral Datatypes::
37295 * Pointer Values::
37296 * Memory Transfer::
37297 * struct stat::
37298 * struct timeval::
37299 @end menu
37300
37301 @node Integral Datatypes
37302 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
37303 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
37304
37305 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
37306 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
37307 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
37308
37309 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
37310 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
37311
37312 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
37313
37314 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
37315 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
37316
37317 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
37318
37319 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
37320 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
37321 byte order.
37322
37323 @node Pointer Values
37324 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
37325 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
37326
37327 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
37328 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
37329 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
37330 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
37331
37332 @smallexample
37333 @code{1aaf/12}
37334 @end smallexample
37335
37336 @noindent
37337 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
37338 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
37339 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
37340 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
37341
37342 @smallexample
37343 @code{123456/d}
37344 @end smallexample
37345
37346 @node Memory Transfer
37347 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
37348 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
37349
37350 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
37351 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
37352 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
37353 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
37354 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
37355 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
37356 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
37357
37358
37359 @node struct stat
37360 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
37361 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
37362
37363 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
37364 is defined as follows:
37365
37366 @smallexample
37367 struct stat @{
37368 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
37369 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
37370 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
37371 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
37372 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
37373 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
37374 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
37375 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
37376 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
37377 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
37378 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
37379 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
37380 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
37381 @};
37382 @end smallexample
37383
37384 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
37385 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
37386 structure is of size 64 bytes.
37387
37388 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
37389 range of values.
37390
37391 @table @code
37392
37393 @item st_dev
37394 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
37395
37396 @item st_ino
37397 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
37398
37399 @item st_mode
37400 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
37401 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
37402
37403 @item st_uid
37404 @itemx st_gid
37405 @itemx st_rdev
37406 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
37407
37408 @item st_atime
37409 @itemx st_mtime
37410 @itemx st_ctime
37411 These values have a host and file system dependent
37412 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
37413 support exact timing values.
37414 @end table
37415
37416 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
37417 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
37418 continuing.
37419
37420 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
37421 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
37422 get truncated on the target.
37423
37424 @node struct timeval
37425 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
37426 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
37427
37428 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
37429 is defined as follows:
37430
37431 @smallexample
37432 struct timeval @{
37433 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
37434 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
37435 @};
37436 @end smallexample
37437
37438 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
37439 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
37440 structure is of size 8 bytes.
37441
37442 @node Constants
37443 @subsection Constants
37444 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
37445
37446 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
37447 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
37448 values before and after the call as needed.
37449
37450 @menu
37451 * Open Flags::
37452 * mode_t Values::
37453 * Errno Values::
37454 * Lseek Flags::
37455 * Limits::
37456 @end menu
37457
37458 @node Open Flags
37459 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
37460 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
37461
37462 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
37463
37464 @smallexample
37465 O_RDONLY 0x0
37466 O_WRONLY 0x1
37467 O_RDWR 0x2
37468 O_APPEND 0x8
37469 O_CREAT 0x200
37470 O_TRUNC 0x400
37471 O_EXCL 0x800
37472 @end smallexample
37473
37474 @node mode_t Values
37475 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
37476 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
37477
37478 All values are given in octal representation.
37479
37480 @smallexample
37481 S_IFREG 0100000
37482 S_IFDIR 040000
37483 S_IRUSR 0400
37484 S_IWUSR 0200
37485 S_IXUSR 0100
37486 S_IRGRP 040
37487 S_IWGRP 020
37488 S_IXGRP 010
37489 S_IROTH 04
37490 S_IWOTH 02
37491 S_IXOTH 01
37492 @end smallexample
37493
37494 @node Errno Values
37495 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
37496 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
37497
37498 All values are given in decimal representation.
37499
37500 @smallexample
37501 EPERM 1
37502 ENOENT 2
37503 EINTR 4
37504 EBADF 9
37505 EACCES 13
37506 EFAULT 14
37507 EBUSY 16
37508 EEXIST 17
37509 ENODEV 19
37510 ENOTDIR 20
37511 EISDIR 21
37512 EINVAL 22
37513 ENFILE 23
37514 EMFILE 24
37515 EFBIG 27
37516 ENOSPC 28
37517 ESPIPE 29
37518 EROFS 30
37519 ENAMETOOLONG 91
37520 EUNKNOWN 9999
37521 @end smallexample
37522
37523 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
37524 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
37525
37526 @node Lseek Flags
37527 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
37528 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
37529
37530 @smallexample
37531 SEEK_SET 0
37532 SEEK_CUR 1
37533 SEEK_END 2
37534 @end smallexample
37535
37536 @node Limits
37537 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
37538 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
37539
37540 All values are given in decimal representation.
37541
37542 @smallexample
37543 INT_MIN -2147483648
37544 INT_MAX 2147483647
37545 UINT_MAX 4294967295
37546 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
37547 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
37548 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
37549 @end smallexample
37550
37551 @node File-I/O Examples
37552 @subsection File-I/O Examples
37553 @cindex file-i/o examples
37554
37555 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
37556 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
37557
37558 @smallexample
37559 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
37560 @emph{request memory read from target}
37561 -> @code{m1234,6}
37562 <- XXXXXX
37563 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
37564 -> @code{F6}
37565 @end smallexample
37566
37567 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
37568 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
37569
37570 @smallexample
37571 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37572 @emph{request memory write to target}
37573 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
37574 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
37575 -> @code{F6}
37576 @end smallexample
37577
37578 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
37579 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
37580
37581 @smallexample
37582 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37583 -> @code{F-1,9}
37584 @end smallexample
37585
37586 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
37587 host is called:
37588
37589 @smallexample
37590 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37591 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
37592 <- @code{T02}
37593 @end smallexample
37594
37595 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
37596 host is called:
37597
37598 @smallexample
37599 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37600 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
37601 <- @code{T02}
37602 @end smallexample
37603
37604 @node Library List Format
37605 @section Library List Format
37606 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
37607
37608 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
37609 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
37610 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
37611 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
37612 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
37613 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
37614 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
37615 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
37616 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
37617 are loaded.
37618
37619 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
37620 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
37621 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
37622 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
37623
37624 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
37625 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
37626 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
37627 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
37628 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
37629 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
37630
37631 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37632 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
37633
37634 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
37635 offset, looks like this:
37636
37637 @smallexample
37638 <library-list>
37639 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
37640 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
37641 </library>
37642 </library-list>
37643 @end smallexample
37644
37645 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
37646 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
37647
37648 @smallexample
37649 <library-list>
37650 <library name="sharedlib.o">
37651 <section address="0x10000000"/>
37652 <section address="0x20000000"/>
37653 <section address="0x30000000"/>
37654 </library>
37655 </library-list>
37656 @end smallexample
37657
37658 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
37659
37660 @smallexample
37661 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
37662 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
37663 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37664 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
37665 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37666 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
37667 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
37668 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
37669 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
37670 @end smallexample
37671
37672 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
37673 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
37674 section for each library.
37675
37676 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
37677 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
37678 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
37679
37680 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
37681 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
37682 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
37683 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
37684
37685 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
37686 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
37687 target, the following parameters are reported:
37688
37689 @itemize @minus
37690 @item
37691 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
37692 @code{struct link_map}.
37693 @item
37694 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
37695 (Thread Local Storage) access.
37696 @item
37697 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
37698 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
37699 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
37700 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
37701 @item
37702 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
37703 @end itemize
37704
37705 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
37706 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
37707 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
37708
37709 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37710 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
37711
37712 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
37713 looks like this:
37714
37715 @smallexample
37716 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
37717 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
37718 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
37719 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
37720 l_ld="0x152350"/>
37721 </library-list-svr>
37722 @end smallexample
37723
37724 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
37725
37726 @smallexample
37727 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
37728 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
37729 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37730 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
37731 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
37732 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37733 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
37734 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
37735 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
37736 @end smallexample
37737
37738 @node Memory Map Format
37739 @section Memory Map Format
37740 @cindex memory map format
37741
37742 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
37743 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
37744 memory map.
37745
37746 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
37747 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
37748 lists memory regions.
37749
37750 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37751 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
37752
37753 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
37754
37755 @smallexample
37756 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37757 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
37758 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
37759 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
37760 <memory-map>
37761 region...
37762 </memory-map>
37763 @end smallexample
37764
37765 Each region can be either:
37766
37767 @itemize
37768
37769 @item
37770 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
37771 bytes from there:
37772
37773 @smallexample
37774 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37775 @end smallexample
37776
37777
37778 @item
37779 A region of read-only memory:
37780
37781 @smallexample
37782 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37783 @end smallexample
37784
37785
37786 @item
37787 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
37788 bytes in length:
37789
37790 @smallexample
37791 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
37792 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
37793 </memory>
37794 @end smallexample
37795
37796 @end itemize
37797
37798 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
37799 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
37800 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
37801
37802 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
37803
37804 @smallexample
37805 <!-- ................................................... -->
37806 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
37807 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
37808 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
37809 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
37810 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
37811 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
37812 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
37813 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
37814 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
37815 and its type, or device. -->
37816 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
37817 start CDATA #REQUIRED
37818 length CDATA #REQUIRED
37819 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
37820 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
37821 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
37822 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37823 @end smallexample
37824
37825 @node Thread List Format
37826 @section Thread List Format
37827 @cindex thread list format
37828
37829 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
37830 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
37831 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
37832 the following structure:
37833
37834 @smallexample
37835 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37836 <threads>
37837 <thread id="id" core="0">
37838 ... description ...
37839 </thread>
37840 </threads>
37841 @end smallexample
37842
37843 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
37844 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
37845 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
37846 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
37847 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
37848
37849 @node Traceframe Info Format
37850 @section Traceframe Info Format
37851 @cindex traceframe info format
37852
37853 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
37854 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
37855 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
37856 collected in a traceframe.
37857
37858 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
37859 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
37860
37861 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37862 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
37863
37864 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
37865
37866 @smallexample
37867 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37868 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
37869 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
37870 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
37871 <traceframe-info>
37872 block...
37873 </traceframe-info>
37874 @end smallexample
37875
37876 Each traceframe block can be either:
37877
37878 @itemize
37879
37880 @item
37881 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
37882 @var{length} bytes from there:
37883
37884 @smallexample
37885 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37886 @end smallexample
37887
37888 @end itemize
37889
37890 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
37891
37892 @smallexample
37893 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
37894 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37895
37896 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
37897 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
37898 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
37899 @end smallexample
37900
37901 @include agentexpr.texi
37902
37903 @node Target Descriptions
37904 @appendix Target Descriptions
37905 @cindex target descriptions
37906
37907 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
37908 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
37909 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
37910 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
37911 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
37912 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
37913 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
37914
37915 @itemize @bullet
37916 @item
37917 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
37918 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
37919 @item
37920 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
37921 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
37922 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
37923 @item
37924 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
37925 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
37926 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
37927 @end itemize
37928
37929 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
37930 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
37931 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
37932 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
37933 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
37934
37935 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37936 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
37937
37938 @menu
37939 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
37940 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
37941 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
37942 descriptions.
37943 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
37944 @end menu
37945
37946 @node Retrieving Descriptions
37947 @section Retrieving Descriptions
37948
37949 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
37950 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
37951 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
37952 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
37953 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
37954 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
37955 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
37956 Format}.
37957
37958 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
37959 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
37960 specify a file are:
37961
37962 @table @code
37963 @cindex set tdesc filename
37964 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
37965 Read the target description from @var{path}.
37966
37967 @cindex unset tdesc filename
37968 @item unset tdesc filename
37969 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
37970 will use the description supplied by the current target.
37971
37972 @cindex show tdesc filename
37973 @item show tdesc filename
37974 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
37975 @end table
37976
37977
37978 @node Target Description Format
37979 @section Target Description Format
37980 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
37981
37982 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
37983 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
37984 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
37985 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
37986 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
37987 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
37988 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
37989
37990 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
37991 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
37992 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
37993 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
37994 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
37995
37996 Here is a simple target description:
37997
37998 @smallexample
37999 <target version="1.0">
38000 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
38001 </target>
38002 @end smallexample
38003
38004 @noindent
38005 This minimal description only says that the target uses
38006 the x86-64 architecture.
38007
38008 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
38009 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
38010 are explained further below.
38011
38012 @smallexample
38013 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38014 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
38015 <target version="1.0">
38016 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
38017 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
38018 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
38019 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
38020 </target>
38021 @end smallexample
38022
38023 @noindent
38024 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
38025 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
38026 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
38027 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
38028 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
38029 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
38030 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
38031 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
38032 the version mismatch.
38033
38034 @subsection Inclusion
38035 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
38036 @cindex XInclude
38037 @ifnotinfo
38038 @cindex <xi:include>
38039 @end ifnotinfo
38040
38041 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
38042 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
38043 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
38044 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
38045 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
38046
38047 @smallexample
38048 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
38049 @end smallexample
38050
38051 @noindent
38052 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
38053 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
38054 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
38055 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
38056 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
38057 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
38058 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
38059 original description.
38060
38061 @subsection Architecture
38062 @cindex <architecture>
38063
38064 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
38065
38066 @smallexample
38067 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
38068 @end smallexample
38069
38070 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
38071 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
38072
38073 @subsection OS ABI
38074 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
38075
38076 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
38077 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
38078
38079 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
38080
38081 @smallexample
38082 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
38083 @end smallexample
38084
38085 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
38086 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
38087
38088 @subsection Compatible Architecture
38089 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
38090
38091 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
38092 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
38093
38094 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
38095
38096 @smallexample
38097 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
38098 @end smallexample
38099
38100 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
38101 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
38102
38103 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
38104 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
38105 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
38106 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
38107 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
38108 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
38109 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
38110
38111 @smallexample
38112 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
38113 <compatible>spu</compatible>
38114 @end smallexample
38115
38116 @subsection Features
38117 @cindex <feature>
38118
38119 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
38120 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
38121 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
38122 has this form:
38123
38124 @smallexample
38125 <feature name="@var{name}">
38126 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
38127 @var{reg}@dots{}
38128 </feature>
38129 @end smallexample
38130
38131 @noindent
38132 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
38133 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
38134 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
38135 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
38136
38137 @subsection Types
38138
38139 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
38140 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
38141 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
38142 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
38143 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
38144
38145 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
38146 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
38147 Types must be defined before they are used.
38148
38149 @cindex <vector>
38150 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
38151 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
38152 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
38153 @var{count}:
38154
38155 @smallexample
38156 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
38157 @end smallexample
38158
38159 @cindex <union>
38160 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
38161 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
38162 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
38163 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
38164
38165 @smallexample
38166 <union id="@var{id}">
38167 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
38168 @dots{}
38169 </union>
38170 @end smallexample
38171
38172 @cindex <struct>
38173 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
38174 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
38175 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
38176 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
38177 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
38178 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
38179 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
38180 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
38181
38182 @smallexample
38183 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
38184 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
38185 @dots{}
38186 </struct>
38187 @end smallexample
38188
38189 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
38190 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
38191
38192 @smallexample
38193 <struct id="@var{id}">
38194 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
38195 @dots{}
38196 </struct>
38197 @end smallexample
38198
38199 @cindex <flags>
38200 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
38201 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
38202 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
38203 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
38204 are supported.
38205
38206 @smallexample
38207 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
38208 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
38209 @dots{}
38210 </flags>
38211 @end smallexample
38212
38213 @subsection Registers
38214 @cindex <reg>
38215
38216 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
38217
38218 @smallexample
38219 <reg name="@var{name}"
38220 bitsize="@var{size}"
38221 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
38222 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
38223 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
38224 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
38225 @end smallexample
38226
38227 @noindent
38228 The components are as follows:
38229
38230 @table @var
38231
38232 @item name
38233 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
38234
38235 @item bitsize
38236 The register's size, in bits.
38237
38238 @item regnum
38239 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
38240 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
38241 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
38242 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
38243 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
38244 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
38245 in order of increasing register number.
38246
38247 @item save-restore
38248 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
38249 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
38250 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
38251 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
38252 ABI.
38253
38254 @item type
38255 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
38256 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
38257 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
38258 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
38259 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
38260 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
38261
38262 @item group
38263 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
38264 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
38265 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
38266 in @code{info registers}.
38267
38268 @end table
38269
38270 @node Predefined Target Types
38271 @section Predefined Target Types
38272 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
38273
38274 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
38275 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
38276 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
38277 types. The currently supported types are:
38278
38279 @table @code
38280
38281 @item int8
38282 @itemx int16
38283 @itemx int32
38284 @itemx int64
38285 @itemx int128
38286 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
38287
38288 @item uint8
38289 @itemx uint16
38290 @itemx uint32
38291 @itemx uint64
38292 @itemx uint128
38293 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
38294
38295 @item code_ptr
38296 @itemx data_ptr
38297 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
38298 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
38299 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
38300 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
38301 may be marked as data pointers.
38302
38303 @item ieee_single
38304 Single precision IEEE floating point.
38305
38306 @item ieee_double
38307 Double precision IEEE floating point.
38308
38309 @item arm_fpa_ext
38310 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
38311
38312 @item i387_ext
38313 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
38314
38315 @item i386_eflags
38316 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
38317
38318 @item i386_mxcsr
38319 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
38320
38321 @end table
38322
38323 @node Standard Target Features
38324 @section Standard Target Features
38325 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
38326
38327 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
38328 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
38329 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
38330 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
38331 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
38332 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
38333 can recognize them.
38334
38335 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
38336 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
38337 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
38338 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
38339 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
38340 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
38341 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
38342 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
38343
38344 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
38345 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
38346 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
38347
38348 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
38349 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
38350 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
38351 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
38352
38353 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
38354 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
38355 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
38356
38357 @menu
38358 * ARM Features::
38359 * i386 Features::
38360 * MIPS Features::
38361 * M68K Features::
38362 * PowerPC Features::
38363 * TIC6x Features::
38364 @end menu
38365
38366
38367 @node ARM Features
38368 @subsection ARM Features
38369 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
38370
38371 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
38372 ARM targets.
38373 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
38374 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
38375
38376 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
38377 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
38378 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
38379 and @samp{xpsr}.
38380
38381 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
38382 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
38383
38384 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
38385 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
38386 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
38387 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
38388
38389 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
38390 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
38391 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
38392 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
38393 halves of the double-precision registers.
38394
38395 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
38396 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
38397 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
38398 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
38399 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
38400 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
38401
38402 @node i386 Features
38403 @subsection i386 Features
38404 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
38405
38406 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
38407 targets. It should describe the following registers:
38408
38409 @itemize @minus
38410 @item
38411 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
38412 @item
38413 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
38414 @item
38415 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
38416 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
38417 @item
38418 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
38419 @item
38420 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
38421 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
38422 @end itemize
38423
38424 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
38425
38426 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
38427 describe registers:
38428
38429 @itemize @minus
38430 @item
38431 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
38432 @item
38433 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
38434 @item
38435 @samp{mxcsr}
38436 @end itemize
38437
38438 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
38439 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
38440 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
38441
38442 @itemize @minus
38443 @item
38444 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
38445 @item
38446 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
38447 @end itemize
38448
38449 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
38450 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
38451
38452 @node MIPS Features
38453 @subsection MIPS Features
38454 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
38455
38456 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
38457 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
38458 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
38459 on the target.
38460
38461 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
38462 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
38463 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38464
38465 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
38466 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
38467 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
38468 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38469
38470 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
38471 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
38472 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
38473
38474 @node M68K Features
38475 @subsection M68K Features
38476 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
38477
38478 @table @code
38479 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
38480 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
38481 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
38482 One of those features must be always present.
38483 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
38484 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
38485 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
38486 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
38487
38488 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
38489 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
38490 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
38491 @samp{fpiaddr}.
38492 @end table
38493
38494 @node PowerPC Features
38495 @subsection PowerPC Features
38496 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
38497
38498 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
38499 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
38500 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
38501 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38502
38503 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
38504 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
38505
38506 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
38507 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
38508 and @samp{vrsave}.
38509
38510 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
38511 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
38512 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
38513 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
38514 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
38515 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
38516
38517 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
38518 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
38519 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
38520 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
38521 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
38522 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
38523 user.
38524
38525 @node TIC6x Features
38526 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
38527 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
38528 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
38529 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
38530 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
38531 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
38532
38533 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
38534 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
38535 through @samp{B31}.
38536
38537 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
38538 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
38539
38540 @node Operating System Information
38541 @appendix Operating System Information
38542 @cindex operating system information
38543
38544 @menu
38545 * Process list::
38546 @end menu
38547
38548 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
38549 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
38550 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
38551 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
38552 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
38553 on a different aspect of target.
38554
38555 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
38556 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
38557 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
38558 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
38559
38560 @node Process list
38561 @appendixsection Process list
38562 @cindex operating system information, process list
38563
38564 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
38565 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
38566 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
38567 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
38568
38569 An example document is:
38570
38571 @smallexample
38572 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38573 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
38574 <osdata type="processes">
38575 <item>
38576 <column name="pid">1</column>
38577 <column name="user">root</column>
38578 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
38579 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
38580 </item>
38581 </osdata>
38582 @end smallexample
38583
38584 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
38585 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
38586 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
38587 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
38588 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
38589 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
38590 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
38591
38592 @node Trace File Format
38593 @appendix Trace File Format
38594 @cindex trace file format
38595
38596 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
38597 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
38598
38599 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
38600 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
38601 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
38602 in the future.
38603
38604 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
38605 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
38606 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
38607 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
38608 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
38609 of this section.
38610
38611 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
38612
38613 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
38614 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
38615 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
38616 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
38617 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
38618 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
38619 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
38620 endianness.
38621
38622 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
38623
38624 @table @code
38625 @item R @var{bytes}
38626 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
38627 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
38628 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
38629 hexadecimal encoding.
38630
38631 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
38632 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
38633 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
38634 @var{length} bytes.
38635
38636 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
38637 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
38638 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
38639
38640 @end table
38641
38642 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
38643 of blocks.
38644
38645 @node Index Section Format
38646 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
38647 @cindex .gdb_index section format
38648 @cindex index section format
38649
38650 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
38651 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
38652 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
38653 description.
38654
38655 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
38656 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
38657 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
38658 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
38659 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
38660 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
38661
38662 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
38663
38664 @enumerate
38665 @item
38666 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
38667 unless otherwise noted:
38668
38669 @enumerate
38670 @item
38671 The version number, currently 5. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
38672 Version 4 differs by its hashing function.
38673
38674 @item
38675 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
38676
38677 @item
38678 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
38679 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
38680 to the next offset.
38681
38682 @item
38683 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
38684
38685 @item
38686 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
38687
38688 @item
38689 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
38690 @end enumerate
38691
38692 @item
38693 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
38694 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
38695 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
38696 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
38697 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
38698 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
38699 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
38700 CU indices.
38701
38702 @item
38703 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
38704 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
38705 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
38706 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
38707
38708 @item
38709 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
38710 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
38711
38712 @enumerate
38713 @item
38714 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
38715
38716 @item
38717 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
38718 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
38719
38720 @item
38721 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
38722 @end enumerate
38723
38724 @item
38725 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
38726 the hash table is always a power of 2.
38727
38728 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
38729 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
38730 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
38731 constant pool.
38732
38733 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
38734 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
38735 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
38736
38737 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
38738 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
38739 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
38740 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
38741 index version:
38742
38743 @table @asis
38744 @item Version 4
38745 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
38746
38747 @item Version 5
38748 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
38749 @end table
38750
38751 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
38752
38753 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
38754 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
38755 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
38756 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
38757 collision.
38758
38759 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
38760 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
38761 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
38762 the code.
38763
38764 @item
38765 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
38766 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
38767 strings.
38768
38769 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
38770 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
38771 Each subsequent value is the index of a CU in the CU list. This
38772 element in the hash table is used to indicate which CUs define the
38773 symbol.
38774
38775 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
38776 @end enumerate
38777
38778 @include gpl.texi
38779
38780 @node GNU Free Documentation License
38781 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
38782 @include fdl.texi
38783
38784 @node Index
38785 @unnumbered Index
38786
38787 @printindex cp
38788
38789 @tex
38790 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
38791 % meantime:
38792 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
38793 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
38794 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
38795 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
38796 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
38797 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
38798 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
38799 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
38800 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
38801 \page\colophon
38802 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
38803 @end tex
38804
38805 @bye
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